Summer Research Fellowship Training Program (SRF-TP)

Abstract

Firearm injury is a major U.S. public health crisis requiring urgent attention. Despite widespread recognition that this is an important health issue, scientific advances have lagged behind other injury (e.g., motor vehicle crashes) and medical (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer) diseases due to the lack of federal research funding. A critical outcome of this funding deficit was the absence of career development funding and mentorship to attract new scientists to the field, especially nursing scholars. The availability of training, mentorship, and sustained research funding are critical aspects of attracting/retaining investigators in any field of science. Given the breadth and scope of their clinical and research practice, nursing scientists are essential to developing multi-level solutions that can be applied across healthcare, schools, and community settings. While the field is poised to make substantial progress, a critical deficit of established and developing scientists in nursing and allied health fields to capitalize on this funding remains a significant barrier. In 2017, building from 25+ years of experience leading multi-disciplinary research Centers, the NIH funded our team at the University of Michigan (U-M) to lead the FACTS Consortium as the first research Network to build firearm injury prevention research capacity. The U-M subsequently leveraged this work by building the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention (IFIP) to continue moving this field of science forward. Building on the momentum generated by our prior work and leveraging our extensive research and training infrastructure, we propose to establish the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention (IFIP) Summer Research Fellowship Training Program. The overarching goal of this immersive training experience will be to build greater capacity for conducting firearm injury prevention research among nursing and allied health scholars.

The Specific Aims are: AIM 1. Launch an innovative multi-dimensional 12-week summer research fellowship program comprising asynchronous and synchronous learning seminars, applied learning experiences, and tailored career development/mentorship; AIM 2. Build a pipeline of research scholars from nursing and other allied health fields with foundational expertise in firearm injury prevention science by recruiting/training an annual cohort (10 scholars per year) for the summer fellowship program from a national applicant pool, with particular attention to enhancing the number of trainees from various academic/clinical backgrounds. AIM 3. Provide scholars with a foundational curriculum (asynchronous learning modules; in-person seminars; virtual learning seminars) in research methodology skills relevant to firearm injury prevention research, including the responsible conduct of research. AIM 4. Expose fellows to an applied mentored research experience tailored to their training level that will enhance their practice of interdisciplinary team science. AIM 5. Foster an on-going learning environment with highly engaged program faculty and mentors that will serve as role models and future colleagues, as well as enhance their potential for a successful academic career.

Learn more about the program. Applications are expected to be open in winter 2025 for the 2026 summer program.