Dear Colleagues,
The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, in partnership with the Center for Social and Behavioral Science, is seeking community-engaged research projects for the fourth year of the Community-Academic Scholars Program. Please encourage faculty and staff in your department to apply for this unique program by Jan. 9, 2022. A limited number of spaces are available.
The Community-Academic Scholars Program fulfills the University of Illinois’ goal to prioritize community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and service “to make a positive and visible impact in the spirit of our land-grant mission.”
The 10-week summer program matches a community-academic research team with an undergraduate scholar whose interests, experience, and abilities best fit the project. Preference is given to minoritized students and to those whose background reflects the communities a project serves.
In addition to gaining valuable community-engaged research experience, students meet weekly as a cohort to participate in professional development sessions led by the program managers. They also receive a cash stipend to offset their costs of living while participating in this program.
Researchers investigating a range of topics are invited to apply to the Community-Academic Scholars Program. Past project themes have included health equity, mental health, poverty, education, nutrition, food security and more. Project types include program implementation and/or evaluation, needs assessments, or any other research project developed jointly with a community partner in response to a community need.
We hope that you will consider encouraging faculty and staff in your unit to submit a project proposal by Jan. 9.
Sincerely,
Neal Cohen
Director, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute