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CSDE-eNews Bulletin |
July 28, 2009
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- CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPOTLIGHTS
- CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS
- CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST
- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
- OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
CSDE ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPOTLIGHTS
CITI Web-based Course Offline Week of 8/3/09
On
Monday, August 3rd, at approximately 8 AM EDT, the CITI Program web site will
be taken offline for a major system upgrade. They expect the downtime to be
approximately five days.
Those who need to complete training in
the protection of human research subjects to meet the NIH requirement, or that
of another sponsor, can complete one of the following:
1. The CITI training prior to
8/3/09 at 8am eastern daylight time (5am PDT).
2. The CITI training after it comes
back online (estimated to be 8/10/09).
3. The NIH web-based training
“Protecting Human Research Subjects” - http://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php. Users who complete this course
will need to save their completion certificate (Word or PDF format) and send it
to hsdtrain@uw.edu.
Questions about a prior CITI completion can be directed to hsdtrain@uw.edu.
Though we will not have access to the CITI web site and its completion records,
we should be able to answer most of these inquiries via completion records
downloaded for UW participants.
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CSDE AFFILIATE & FELLOW NEWS
Sarah Elwood Featured on College of Arts & Sciences Website
Sarah Elwood’s GIS Workshop, a capstone project for Geography majors that introduces
them to real-world problems, is featured on the College of Arts & Sciences
website.
Read the article here.
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CAMPUS SEMINARS & EVENTS OF INTEREST
Dr. Thomas Quinn – The HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Are We Winning the War?
Center
for AIDS Research (CFAR)
AIDS Clinical Conferences
Thomas Quinn, MD, Director, John Hopkins Center for Global Health
The HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Are We Winning the War?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
8:00 – 9:00 am
R & T Auditorium, Harborview Medical Center
More information is here.
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An Evening with Musa Ecweru, Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Uganda
Pilgrim
African Chamber of Commerce
An Evening with Musa Ecweru, Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Uganda
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Hotel Deca Ballroom
4507 Brooklyn Ave NE
More information is here.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Womens Health (K12)
(RFA-OD-09-006)
National Institutes of Health, etc
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): September
18, 2009 (Extended to October 22, 2009 (NOT-OD-09-125))
Internal Deadline: August 10, 2009
The goal of this initiative is to increase the number and skills of
investigators through a mentored research and career development experience
leading to an independent interdisciplinary scientific career that will benefit
the health of women, including research on sex/gender similarities or
differences in biology, health or disease.
Programs will accomplish these goals by ensuring that mentors represent
diverse disciplines needed to carry out interdisciplinary projects that will
bridge training with research independence for BIRCWH scholars.
Programs must ensure that research projects are interdisciplinary in nature.
With increasing understanding of the inter-relatedness and complexity of
disease, the nature of scientific investigation is shifting to an
interdisciplinary collaborative team approach. Interdisciplinary research could
provide an opportunity for not just medical specialties but also researchers in
dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, biotechnology, social sciences, anthropology,
genetics, and other disciplines, representing different perspectives and areas
of expertise, to work together in a mutually beneficial collaboration.
Collaborations among research scientists in academia, private industry, and
federal settings, could also provide access to the latest scientific tools and
technologies for women’s health and sex/gender research.
The new paradigm is that research integrating knowledge from members of the
research team who come from multiple disciplines and possess different areas of expertise (for
example, physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacologists, epidemiologists,
biotechnologists, social scientists, chemists, physicists, bioengineers and
geneticists) is needed to advance women’s health. An additional focus on
bioengineering and biomedical informatics, genomics, proteomics, imaging, and
metabolomics is increasingly relevant to research on women’s health and
sex/gender factors.
Pre-proposals should consist of a 3-4 page statement that addresses the goals
of the program; who will be involved; and a preliminary budget statement. Also
include a CV of up to 3-pages for each PI or Co-PI. The pre-proposals should be sent via email
(send PDF via email to Peggy Fanning - pfanning@u.washington.edu) and will be
reviewed by the Proposal Review Committee and should be submitted by 5:00 PM on
August 10, 2009. You will be informed by
the committee if your proposal is selected for submission. The Letter of Intent is due the 19th of
August.
