Community-Engaged Research Fellowship Program
The Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) Fellowship offers training and mentorship to early-stage investigators across Penn State campuses who are interested in advancing their community-engaged research expertise. Community-engaged research includes the active involvement of community partners in the research process, which can include, but is not limited to, recruitment/retention strategies, survey development, and dissemination of research findings across an array of audiences (e.g., scientific and general public). Community partners can include community members, patients, clinicians, researchers, purchasers, payers, industry, hospitals and health systems, training institutions, and policymakers, among others. The degree of community partner involvement in research is typically determined beforehand and falls on a continuum of possibilities, from collaborating fully in all aspects of the research process to being involved in a specific part of the research study. The fellowship is for early-stage investigators desiring a learning experience and mentoring in the science and practice of CER. In addition, fellows will become part of CTSI's community engagement team, attending regular team meetings and working with the team on community-engaged research activities as part of the experience.
This CEnR Fellowship program can fund two fellowship awards, and, with Penn State Cancer Institute’s support, it can fund an additional (third) award specifically focused on cancer-related CEnR. The program’s funds are meant to support the awardee’s research-protected time up to two course buyouts (one per semester) or 0.10 FTE during the fellowship.
During the fellowship, it is expected that awardees will:
Receive training in CEnR from a mentor who is experienced in CEnR and identified by the awardee;
Conduct a pilot study or be a part of a study, which applies the CEnR principles and engages a community (research involving the Pennsylvania commonwealth’s community will be prioritized);
Participate in monthly community engagement team meetings and be involved in CEnR services (e.g., consultations and community engagement studios);
Take advantage of the opportunity to meet with faculty, experts in the field of CEnR, about their research work;
Complete a six-month curriculum focused on CEnR with guidance from CEnR co-leads to supplement training provided by their mentor;
Participate in the CTSI-sponsored presentations and workshops related to CEnR;
Present at least one CEnR-focused presentation during the fellowship; and
Plan for the submission of at least one peer-reviewed manuscript within 6 months of the fellowship completion and articulate a clear plan for an external grant proposal submission.
Program Details and Application Process
An early-career investigator at any Penn State campus approved to submit external grant proposals as principal investigator, is interested in advancing their CEnR knowledge and skills, and has a mentor experienced in CEnR, is eligible to apply.
The application (points 1-5 below) should not exceed four, single-spaced pages (at least 11-point size font, at least 0.5-inch margins) and include:
Title of project
Abstract
Applicant’s goals for the fellowship
Describe the research area, its significance and how community partners will be involved. Explain the need for increased community partner involvement in this research.
Describe prior/existing relationship (if any) of the applicant, mentor and/or Penn State with the community relevant to the proposed research.
Explain why the fellowship is needed to advance the applicant’s expertise and research program, and how the mentor will assist with it.
Activity plan
Describe the activities planned to be undertaken during the fellowship, and how these activities will advance the goals of the fellow and the CEnR fellowship.
Describe the deliverables planned to be accomplished during the fellowship, including at minimum these three deliverables: presentations, publications, and external grant proposals, and their timeline. Explain how the fellowship will lead to a proposal for external funding.
Mentorship plan: Describe the prior/existing relationship between the applicant and the mentor, and plans for its continuation beyond the fellowship’s duration. Describe the actual activities the mentor and mentee will engage in and the alignment between the mentee’s research and the mentor’s expertise.
Budget
Submit the cost of two course buyouts (or equivalent) at campus-established, in-state rate or, where appropriate, particularly for clinicians, cost of 0.1 FTE (not to exceed the current National Institutes of Health salary cap of $221,900) plus fringe at the institutionally approved rate for an entire fiscal year (12 months). Departmental matching is encouraged but not required. The total requested budget and commitment to the applicant’s protected time for the CEnR Fellowship activities should be confirmed in the letter of support from the applicant’s department chair or other institutional leader.
Funds of up to $3,000 are available to support mentors’ efforts. These funds can be used toward a mentor’s protected time or as discretionary funds (e.g., to cover the cost of travel to a professional meeting or conference registration). These funds cannot be used to support the mentor’s or awardee’s research projects.
Additional application attachments (not included in the four-page limit)
Applicant’s NIH Biographical sketch (up to five pages, following the current NIH guidance).
Mentor’s NIH Biographical sketch (up to five pages, following the current NIH guidance).
Mentor’s Letter of Support. This letter should affirm the applicant’s proposed training and mentoring plan, deliverables, and indicate the mentor’s expertise relevant to CER and willingness to serve as a mentor, and if they request financial support (up to $3,000 designated for the mentor’s effort).
Letter of Support from the applicant’s department chair or institutional leader (see point 5, first bullet, for the required components of this letter).
Merits of the proposal, including its innovation, significance, and relevance to CTSI's CEnR mission.
Community-engaged research focused on communities within the PA commonwealth; applications focused on working with Penn State CER-established community partners (e.g., Schuylkill County, northern Dauphin County, Harrisburg, etc.) are highly encouraged.
Clarity, rigor, and feasibility of the work plan.
Likelihood of an external proposal resulting from the fellowship.
Qualifications, commitment, and clarity of roles for the applicant and the primary mentor; priority will be given to those who require additional training and/or pilot data to advance their scientific careers.
Strength of institutional/departmental and primary mentor support and commitment.
Awardees are required to provide a progress report mid-year and a final report no later than 30 days after the end of the Fellowship, describing progress made, accomplished deliverables, including the plan and timeline for an external grant proposal.
Researchers should submit their application via InfoReady. The proposal must be complete when submitted and include all items noted above. Submit the full application as a single PDF file using the following naming convention: Last name of the PI-CER2526-SubmissionDate (e.g., Smith-CER2526-12202023) through the InfoReady platform.