The CTSC Community Engaged Research Embedded Scholars Program is an opportunity for CTSC-affiliated faculty and community partners to deepen their research partnerships. This innovative program is designed to support a faculty investigator interested in building skills in community engaged research (CER) while developing or strengthening a community partnership.
The goal of the program is to foster a true bilateral partnership between an academic investigator and a community partner by providing dedicated time, structure, and compensation to support relationship-building and collaborative project development. Embedded Scholars are expected to leave the program with a strong foundational partnership, a deeper appreciation for community expertise, and a collaboratively developed research project proposal.
Faculty investigators and their chosen community partners must apply together as a team. Selected Embedded Scholars will receive 10% protected effort (4 hours per week) paid by the CTSC for 9 months. Community organizations will receive a $9,000 stipend to participate in the program and co-design a research project with the faculty investigator for future funding opportunities.
One investigator–community partner team will be selected for this round of the program. Proposed projects must align with NIH priorities, and selection will favor applications with strong potential for sustained partnerships, future funding, and meaningful community health impact.
Benefits
- Enhanced community engaged research skills, including guaranteed enrollment in CER 101 training
- Monthly engagement with the CTSC mentoring team to support progress and resource navigation
- 10% salary support for the faculty investigator from January 1 through September 30
- $9,000 stipend for the community partner
- Opportunities to present at community-facing meetings, such as the CTSC Community Advisory Board (CAB), for feedback and dissemination
Program Expectations
- Faculty investigators are expected to spend approximately 4 hours per week with the community partner or working on the project, including attendance at community partner events
- Attend monthly meetings with the CTSC mentoring team to review progress, troubleshoot issues, and identify needed support
- Present at least once at the CER Full Module Meeting
- Faculty investigators and community partners must participate in CER 101 training and use the CER toolkit
- Co-develop a mutually beneficial project idea
- Submit a proposal for a partnered pilot research project to the CTSC Mentoring Team for feedback and future funding consideration
Eligibility
Academic Partner/Investigator (Lead Applicant)
- Faculty at one of the CTSC partner institutions:
- Case Western Reserve University
- University Hospitals
- MetroHealth Medical Center
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- University of Toledo
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
- Letter of support from department leadership confirming 10% protected time paid by the CTSC
Community Partner
- Interest in research and willingness to form or strengthen a research partnership with the applying investigator
- Letter of support from community organization leadership confirming participation
Selection Criteria
- Potential for a sustained community-academic partnership
- Potential for successful future funding
- Potential for community health improvement and impact
Key Dates
- Applications Open: September 23, 2026
- Application Deadline: October 23, 2026
- Selections Announced: Week of November 30, 2026
- Scope of Work (SOW)/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Process: November 30–December 31, 2026
- Program Launch: January 1, 2027
- Program End Date: September 30, 2027
Questions
If you have questions about the program, please contact Darerian Schueller at dschueller@metrohealth.org.
Optional TA Session
An optional virtual TA session will be held for applicants with questions.
- Date: Thursday, October 15
- Time: 12:00–1:00 PM