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HIV/AIDS, Drug Use, and Vulnerable Populations in the US (R01)
(PA-09-236)
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s):
Multiple dates, see announcement
This FOA issued by the National institute on Drug Abuse and the National
Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, encourages
Research Project Grant (R01) applications to identify the role(s) that drug
abuse plays in fueling the HIV/AIDS epidemic in vulnerable groups
(racial/ethnic minorities, men who have sex with men, youth) in the United States
and to develop effective interventions to prevent new infections and to improve
the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS. It is essential to understand the factors
(biological, behavioral, psychosocial, environmental, institutional, etc.)
responsible for the profoundly disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS among
vulnerable groups. This FOA will support
studies to: 1) understand the contribution of drug abuse (both injection and
non-injection) to the acquisition and/or transmission of HIV; 2) study disease
progression and disease outcomes; 3) develop and/or improve prevention and
treatment interventions; 4) address organizational, structural, and/or
community level factors including social, drug-using, and sexual networks.
A range of methodological approaches including basic, clinical,
epidemiological, prevention, and treatment research as well as
multidisciplinary studies are needed to address the complex interplay of
biomedical, behavioral, and social factors that lead to HIV/AIDS disparities
among vulnerable populations. See
announcement for the types of studies included in the FOA.
There is also an R21 announcement (PA-09-237).
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Environmental Institute Request for Proposals
UW
College of the Environment
RFP
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): October
1, 2009
The overarching goal of the Environmental Institute is to proactively foster
new or emerging interdisciplinary activities of the College of the Environment
and the University of Washington to address pressing environmental issues
through research and education. Specific goals of the Environmental Institute
are to support highly visible and synergistic environmental initiatives which
1) are innovative and timely, 2) have the potential to have a substantial
intellectual and/or practical impact, 3) are interdisciplinary within or among
the natural, social and decision sciences and which may also involve other
professional and scholarly fields at the University, and 4) which engage
partners and constituencies outside the University.
The EI will enable innovative collaborations by bringing together the necessary
collection of expertise and capability to address significant research and
application problems. Due to the generosity of a private gift, we are able to
offer special funding to initiate some signature activities that will
demonstrate the potential of the Environmental Institute to achieve the goals
listed above. We solicit proposals for
initial activities that will illustrate the capacity of the UW and its partners
to make significant contributions to focused interdisciplinary environmental
problems in a timely fashion.
Successful proposals should address the goals of the Institute as described
above. Novel activities that can be most effectively facilitated by the
interdisciplinary mandate of the Environmental Institute will be favored as
well as activities that are likely to lead to robust, self-sustaining
collaborations within the UW and between the UW and its partner communities.
Activities that engage the external community are strongly encouraged. A wide
range of activities from individual speakers, to meetings, to seminar courses,
to multi-investigator research projects will be considered. The cost
effectiveness of the proposal is very important. The potential of the activity
to leverage other funding is also a consideration.
Funding will be provided for activities that continue over a period of up to
two years and requested funding should be properly scoped to the level of
activity required for success. Total funding available during the first two
years is up to $500K. Funding amounts requested for individual proposals may
range widely, but should not exceed $125K/yr.
Proposals can be submitted by faculty or staff from UW Bothell, UW Seattle or
UW Tacoma. UW post docs and students are encouraged to work with faculty and
staff to develop and submit proposals.
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Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/START) (R03)
(PAR-09-239)
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s):
Multiple dates, see announcement
This FOA will use the NIH Small Research Grant (R03) award mechanism and seeks
to facilitate the entry of beginning investigators into the field of behavioral
science research related to drug abuse.
To be appropriate for a B/START award, research must be primarily
focused on behavioral processes and research questions. Thus, research on neural, genetic, or other
biological processes would be appropriate for a B/START award only if its
overall emphasis were on understanding behavioral processes or outcomes.
The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of projects including pilot
and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small,
self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and
development of new research technology. The R03 is intended to support small
research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with
limited resources.
