The Elm

The Dean's Research Scholars Program is to support UMSON's research mission and to help shape the profession of nursing by developing nurse leaders who engage in cutting-edge science and research. This program provides two years of protected time, financial support, and other resources to awardees. Applicants should be current faculty members who are early to mid-career and have a history of funding and scholarly productivity. Interested applicants should email NRSResearch@umaryland.edu for details and application.

Deadline: Monday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

Criteria for selection:

• DRSs will be early or mid-career (never PI or MPI on NIH R01 level funding or equivalent), full-time faculty members with an earned doctoral degree.
• Current full-time faculty on the tenure track or on the non-tenure track with a 10- or 12-month appointment. Those who are on the non-tenure track should have the potential for conversion to tenure track within 18 months of appointment as a DRS.
• The applicant should provide evidence that demonstrates potential for extramural funding success and/or transition to tenure track. It is preferred that applicants provide evidence for potential success including scholarly productivity (three publications in peer-reviewed journals in the last three years; one data-based within the last two years), and a history of funding (intramural, extramural, any dollar amount).

Benefits of the DRS Program

• A reduced teaching load will be allocated during the DRS appointment period.  A DRS will teach a maximum of 2.5 workload units per academic year.  At the end of the DRS appointment, teaching expectations will return to the appropriate level designated in the UMSON Workload Policy.
• Relief from teaching for research and other scholarly activities is to be negotiated with the department chair prior to the beginning of each award year.
• A one-time, $12,000 research-related grant will be provided during the program to support the DRS’ Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved research activities.  The cost of the grant will be supported equally by funds from the UMSON Office of Research and from the Dean’s office.  Timing of the award funding is contingent upon IRB or IACUC approval and is to be negotiated with the associate dean of research and the department chair. 
• All DRSs should have a limited number of academic advisees.
• DRSs are advised to limit their committee participation during this period.
• Mentorship with a chosen faculty member is expected so DRSs can support pre-specified goals and develop plans for achieving them.
• Mentors will receive a research allowance for mentoring a DRS (up to $500 per year for two years) from Office of Research funds, when available. The allowance can be used to support the mentor’s research activities and is not in the form of compensation. This funding is contingent upon the mentor and DRS faculty member completing the mentoring plan and meeting the goals.