Visiting Scholars in HIV Implementation Science Program

About the Program

The overarching goal of this visiting scholars program is to strengthen academic-community partnerships that can conduct implementation research and utilize findings from implementation research to help end the HIV epidemic. Chosen applicants will gain experience in HIV Implementation Science (IS) through individual work with a Sponsor(s) at an Implementation Science Coordination Initiative (ISCI) Hub who will provide mentorship, networking, and training opportunities at the National LGBTQ Health Conference, and support for an in-person visit to the Hubs.

Scholars will apply with a community partner and work towards goals specific to building and/or strengthening that relationship with support from the Sponsor. Scholars and Sponsors will be matched based on compatibility between Sponsor experience and Scholar needs. The focus of the inaugural year of the program will be Scholars working on HIV in LGBTQ+ focused organizations. There will be one Scholar per Hub the inaugural year; eight Scholars in total.

Participation Requirements

    • Located within the United States
    • Some experience in either HIV research or Implementation Science
    • Involvement in LGBTQ+ health
    • Existing relationship with a community partner (located in an EHE district) who you will work with during the program period
    • Available during a five-month program period from May 1 to September 30, 2024
      • Capacity to meet virtually at least monthly with Sponsor
      • Capacity to meet periodically with community partner
      • Available to meet virtually with Scholars and Sponsors bi-monthly
      • Availability to attend the National LGBTQ Health Conference on August 15–17 in Atlanta, Georgia

Timeline (all dates in 2024) 

 

Applications due: Sunday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. CT 

Applicants Notified of Acceptance: Friday, April 26

Program starts: Wednesday, May 1

Program ends: Monday, September 30

Program Components 

 

Funding to support attendance at the National LGBTQ Health Conference for purposes of networking and attending workshops on implementation research. Funding will also be available to visit the sponsoring Hub for a brief “visiting scholar” experience.  

    • Meetings at least once a month with Sponsor
    • Periodic meetings with your community partner
    • Bi-monthly, virtual, meetings with both Scholars and Sponsors
    • Attendance at the National LGBTQ Health Conference on August 15–17 in Atlanta, Georgia

Application Description

 

The required components of the online application are below. There is an option to send the letter of support to isci@northwestern.edu at a later date if it is not currently available. Applications are not considered complete without the letter of support. 

    • Demographic information 
    • Professional background information  
    • Professional needs assessment 
    • Description of community partner relationship
    • Sponsor matching questions 
    • NIH Biosketch (template can be found here) 
    • One-page letter of support from your community partner. Please have the community partner explain the following: 
      • Nature of your relationship with the program applicant/applicant’s home institution 
      • How long you have been working together (if this is an exploration of a new relationship, please mention this) 
      • What gap are you looking to fill with this partnership? 
      • EHE jurisdiction and if they receive EHE funding 
      • Willingness and availability to participate in the program

Applications are open Friday, March 1 until Sunday, March 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Contact Us

For questions, please email our team at isci@northwestern.edu