Behavioral research proposed under B/START need not be conducted in
drug-abusing populations or involve administration of drugs; however, the
relevance of the research to drug abuse or drug addiction must be clearly
established in the application.
In all proposed research, investigators are encouraged to consider designing
the research to permit an analysis of data by gender.
All areas of behavioral research related to drug abuse are sought under this
announcement including (a) animal and human basic behavioral research aimed at
elucidating underlying behavioral mechanisms, determinants and correlates of
drug abuse and characterizing the consequences of drug abuse and addiction; (b)
research incorporating neural and other biological approaches if the research
has a primary focus on behavior; (c)
drug abuse epidemiology, risk and
protective factors, treatment, prevention, and drug abuse services; and (d)
behavioral research on the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS and other
infectious diseases. These areas of
interest include, but are not limited to:
*Measurement of the incidence, prevalence, and patterns and trends of drug
abuse (in various stages).
*Identification of risk, vulnerability, protective, and resiliency factors for
drug use and dependence.
*Studies of learning, motivational, cognitive, and emotional factors
contributing to the acquisition of drug taking, maintenance, withdrawal, and
relapse.
*Characterization of the effects of abused drugs on diverse behavioral domains
including sensory-perceptual, psychomotor, learning, motivation, cognitive,
social, and cultural.
*Development of new animal behavioral paradigms that provide valid models of
human abuse and addiction.
*Development of new animal behavioral models to serve as screening procedures
in the search for pharmacotherapies to treat drug dependence.
*Development of mathematical or computational models of learning, conditioning,
or cognitive processes relevant to drug abuse.
*Studies of the behavioral factors involved in tolerance, and sensitization,
and in the transition from drug use to drug addiction.
*Behavioral genetic approaches either in animal models (e.g., transgenic
animals, development of simple high-input behavioral screens) or human subject
studies (e.g., establishment of pedigrees, twin studies, laboratory
investigation on behaviors related to candidate genes).
*Studies of innovative theory-based prevention approaches including
interventions to mitigate or ameliorate adverse consequences associated with
drug abuse.
*Studies of behavioral treatments of drug addiction, including animal models.
*Identification and examination of factors affecting treatment access, entry,
readiness, retention, and compliance.
*Studies of the effects of organization, financing, and management of services
on treatment outcomes.
*Studies of risk reduction strategies to reduce HIV and other infectious diseases
among drug abusers.
*Studies of drug abuse treatment services for HIV seropositive patients and for
those at risk for HIV infection.
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The Early Detection Research Network (U24)
(RFA-CA-09-020)
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s):
October 29, 2009
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits cooperative agreement
applications for a Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) and a
Statistics and Biomarker Resource Center (SBRC) as components of the Early
Detection Research Network (EDRN). EDRN is a national consortium funded to
discover, develop, and validate biomarkers for early cancer detection, risk
assessment and the molecular diagnosis and prognosis of early cancer.
Statistical and informatics activities for the EDRN are divided between the
DMCC and the SBRC, as follows. The DMCC supports statistical and computational
analysis, data management and protocol development, and informatics
infrastructure and coordinates network-wide meetings and conferences. Its
responsibilities are: (1) Network Coordination, (2) Data Management and
Protocol Development, (3) Theoretical and Applied Statistical Research, and (4)
Validation Infrastructure and Services. The SBRC is responsible for providing
statistical services and consultation to EDRN investigators on study design and
protocol development of individual EDRN studies and functions as the content
management center for the EDRN biomarker knowledgebase. The other three main
components of the EDRN are the Biomarker Developmental Laboratories (BDLs), the
Clinical Validation Centers (CVCs), and the Biomarker Reference Laboratories
(BRLs).
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Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award (ONES) (R01)
(RFA-ES-09-007)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Application Receipt Date(s): November 3, 2009
The Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award is intended to identify
outstanding scientists who are in the early, formative stages of their careers
and who intend to make a long term career commitment to research in the mission
areas of the NIEHS and assist them in launching an innovative research program
focusing on problems of environmental exposures and human biology, human
pathophysiology and human disease.
