Research Alliance and Postdoctoral Programs

Purpose

There are 5 current DEI initiatives related to research. Abstracts for these programs are as follows:

1. Funds for start-up needs or retention of faculty of diversity: We have designated $250K for start-up needs for faculty of diversity hires. These funds are within the UKRF budget, with guidelines established around their use by a panel commissioned by the VP for Diversity and Inclusion. The funds are managed by the VP for Diversity and Inclusion. We also work with the Provost to provide support, when needed, for retention of faculty of diversity by providing research-related funds. Most recently, we committed to $77.5K for retention of a faculty of diversity, with additional funds coming from the UNITE Research Priority Area (RPA), another research initiative within #15.
2. UNITE Research Priority Area (RPA): The UNITE RPA became the 7th research priority area for UK upon designation by President Capilouto. The program follows the missions and objectives of other RPAs, with a focus on using our research mission to improve the lives of those in Commonwealth and beyond. The program is intended to promote research on the area of priority through cross-disciplinary efforts, with objectives of sustainability of the RPA through acquisition of extramural sources of support. The UNITE RPA, led by Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins, Assistant VPR, will focus on research to establish and promote best practices for research career development of faculty of diversity, and for research on racial equity (including health equity) and social justice.
3. Inclusive Postdoctoral Enrichment Program, IPEP: This program is for support and career development of postdoctoral fellows of diversity and is led by Dr. Nancy Schoenberg, Associate VPR. This is an annual competition for salary support (with some trainee support) for postdoctoral fellows of diversity working with UK faculty. Applicants are peer-reviewed by a faculty panel. The revised program, termed IPEP, has a curriculum for research career development of trainees awarded through the program. The program, administered in cooperation with the VP for Diversity and Inclusion, includes personal navigation to UK and the research enterprise, dedicated help from the Proposal Development Office for grant development, mentoring to a career of academia, networking and inclusion opportunities, and other assistance from the research infrastructure.
4. Research Scholars Program (RSP): We have developed a new program designed to enhance the success of junior faculty under-represented in biomedical and behavioral research. The program, led by Drs. Schoenberg, Cassis and White is overseen by a Faculty Advisory Council group of 16 from across 8 colleges and two university units. The program is a four component, one year program designed to enhance the research success of underrepresented groups in biomedicine and behavioral science. The initial piloting of this program is underway and will be used with initiative #4, below, the NIH FIRST application.
5. NIH FIRST application: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released the call for applications for the FIRST program, a faculty cluster hire program designed to recruit 10 research-focused faculty members from underrepresented groups. The program, led by Dr. Schoenberg, Cassis and White will include evidence-based approaches for career development and mentoring that are fostered by policies and procedures across the institution.

Progress

1. Faculty start-up funds: The faculty start-up funds group has been using these funds to support start-up for faculty of diversity.
2. UNITE RPA:
   • The UNITE RPA has been featured in multiple media outlets including LEX 18 (Lexington), WDRB (Louisville), and Black News Channel (National). Two town hall meetings were held to engage the university community and introduce the research priority area. Dr. Stevens-Watkins has presented on UNITE to several groups within the University including the other RPA leaders, DEI executive committee and the Provost’s Council.
   • In addition, Dr. Stevens-Watkins participated in the Igniting Research Collaborations networking event and hosted an open informational meeting and recorded session with the proposal development office and the foundations and philanthropy office to announce a funding opportunity for the Kellogg Foundation. A follow-up think-tank session was led by Dr. Stevens-Watkins for faculty to network their ideas. To date, three teams have emerged planning to apply for Kellogg Foundation opportunity. By working with the proposal development and the philanthropy and foundation offices, Dr. Stevens-Watkins has received several other funding announcements and opportunities applicable to the RPA that she has distributed to the UNITE members listserv.
   • The UNITE RPA currently has 158 members from 16 colleges. Nominations were solicited to participate on the internal advisory board (IAB) and members were vetted. Deans from the colleges represented on the IAB were approached to support faculty effort as a part of their match toward the UNITE RPA. All deans were supportive. The IAB held two meetings to begin solidifying goals, structure, programming, and announcements for the UNITE RPA. Success for the UNITE RPA includes but is not limited to an increase in research and scholarly activities related to racial equity.
   • Ultimately, we expect our research efforts to have a positive impact within our university, the Commonwealth and beyond.
3. Inclusive Postdoctoral Enrichment Program, IPEP: This is the first year of full implementation of the complete IPEP program, which was included in the advertisement for this postdoctoral opportunity. Th deadline for this competition just ended, and it is obvious from scrutiny of the applications that there is strong and growing demand for the program., with a 32% greater applicant pool than the previous year. Consistent with the recommendations of the DEI Leadership, we would be extremely supportive of growing the program, as we view attracting a larger and stronger cohort of postdoctoral scholars as one of the primary approaches to developing a robust and ready faculty.
4. Research Scholars Program (RSP): We held a cross-campus competition for the RSP after disseminating information about this opportunity. We received numerous applications, all extremely competitive, from mentors and their faculty. These applications are from 8 colleges across campus and all of the applicants would be considered underrepresented in their research field.