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Rising Star Program to Increase Faculty Diversity

Now Accepting Applications!

APPLY NOW!

The 2022 Rising Star Awardees!

Dr. Alex Guseman Postdoc at University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Gabrielle Harris Postdoc at UNC School of Medicine
Dr. Oleta Johnson Postdoc at University of California San Francisco
Dr. Jennifer Jones Postdoc at University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Shahzad Khan Postdoc at Stanford University
Dr. Vivien Maltez Postdoc at National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases

Program Description

The UNC SOM’s Rising Star Program’s main goal is to increase diversity among faculty members in the basic sciences, with a specific focus on groups historically minoritized in the basic sciences. The groups prioritized for this initiative are African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx Americans, Native Americans, Natives of Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, and Natives of Alaska. This program provides training to postdoctoral fellows from these underrepresented groups to help them excel during the faculty interview process by exposing admitted fellows to the same components that they will experience during the faculty job interview process. This includes job talks, chalk talks, and multiple one-on-one faculty interviews. Participants will also attend workshops on the faculty environment and negotiating hiring packages. This program is sponsored by the Vice Dean for Research at UNC SOM, the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Awards.

Program Components

  • A two-day campus visit to UNC-Chapel Hill with all expenses paid and a $500 honorarium
  • Opportunities to complete mock job talks, chalk talks, and multiple one-on-one faculty interviews
  • Workshops on the faculty environment and negotiating hiring packages

2023 Program Schedule

  • The anticipated timeline is as follows:
    • Application Opened: December 19, 2022
    • Awardee Selection & Notification: Late March – Early April 2023
    • Program Orientation (Virtual Series): April 2023
    • UNC Campus Visit: May 8-10, 2023

Program Eligibility

Application Instructions

  • Only online applications will be accepted. When completing the online application, please have the following materials available:
    • UPLOAD your most recent Curriculum Vitae. There is no page limit for this document.
    • UPLOAD a brief Research Statement that includes a (a) Description of your previous experience and predoctoral work (1-2 paragraphs), (b) Overview of your current project (2-3 paragraphs), and (c) Explains your broad area of research for development (propose the idea for the research program you hope to develop as a faculty). This document should be no longer than 3 pages, excluding references.
    • IDENTIFY the basic science departments (up to 3) with which your research best aligns.
    • UPLOAD a Contribution to Diversity Statement – This document should be a succinct description (up to 1 page) articulating your contributions to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific workforce.
  • Each uploaded document must be saved as a pdf and titled with the applicant’s name (i.e. JaneDoe_CV, JaneDoe_ResearchStatement, etc.).

APPLY HERE!

Program Leadership Team

Any questions about the program or application process can be addressed by Rising Star Leadership Team.