ARI/CFAR Diversity Scholar Award

DOC of the Request for Applications

The UCSF AIDS Research Institute (ARI) and Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) seek to support the retention of senior clinical/postdoctoral fellows and faculty whose work advances the organization’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as well to UCSF’s Anti-racism initiative. To this end, the ARI and CFAR will award one Diversity Scholar grant annually to support activities related to our research and education missions.

The ARI/CFAR Diversity Scholar Award is intended to provide critical support that will allow faculty to pursue their professional, academic interests so that they may launch successful careers in HIV research, education, and/or clinical care.

2023 Awardee

Jose Gutierrez, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, UCSF School of Nursing

Past Awardees

2022
Caravella McCuistian, PhD, MA, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCSF School of Medicine

Jerry John Nutor, PhD, RN, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, UCSF School of Nursing

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should share the ARI's commitment to DEI and UCSF’s Anti-racism initiative and should show evidence of scholarly contributions in HIV (at minimum two 1st or 2nd author publications in HIV research). Applications will be accepted both to contribute to the retention of early-stage faculty or senior fellows at UCSF:

• Faculty members at UCSF who are Instructors or Assistant Professors
• Postdoctoral or Clinical fellows in their last year of training with division/department commitment to retain as a new Assistant Professor starting in Summer 2024

John A. Watson Faculty Scholars are not eligible to receive funds from this program.

Award Amount and Award Period

The amount of the award is $75,000 per year. The award period is no longer than three years. The award cannot be transferred outside of UCSF.

Timeline

Application Instructions

Applications should be submitted in a single PDF file by email to [email protected] by the Scholar’s Department Chair or Division Chief by 5p Wednesday, December 20, 2023, and should include the following components:

1. Personal Statement from the Applicant (300 words)
2. Letter from the Department/Division Lead (1 page)
   • Qualifications and Strengths of the applicant
   • How the funding will help their career trajectory
   • Diversity metrics in the department/division and how the applicant contributes
   • Details of the Department/Division’s commitment to the applicant as demonstrated by their recruitment/retention/start-up package
3. Current Biosketch or CV for the applicant
    

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by the ARI and CFAR Leadership Committee and will be assessed on the following review criteria:

1. The nominee’s anticipated scholarly contributions to the field of HIV
2. Nominee’s potential to have a positive impact on the culture of DEI in both the department/division and the ARI community
3. The Department/Division’s commitment to the nominee
    

Reporting and Evaluation Requirements

At the end of each year of the grant, the Diversity Scholar Award will be reassessed by the ARI and CFAR Leadership Committee to ensure that the Scholar has contributed to the ARI’s commitment to DEI and had demonstrated an impact, as described in the nomination letter. The Scholar will be responsible for submitting their current CV and a brief letter at the end of years 1 and 2 that provides an update on the Scholar’s contributions to the committee. The ARI and CFAR Leadership Committee will review the letter and determine whether the funding will continue for the following year. At the end of the final year, the Diversity Scholar will submit a final report that summarizes the impact of the funding support on their career and future plans.
 

Fund Use Guidelines

Examples of how funds can be used:

• Buy out protected time to pursue academic interests such as teaching, research, mentoring, or community work
• Hire staff to assist with research projects and regulatory processes, manage research program operations, or provide support that would reduce faculty workload allowing deeper focus on activities to further their academic careers
• Pay for pilot studies (with appropriate regulatory clearances)
• Attend conferences or other professional development activities
• Participate in the UCSF Training in Clinical Research (TCIR) or other graduate training programs
• Purchase items essential for professional activities.

These funds are not intended to be used for Z supplements, funding for other faculty for projects unrelated to the Scholar’s direct projects, or event sponsorship.
 

Questions

Questions about this funding opportunity can be directed to Lauren Sterling ([email protected]).