In addition to the Research Plan components of a basic
R01 application, submissions to this R01 Funding Opportunity (FOA)
announcement: 1) incorporate a statement
of career goals in the environmental health sciences, 2) include a discussion
of previous research experience and achievements in addition to the research
proposal, 3) encourage the active
participation of an external advisory committee, 4) require demonstration of
the commitment by the institution to actively support the research program
development of the Principal Investigator, and 5) include specific budget
elements devoted to equipment and career enhancement activities.
Research projects proposed in response to this FOA will be expected to have a
defined impact on the environmental health sciences and be responsive to both
the mission of the NIH and, specifically, to the mission of the NIEHS. The mission of the NIH is defined as science
in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living
systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce
the burdens of illness and disability.
The mission of the NIEHS is distinguished from that of other Institutes
by its focus on research programs seeking to link the effects of environmental
exposures to the cause, mechanisms, moderation, or prevention of a human
disease or disorder or relevant pathophysiologic process. For purposes of this
announcement, all applications should demonstrate as a rationale for the study
a direct and significant endpoint associated with a specific human disease,
dysfunction, pathophysiologic condition, or relevant human biologic process;
and propose to focus on the human health effect of a toxicant exposure relevant
to the mission of the NIEHS. Examples of relevant toxicants include industrial
chemicals or manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides, herbicides, air
pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates or fibers, fungal, and
bacterial or biologically derived toxins. Agents considered non-responsive to
this announcement include, but are not limited to: alcohol, chemotherapeutic
agents, radiation which is not a result of an ambient environmental exposure,
smoking, except when considered as a secondary smoke exposure as a component in
the indoor environment (particularly in children), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, dietary
nutrients, and infectious or parasitic agents, except when these are disease
co-factors to an environmental toxicant exposure to produce the biological
effect. Applications which propose to study only model compounds must provide a
clear, reasonable and specific description as to how research on the model
compound will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in
responses to specific environmental agents which are included in the mission
responsibility of the NIEHS. The peer
review committee will assess whether or not the applicant has made sufficient
justification to study the model compound.
Ecologic and environmental monitoring studies, bioaccumulation,
environmental engineering or ecologic degradation studies will not be
responsive without a significant human exposure biology component.
As part of the rationale for the study, applicants involving animal exposures
must include a justification of how the exposure paradigm is relevant to human
exposure and clearly discuss the link between the exposure and the relevant
human disease in the Background and Significance section of the application. In
addition, the applicant should discuss the potential for translation of the
research, which is defined as applying the ideas, insights, and discoveries
generated through the basic inquiry to the treatment or prevention of human disease.
Applicants proposing epidemiological research are expected to address how the
significant associations revealed in the studies could be confirmed in the
laboratory setting.
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Electronic Submission of NIH Fellowship Applications
NIH
is rapidly approaching yet another milestone in our ongoing transition to
electronic submission of grant applications. As announced in NOT-OD-09-106,
effective August 8, 2009, all grant applications for the Individual National
Research Service Award (NRSA) Fellowships (F-series) will require electronic
submission through Grants.gov using the SF424 (R&R). All active Funding Opportunity
Announcements for these awards were updated in June and can now be found in the
NIH Guides for Grants and Contracts.
Applicants should be aware that paper applications will not be accepted on or
after the August 8 transition date.
Looking forward, the next batch of grant programs to transition to electronic
submission will include Institutional National Research Service Awards (T32, T34, T35, T90 and TU2), other
institutional training grants (D43, D71, T14, T15, T37, U2R) and institutional
career development programs (K12 and K30). The transition of these programs
originally set for September 25, 2009 has been rescheduled and will now begin
on January 25, 2010 (see NOT-OD-09-113). These applications should continue to
be submitted on the appropriate paper application forms until the January 25
transition.
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NIH Enhances Process of Notice of Award (NoA) Email Notifications
(NOT-OD-09-127)
National Institutes of Health
When NIH issues a Notice of Award (NoA), the official document is made
available to grantee officials and corresponding Program Directors/Principal
Investigators through the eRA Commons.
