The APA Research Scholars Program is a three-year faculty development program designed to help APA members interested in enhancing their academic credentials to develop research skills and to plan, implement, and write-up a research project. The APA Research Scholars Program assists pediatric clinician-educators and clinician-researchers in developing themselves as fulfilled faculty members engaged in important and exciting research and to increase the quality and breadth of child health research. The RSP includes:
- National research mentors, who will be chosen from senior researchers in the US, and will be assigned to each APA Research Scholar. Each scholar will also choose a local mentor, with our help if needed.
- Monthly webinars and interactive sessions that will cover coursework in research design and statistics as well as faculty-facilitated and peer-mentored research-in-progress sessions. Peer-mentoring groups will be constituted based on the commonality of research content and/or research methods.
- Annual PAS full-day session that will focus on advanced topics (e.g., using statistics software, use of large datasets) and research-in-progress review; attendance at selected PAS workshops (such qualitative research, manuscript writing, grant writing, reviewing abstracts and manuscripts).
- Over the 3 years, the scholar will refine her/his research protocol, implement the research project, and end with a completed project submitted for presentation and/or publication.
- Scholars are expected to complete the full curriculum, including projects, over 3-4 years. Successful scholars will receive a Certificate in Research Scholarship.
Curriculum Outline
To complete the program and receive a Certificate of Excellence in Research Scholarship, participants will be required to:
- Enlist the support of your department for the program: Scholars will be expected to commit 10% FTE to the program in order to complete the full curriculum, including projects, over 3 years. A tuition fee of $5,600 will be charged to all scholars for their three years in the program, due at time of enrollment. An additional application fee of $125 is charged at the time of submission of the application. Departmental support will also need to include access to statistical software used in the Program (SPSS), and purchase of statistical and research design textbooks. Talk to your Division Director and Chair about this program early on in the application process.
- Make a commitment to:
- Attend monthly webinars and prepare by doing required assignments
- Attend PAS each year, including participating in full-day session during an extra day at the meeting and attend recommended workshops
- Conduct a mentored research project: develop the aims and hypotheses, implement it, and present/publish it. Applications to the program must include a project proposal. Program faculty are available for discussion of project ideas prior to application submission if needed. Projects may be modified after enrollment in the program after discussion with the project mentor and the project monitor and approval of the new topic by the RSP director
- Scholars are responsible for finding their own local mentors before they apply. If you are unable to do so, program leadership will facilitate connection with a mentor. For assistance in identifying a mentor, contact the APA Office at least one month prior to the application deadline.
Apply
The application window for 2020-2023 cohort has closed.
The applicant is responsible for collecting and electronically submitting the required signed statements from the supervisor and mentor as well as the letters of reference, and other parts of the application.
During the online application process, you will be asked to submit the following materials electronically online:
STEP 1. Personal information, CV and Statement of Agreement to Participate.
STEP 2. Project description (500 words + 250-word Personal Statement).
STEP 3. Required statement and Letter of Support from your Supervisor.
STEP 4. Required statement, Letter of Support, and biosketch from your Mentor.
STEP 5. Pay the $125 application fee and submit your application.
Apply for the Research Scholars Program
Eligibility
- Be a pediatric clinician, educator, or investigator, in early or mid-career, in general pediatrics, pediatric hospital medicine, child abuse pediatrics, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine, and other related disciplines who desires to increase their research skills.
- Arrange payment of a tuition fee of $5600, due 90 days after receiving the invoice. If payment is not received by this date, your position will be filled by an individual on the waitlist.
- Agree to commit 10% effort during the three years of the program participation; attend RSP teaching sessions; complete required assignments; and conduct an individual research project, under the guidance of a mentor that results in a peer-reviewed publication or presentation. A statement must be signed by the applicant and his / her supervisor agreeing to the 10% time commitment.
- Each applicant must select a project topic and mentor prior to applying for the program. RSP faculty is available for discussion of project ideas prior to application submission, if needed. Projects may be modified post program enrollment, after discussion with the scholar's mentor, assigned RSP faculty advisor, and the RSP Director.Scholars are responsible for finding their own local mentors. If you are unable to do so, RSP program administrators can facilitate connection with a mentor (contact the APA Office at least one month prior to the application deadline). A letter of agreement by the project mentor must be submitted with the application. .
