Program Overview

The CTSC Community Engaged Research Embedded Scholars Program is a new opportunity being offered to CTSC affiliated faculty and community partners to take a deeper dive in their research partnerships. This innovative program seeks to embed a faculty member interested in building skills in community engaged research (CER) and looking to develop/grow a community partnership. The goal of this program will be to help grow a true bilateral partnership between the academic and community partner giving time, space, and compensation to do so. Ultimately, embedded scholars should come away with a strong foundational relationship with a community partner, appreciation for the partner’s expertise and a collaborative research project proposal.

Embedded scholars will work with their chosen community partner and co-apply as a team for the program. Embedded scholars will receive 10% effort (4 hours a week) of protected time paid by the CTSC for 9 months. Community organizations will receive a $9000 stipend to participate in the program and help co-design a research project with the faculty person to submit for future funding. One Investigator and Community Partner pair/team will be selected for this round of the program. Applicant studies must align with NIH priorities, and selection favors sustained partnerships, future funding potential, and community health impact.

Benefits:

Enhanced community engaged research skills, such as guaranteed enrollment in CER 101 training
Monthly engagement with CTSC mentoring team, navigating resources
10% salary support for faculty investigator; Jan 1- September 30
$9000 stipend for community partner
Opportunities to present at other diverse community meetings such as the CTSC Community Advisory Board (CAB) for feedback and dissemination

Program Expectations:

Faculty to spend approximately 4 hours per week with community partner or working on project, including time spent attending events with community partner
Attend monthly meeting with CTSC mentoring team to help check on progress, troubleshoot project or partnership issues (monthly at first, then tailored to needs)
Present at least once at the CER Full Module Meeting
Faculty and community partner to participate in CER 101 training and use of CER toolkit
Co-Develop a mutually beneficial project idea
Submit a proposal for a partnered pilot research project to CTSC Mentoring team for feedback for further funding

Eligibility:

*Academic Partner/Investigator:

Faculty at one of CTSC partner institutions (Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, University of Toledo, Northeast Ohio Medical University, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System);
Letter of Support from department signing off on 10% protected time paid by the CTSC Community Partner
Interest in research and willingness to form or strengthen research partnership with the applying investigator
Letter of support from community organization leadership to participate

*(Lead Investigator)

Selection Criteria:

Potential for sustained community-academic partnership
Potential for successful future funding
Potential for community health improvements and impact

Key Dates:

Applications Open: October 1, 2025
Application Due: November 14, 2025
Selections Announced: November 26, 2025
Scope of work (SOW)/Memorandum of understanding (MOU) Process: November 26- December 31, 2025
Program Launches: January 1, 2026
Program Wraps: October 1st, 2026

Questions:

If any questions, please contact Darerian Schueller at dschueller@metrohealth.org.

CTSC Community Engaged Research Embedded Scholars Program