Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER)

About this opportunity

Campus:

Indianapolis

Contact:

Alicia Gahimer,algahime@iupui.edu

Deadline:

November 27, 2023

Award cycle:

FY 2023-24

Funding available:

Varies by category

The Enhanced Mentoring Program with Opportunities for Ways to Excel in Research (EMPOWER) provides support to faculty who are historically underrepresented and/or excluded populations in their discipline or area of scholarship and historically denied admission to higher education or that discipline, 1) to become successful in sponsored research and scholarly activity, and 2) to achieve significant professional growth and advancement. The program sustains mentorship opportunities through the EMPOWER Grant Program, supporting achievement of excellence in research and scholarly activity, and optimal attainment of academic career goals and objectives.

The Value of Mentoring

In academia, mentoring attends to two dimensions: career and professional development and social-psychological support. Mentoring is shown to influence career success, satisfaction, and productivity, thus enhancing the institution's investment, retention rates, and reputation. It could mean the difference between success and failure for early career faculty who are searching for guidance, a sense of belonging, and confidence in their academic journey. This is particularly applicable for faculty pursuing research and creative activity. In addition, research has shown that formal mentoring programs are especially helpful to women and minorities.

Eligibility

  • Category A: Full-time tenure-eligible assistant professors and untenured associate professors from all schools and units at IU Indianapolis are eligible to apply as mentees. All full-time tenured associate professors or professors from all schools and units at IU Indianapolis are eligible to apply as mentors.
  • Category B: Full-time tenured associate professors from all schools and units at IU Indianapolis are eligible to apply as mentees. All full-time tenured professors from all schools and units at IU Indianapolis are eligible to apply as mentors.
  • Indianapolis faculty transitioning to Purdue University in July 2024 are not eligible for this program.

Funding

  • $10,000 in support of the mentee's research and professional development.
  • Mentees may use funds for one month summer salary (10 month appointees). Mentee is expected to be writing external proposals during this time if this option is taken.
  • Funds may be used for equipment, supplies, travel, research assistants, etc.
  • Funding available to the mentor is $2,000.

Application requirements

Proposal requirements

  • The mentoring program will be one calendar year in duration.
  • Mentees are required to attend an initial workshop/orientation on mentoring, a mid-program meeting, an end-of-program meeting, and encouraged to attend campus professional development opportunities available from Academic Affairs, the Office for Women (OFW) and the IU Office for Research Development (ORD). EMPOWER mentees are strongly encouraged to participate in the Graduate Mentoring Center Faulty and Staff Mentor Training. Mentees may also consult with key OFW and ORD staff on specific research and professional development topics and needs such as accessing proposal writing services, finding funding, finding potential collaborators, identifying and addressing biases in the academy, etc.
  • For both categories, a letter of support is required from the mentee's department head or dean, 1) addressing the mentee's eligibility for this mentoring program, and 2) indicating how this program is expected to benefit the mentee's research and professional growth.
  • Mentees are required to develop a plan for their research goals and objectives. The mentee and the mentor agree on the goals to be realized during the period of the grant.
  • Up to $10,000 total in support of the mentee's research and professional development is available once concrete steps and plans are in place for a submission to external funding sources.
  • Mentees may use funds for one month summer salary (10 month appointees). Mentee is expected to be writing external proposals during this time if this option is taken.
  • Funds may be used for equipment, supplies, travel, research assistants, etc.
  • Submission of a proposal to an external funding source must occur no later than 12 months from the end of the award period. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the applicant becoming ineligible to receive support from ORD in the future.
  • Mentees are required to submit a mid-year report and program end report.
  • A mentee can receive this award once.
  • Priority will be given to mentees that have yet to submit an external proposal or have yet to receive external funding.
  • Funding available to the mentor is $2,000.
  • During the calendar year of the program, the mentor is expected to spend at least 30 hours with the mentee.
  • Mentors are required to attend an initial workshop/orientation on mentoring, a mid-program meeting, an end-of-program meeting, and meet on a regular basis with their mentees .

Application sections include

  • Applicant Information
  • Project plan not to exceed five pages
  • Budget and justification
  • Biosketch or CV not to exceed five pages, include funding history
  • Letters of support from department chair or dean for mentees
  • IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC forms if applicable