- You must be a current member of the Academic Pediatric Association to enroll in the RSP.
- There is a $125 fee to apply for this program.
Current Scholars
Alumni
FAQs
Who selects the scholars and how many will be selected? Executive Committee will select the scholars. Numbers vary for each cohort. We expect to select 10-15 Research Scholars in the next cohort beginning in May at PAS.
What does the Research Scholar's Program cost? All applicants must pay a $125 application fee. For accepted scholars, a tuition of $5600 is payable 90 days after receiving the invoice. Operating costs are also partially subsidized by the Academic Pediatric Association. The tuition will cover all three years of the program. In addition, scholars or scholar's institutions will need to support purchase/access to SPSS statistical software, and two textbooks (research design and statistics).
Why is there an enrollment fee? The Research Scholars Program has significant operating expenses (coordination of the numerous faculty, website support for all the monthly sessions, PAS full day program, ongoing curriculum development, etc.), and the fee makes it possible to sustain the program independently.
What are the criteria for acceptance? We are looking for well-thought-out project proposals that are likely to have a successful implementation, a strong well-articulated desire on the part of the applicant to pursue research, and good supporting documentation from the Scholar's institution and mentor.
Will the program accept fellows as well as faculty? Faculty applicants are preferred, but fellows who plan an academic career in pediatrics may apply, if they have decided to sustain a significant focus on research in their careers and their fellowship has not provided them with the full breadth and depth needed in research training and experience. The three year duration of the Research Scholars Program can create complexity for fellows who will move on to a faculty position midway through the program. In this case, the scholar's new supervisor in a faculty position must agree to support continuation of the project and potentially share payment of the tuition fee. Shortening tenure in program to 2 years is not an option.
Is this program designed only for new faculty members, or can mid-career faculty also apply? We encourage both new faculty and those with more experience who want to develop new skills to enhance their academic repertoire to apply.
Can pediatric subspecialists apply? Yes, subspecialists are welcome and encouraged to participate. The focus of the program is research skill development, not any particular subspecialty. We are particularly interested in having Pediatric Hospitalists, Child Abuse Pediatricians, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians, and Adolescent Medicine Specialists apply. However, all pediatric subspecialists are welcome. APA membership is a requirement.
Must the Scholar be an MD to apply? No, the program will accept anyone who has a pediatric faculty appointment, or a pediatrician with a faculty appointment in another department (e.g., Emergency Medicine), or a community faculty member with a genuine commitment to academics.
Does the Research Scholars Program provide financial or travel support to Scholars? No, we have no funds for this purpose. Your supervisor's support for the tuition fee, time protection, project costs, and travel to the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting will be required for you to participate. Some Scholars may have access to grant support, e.g. through faculty development grants, to supplement local resources.
What exactly does the 10%time commitment mean? Negotiation of the supervisor's agreement to protect the scholar's time is the responsibility of the scholar. Our expectation is that Scholars will be doing projects that are a direct contribution to their department or institution and that fit into their current job commitments, or can be negotiated to become a part of the Scholar's job commitments. Program participation should also benefit the department by making the Scholar more effective as a serious academic, and more promotable.
How should I choose a local mentor? Your mentor does not need to be a pediatrician or a member of your department, but should have expertise in a key area (content and/or methodology) related to your project and have experience as an independent researcher. A good mentor is approachable and available, and personally committed to the mentee's success. Ideally, a Scholar's mentor is local, to facilitate frequent meetings, but that is not a requirement. Scholars must make their own arrangements with mentors, but the Research Scholars Program faculty can help identify a potential mentor upon request. The mentor's letter and qualifications will be reviewed as part of the application process.
What is Research Scholars Program faculty mentor/advisor? All Scholars have a self-selected local mentor, and in addition are assigned a Research Scholars Program faculty mentor/advisor. The mentor/advisor will track progress on the Scholar's project, providing project assistance as problems are encountered, and will be available for more in depth conversations regarding the design and implementation of the research project. The Research Scholars Program faculty mentor/advisor will also offer career guidance. In addition, Scholars receive mentorship from the program leadership and faculty who function as small group leaders. Furthermore, Scholars act as peer-mentors to their colleagues.
