Program Overview
The CTSC Community Engaged Research Embedded Scholars Program is a new opportunity being offered to CTSC affiliated faculty and community partners to take a deeper dive in their research partnerships. This innovative program seeks to embed a faculty member interested in building skills in community engaged research (CER) and looking to develop/grow a community partnership. The goal of this program will be to help grow a true bilateral partnership between the academic and community partner giving time, space, and compensation to do so. Ultimately, embedded scholars should come away with a strong foundational relationship with a community partner, appreciation for the partner’s expertise and a collaborative research project proposal. Embedded scholars will work with their chosen community partner and co-apply as a team for the program. Embedded scholars will receive 10% effort (4 hours a week) of protected time paid by the CTSC for 9 months. Community organizations will receive a $9000 stipend to participate in the program and help co-design a research project with the faculty person to submit for future funding.
Benefits
- Enhanced community engaged research skills, such as guaranteed enrollment in CER 101 training
- Monthly engagement with CTSC mentoring team, navigating resources
- 10% salary support for faculty investigator; Jan 1- September 30
- $9000 stipend for community partner
- Opportunities to present at other diverse community meetings such as the CTSC Community Advisory Board (CAB) for feedback and dissemination
Program Expectations
- Faculty to spend approximately 4 hours per week with community partner or working onproject, including time spent attending events with community partner
- Attend monthly meeting with CTSC mentoring team to help check on progress,troubleshoot project or partnership issues (monthly at first, then tailored to needs)
- Present at least once at the CER Full Module Meeting
- Faculty and community partner to participate in CER 101 training and use of CER toolkit
- Co-Develop a mutually beneficial project idea
- Submit a proposal for a partnered pilot research project to CTSC Mentoring team for feedback for further funding
Eligibility:
Academic Partner/Investigator:
- Faculty at one of CTSC partner institutions (Case Western Reserve University,University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation,University of Toledo, Northeast Ohio Medical University, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System);
- Letter of Support from department signing off on 10% protected time paid by the CTSC Community Partner
- Interest in research and willingness to form or strengthen research partnership with the applying investigator
- Letter of support from community organization leadership to participate
Selection Criteria:
- Potential for sustained community-academic partnership
- Potential for successful future funding
- Potential for community health improvements and impact
- Additional priority will be given to investigator/organization with rural focus in Northern Ohio
- Prioritize early career investigators
Key Dates
- Applications Open: September 15, 2025
- Application Due: November 14, 2025
- Selections Announced: November 26, 2025
- Scope of work (SOW)/Memorandum of understanding (MOU) Process: November 26-December 31, 2025
- Program Launches: January 1, 2026
- Program Wraps: October 1, 2026
Questions
If any questions, please contact Darerian Schueller