The eRA Commons is the official repository for this document. As part of the NoA process, NIH has continued
the practice of notifying the grantee via e-mail address when an award has been
issued.
The purpose of this Guide Notice is to notify the grantee community that in
recent months NIH has determined that the email notification system can be
improved to ensure that email notifications are consistently and correctly
sent.
While implementing this improvement, NIH determined that certain NoA
notifications were not initially sent to the grantee. For those in this category since July 1,
2009, NIH has regenerated these notifications and sent them to the
grantee. Please note that the delayed
sending of NoA email notification does not affect the original content (e.g.,
award date, dollars awarded, etc) or their posting in the eRA Commons.
System improvements will be implemented over the course of the next few months
by the eRA Team. A partial system
improvement will be released on July 24, 2009 and the final improvement will be
made in October 2009. An automated
notification monitoring system will also be put in place in October to ensure
that any NoA notification errors are addressed in a timely manner. In the meantime, eRA staff will perform
daily, manual checks to identify any notification anomalies and regenerate NoA
notifications as needed.
Signing Officials (SOs) can also assist in this improvement effort by ensuring
that the NoA email address recorded in the Institutional Profile for your
institution is kept current. SOs can
edit the award email field by following the instructions provided in the
Editing Institutional Profile Information link in the eRA Commons. Grantee institutions are strongly encouraged
to use a unique email address that is not specific to an individual to avoid
notification problems when personnel change.
The organization is responsible for maintaining an accurate NoA email
address. In addition to the email
notifications, grantees are reminded that there are other ways to check for
recently issues awards within the eRA System:
*Use the public Issued Notice of (Grant) Award (http://era.nih.gov/commons/quick_queries/NIH_issued-NGAs.cfm)
query on the eRA Web site to general a list of awards issued to your
organization over a selected period. You
will need to know your organization’s Institution Profile File (IPF) Number in
order to use this query. Your IPF number
can be found by logging into Commons and accessing the Basic information
section of your organization’s Institution Profile or you can use the public
IPF Number Search query to obtain the number.
*Use the Recently Awarded search option in eRA Commons status to identify the
list of awards matching your search criteria.
You must have an eRA Commons account with a Signing Official (SO) or
Administrative Official (AO) role to use this feature.
Inquiries concerning this Notice may be directed to:
eRA Commons Help Desk
Web: http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
Phone: 301-402-7469
TTY: 301-451-5939
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant or Associate Professor – Claremont Graduate University, Economics
The
Department of Economics at Claremont Graduate University invites applications
for a tenure-track/tenured position at the rank of Assistant or Associate
Professor. Claremont Graduate University, located 45 minutes east of Los
Angeles in California is a graduate-only institution in the Claremont Colleges
consortium that includes five undergraduate colleges (Harvey Mudd College,
Pitzer College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College and Scripps College)
and the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences.
This position offers a competitive salary and teaching load, as well as summer
research support. Individuals with an interest in teaching behavioral economics
and microeconomics at the graduate level are preferred. An ability to teach
econometrics would also be valued.
More information is here.
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Instructor or Assistant Professor – Middlebury College, Geography
The
Geography Department seeks to fill one tenure-track position at the instructor
(ABD) or Assistant Professor (Ph.D) level. We seek candidates whose teaching
and research activities combine GIScience with any geographic specialty area.
Teaching responsibilities will include introductory and advanced GIS courses
along with thematic courses in his/her specialty area. Middlebury College has a
long history of innovative GIS teaching within the liberal arts, and GIS is
integrated within the Environmental Studies curriculum.
A strong commitment to undergraduate education is essential.
Application Deadline: October 30, 2009
More information is here.
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Adjunct Faculty – Drexel University, Economics
Drexel
University's Richard C. Goodwin College of Professional Studies (School of
Education) seeks outstanding adjunct faculty for teaching opportunities for
both on-site and online in Economics. Onsite teaching will take place at Drexel
University - Center for Graduate Studies, Sacramento, California. Positions are
available immediately for the fall term.
