ADAPT Equity Scholars Program
ADAPT Equity Scholars Program 2023-24
Overview
The goal of the ADAPT Equity Scholars Program is to welcome early career researchers and trainees from underrepresented groups into the Durham VA Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT) in order to support their growth as post-doctoral fellows – and eventually as career development awardees and independent investigators.
ADAPT Equity Scholars will receive mentorship and support for the completion of a research project and publication during the 2024-25 academic year, as well as indispensable career development content through the Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT. ADAPT Equity Scholars will be encouraged to continue their collaboration with the Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT indefinitely, including via additional mentored research opportunities and exploration of other fellowships/grants within VA HSR&D.
Structure/offerings
ADAPT Equity Scholars will receive:
- Mentoring to support the execution of an original research project, from initial development through manuscript publication
- Administrative (i.e., IRB), programming, and statistical support for the project
- Funding support for conferences, publication fees, and research expenses (e.g., participant compensation, reimbursement for survey completion, etc.) to a maximum of $5,000
- Guaranteed participation in the Duke CTSI Health Disparities Research Curriculum (HDRC)
- Access to all Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT research and career development conferences
- 2024-25 ADAPT Equity Scholars will begin working with the ADAPT team in November 2023, and continue through project completion and beyond. Our goal is for ADAPT Equity Scholars to remain closely engaged with the Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT as they continue their growth and development.
- The ADAPT Equity Scholars Program is open to candidates from populations that reflect the diversity of the Veterans served by VA. We anticipate selecting up to two Equity Scholars for 2024-25.
- Candidates should be either within a residency/fellowship or within 5 years of their most recent postdoctoral training. This includes medical residents and fellows, clinical psychology interns and post-docs, or other PhD post-doctoral fellows. This also includes VA-employed staff physicians, staff psychologists, and DNP providers within 5 years of their most recent doctoral/postdoctoral training.
- Since the ADAPT Equity Scholars program does not provide salary support, candidates must receive salary through existing sources. Also, since participation in ADAPT activities will be central to Equity Scholar success, candidates should be geographically located in the Triangle area.
- Candidates’ research projects should: 1) focus primarily on healthcare equity; OR 2) include a meaningful and substantive equity focus embedded within a broader research question. It is recommended that projects should align with ongoing funded research within the Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT.
Application process
- Prior to beginning their application, candidates are encouraged to connect with the directors of the ADAPT Equity Scholars Program (Drs. Matt Crowley, Sadie Wilson, and Courtni France) in order to discuss potential mentors and research opportunities within the Durham VA HSR&D Center to ADAPT.
- Application open until the position is filled
- The brief application for the 2024-245ADAPT Equity Scholars Program may be accessed here.
*This opportunity is open to candidates from populations that reflect the diversity of the Veterans served by VA. As described by NIH and NSF, these populations include: individuals from racial and ethnic groups shown to be underrepresented in the health-related sciences, Veterans, individuals with disabilities (i.e., those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g., those who are first in their family to attend a college or university or from a disadvantaged economic or educational background). Underrepresented and priority populations that are also referenced in the recent Executive Order 13985 are also included, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons. These criteria are intended to increase the applicant pool but will not be used as a determinative factor in selecting participants for this initiative. Candidates must be eligible to become a VA employee/WOC.*
