Faculty Development Opportunities

Two of the objectives of the RCMI program are to:

1. enable all levels of investigators to become more successful in obtaining competitive extramural support, especially from NIH, particularly on diseases that disproportionately impact minority and other health disparity populations, and
2. foster environments conducive to career enhancement.

The goal of the RCMI Investigator Development Program, set within this context, is to support the development and enhance the competitiveness of diverse investigators in basic biomedical and behavioral sciences, with particular emphasis on early-stage investigators.

Mentor Training

Training in mentorship is available through the MSU Center for Innovative Instruction and Scholarship (CIIS).

Pilot Research & CBPR Grants

The RCMI Center for Urban Health Disparities Research & Innovation will offer pilot research funding for research grants and community-based participatory research (CBPR) grants.

Eligibility Requirements for RCMI pilot funding:

• Applications must address areas of health disparities research supported by the National Institutes of Health.
• The program’s main focus will be the development of investigators who have not previously received any internal or external health research funding.
• Early Stage Investigator applicants must participate in and have completed a grant writing workshop, or be an experienced investigator switching their research focus to health disparities. Experienced investigators, with a record of previous external federal funding, may participate in the grant writing workshop but will not be required to do so.
• Recipients of pilot grant funding are expected to generate external funding health disparities related funding subsequent to implementing their pilot projects.

Grant Writing Workshops & Seminars

We will offer a variety of workshops and seminars for faculty at different stages in their research careers.

Summer Collaborative Mini-Sabbaticals

This program will provide opportunities for faculty to develop new technical skills and jump start new collaborations with investigators at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and other nearby research-intensive institutions.

• The collaborative mini-sabbaticals must be in daily commuting distance between MSU and the applicant’s home.
• Applicants may suggest a lab they want to visit in their letter or indicate the specific area of research if they would like assistance in finding a host lab.
• Awards consist of a supply budget for use at the host institution and a modest summer stipend.
• Letters of intent for this program will need to be submitted to Ms. Netta Pinchback at acquanette.pinchback@morgan.edu, by February 28th.
• Applicants may suggest a lab they want to visit in their letter or indicate the specific area of research if they would like assistance in finding a host lab.
• Final applications will be due by March 30th.

Scientific Writing Accountability Groups

Scientific Writing Accountability Groups (SWAGs) are designed as peer accountability groups to help participants structure their writing time and support each other in the effort to write research manuscripts and/or grants, etc.

• A SWAG will consist of four to ten individuals (potentially from different disciplinary backgrounds) who will identify 1- to 2-hour time slots during the week when they are available to meet for ten consecutive weeks.
• Faculty may self-initiate these SWAGS or join a SWAG organized by RCMI.
• Programs will make a preceptor available to start each of the groups (explain the process, ground rules, etc.) and collect pre- and post-surveys.

Training in Scientific Teaching

Training in scientific teaching is available from the MSU Center for Innovative Instruction & Scholarship (CIIS).

Innovation & Technology Transfer Workshops

Technology Transfer Workshops will be offered in collaboration with the MSU Division of Research and Economic Development.

Learn more about the Office of Technology Travel at: https://www.morgan.edu/technologytransfer