More information is here.
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Senior Researcher – Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), Life Course and Demographic Behaviour
The
Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) is a research
institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and
located in the centre of The Hague. The aim of NIDI is to conduct excellent
scientific research on population issues of societal relevance. This research
focuses on both national and international issues and often uses the life
course perspective as its theoretical framework. The staff of the institute
consists of about 60 persons, the majority of whom conduct scientific research.
The senior researcher is expected to make a major contribution to the
development of NIDI research within the broad theme of Life Course and
Demographic Behaviour. He/she writes articles for international scientific
journals and reports for external funding agencies. He/she acquires and directs
externally funded research projects. He/she represents the institute at
national and international events and meetings.
We are looking for an experienced empirical social scientist with a broad
orientation. The successful candidate has an excellent track record with regard
to research on key social-demographic themes, evidenced by publications in
international top journals. The candidate has a firm knowledge of
quantitative-methodological issues. He/she has successfully acquired external
funding from scientific and policy-oriented agencies. In addition, a flexible,
result-oriented attitude is expected. Good communication skills and a thorough
knowledge of English (both oral and written) are required.
More information is here.
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Student Writing Tutors – Odegaard Writing and Research Center
The
OWRC has asked that this job posting be passed along to undergraduate and
graduate students.
The Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC) is NOW HIRING writing tutors for
Early Fall Start and the 2009-10 academic year.
OWRC supports UW students, staff, and faculty with all types of writing and research
projects. During the regular academic
year, we're open Sunday-Thursday from 12:00-9:00pm. More information about the center and its
mission are available at http://depts.washington.edu/owrc
We are seeking:
1) Qualified undergraduate and graduate writing tutors who can join our weekly
schedule starting Early Fall Start or Fall 2009
2) Qualified substitute writing tutors who will have the ability to pick up shifts
during busy periods and/or step in when one of our regularly scheduled tutors
needs an afternoon or evening off
Find a detailed job description, pay schedule, application guidelines, and FAQ here.
We will be accepting materials until July 31, 2009 (though you're encouraged to
apply early for a better
chance
at securing a position). Please contact Jenny
Halpin at owrc@u.washington.edu with questions.
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TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
AHRQ Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36)
(PAR-09-212)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): February 1, May 1, August 1, and
November 1 annually, beginning November 1, 2009
Applications for dissertation research grants must be responsive to AHRQ’s
mission, which is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness
of health care for all Americans.
AHRQ has identified strategic goals as priority research areas. Research
applications must address one of these areas.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to focus on topical areas unique to
AHRQ, demonstrating how expected results can be used or made available for use
to enhance healthcare quality. Results
should be directly relevant to customers, such as providers and practitioners,
administrators, payers, consumers, policymakers, and insurers. The strategic research goals are:
* Safety/quality – Reduce the risk of
harm from health care services by promoting the delivery of appropriate care
that achieves the best quality outcomes
* Efficiency – Achieve wider access
to effective health care services and reduce health care costs
* Effectiveness – Assure that
providers and consumers/patients use beneficial and timely health care
information to make informed decision choices.
AHRQ has particular interest in supporting dissertation projects in the
following areas: comparative
effectiveness, health information technology (health IT), patient safety,
prevention and care management, value, and healthcare innovations.
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SBE Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Follow-up Research Starter Grants (MPRF)
Program Solicitation NSF 09-595
National Science Foundation
Application Deadline: October 19, 2009
The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offers Minority
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Research Starter Grants in an effort to
increase the diversity of researchers who participate in NSF programs in the
social, behavioral and economic sciences and thereby increase the participation
of scientists from underrepresented groups in selected areas of science in the
United States. These activities
(postdoctoral fellowships and follow-up research starter grants) support
training and research in the areas of social, behavioral and economic sciences within the purview of
NSF.
This funding opportunity was previously offered via a joint program (NSF
06-586) with the Directorate for
Biological Sciences (BIO). The
significant changes in the new SBE MPRF solicitation are listed below:
*Eligible to apply for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship if Ph.D was obtained
within 30 months before application deadline (previously was four years).
*Research and Training Plan page limit: 10 pages (previously was 5).
*Deadline for both Fellowship and Follow-up Research Starter Grant proposals is
the third Monday in October (previously was the first Monday of November).
*If the Fellowship candidate already has a tenure-track position, a letter is
required from the Department Chair/Head stating that if the MPRF were to be
awarded, the Fellow would be allowed a two-year leave of absence.
*Travel awards are no longer offered.
*Follow-up Research Starter Grants: 15 page limit for Project Description.
*In an effort to reduce the number of applications returned without review,
applicants who mention human subjects and/or vertebrate animals in their
research plans are advised to contact the Program Officer prior to submission.
*Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures
Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions
of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that
requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description
of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this
requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant
Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of
this new requirement).
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OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
Sign Up for Census News Briefs
Do
you want to follow the latest Census
updates? You can sign up for the Census
news briefs here.
The homepage for the Census Project is here.
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Fall2009 Course of Interest for Grad Students
Promoting
Well-Being Among At-Risk Groups Through Prevention/Health Promotion Research
SOCWL 577
Mondays 9:30-12:30
Room 125 SSW
Instructor: Paula Nurius, School of Social Work
nurius@u.washington.edu
3 credit graduate seminar, emphasis is on etiological (development of
problems/conditions) and intervention research with special attention to
vulnerable, at-risk groups and/or conditions that contribute to disparities.
Experienced faculty from a range of disciplines and research interest
participate interactively with students in the seminar. Major topics to be
addressed include:
* Context, major concepts, &
theories in health promotion/prevention research
* Identifying/ applying risk and
protective factor frameworks with an eye to critical perspectives
* Translation of theory into etiological
and intervention design
* Tailoring messages and interventions
for varied populations
* Transdisciplinarity in
promotion/prevention-what does it mean?
* Social determinants of
health/well-being disparities
* Community-based partnership models
in promotion/prevention
* Cultural and cross-cultural factors
in promotion/prevention
* Multi-level analysis of influences
between people and environments (connecting biology, psychology, social,
structural factors)
Support to articulate participants' own prevention/health promotion research
perspective is a central goal. Individuals with a range of mental health,
physical health, development, learning and related well-being concerns are
welcomed. Participants are supported to interact and formulate their
prospective research agendas.
Maximum # of students=12
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PRB Has Added New Content to Website
The
Population Reference Bureau has added new content to its website: www.prb.org
IRAN
Youth, Women's Rights, and Political Change in Iran
Recent political developments in Iran highlight the country's demographic and
social shifts over the past 20 years. One in three Iranians is between the ages
of 15 and 29. Furthermore, 60 percent of the Iranian population is under 30,
born around the 1979 Islamic revolution or after. This youth bulge, along with
changes in women's fertility and reproductive health, provide a backdrop for
understanding Iran's current political instability. This article was written by
Farzaneh Roudi, program director of the Middle East and North Africa program at
PRB.
UPDATED LESSON PLANS FOR TEACHERS
Human Population: Fundamentals of Growth and Change
Has the world's population distribution changed much over time? Does AIDS have
a significant impact on population growth? When could world population stop
growing? These popular lesson plans, suitable for middle to high school, have
just been updated with the latest world population figures. Find out the
answers to these questions and more. Subjects covered: population growth,
future growth, migration, change, urbanization, women, health, and environment.
Charts and graphs supplement each topic with one full-sized chart (in PDF)
suitable for class distribution or transparencies. Along with each topic are a
frequently asked question and glossary. Teacher's guides with discussion
questions and web resources are also included in each section.
CHILDREN
The 2009 Child Well-Being Index
The annual Child Well-Being Index, calculated by the Foundation for Child
Development and Youth Well-Being Index Project at Duke University, assesses the
overall well-being of children in the United States. The 2009 CWI finds that
progress in the quality of life for America's children has fluctuated since
2002 and began to decline in 2008 as a result of the economic recession. This
article was written by Eric Zuehlke, an editor at PRB.
ENVIRONMENT
Integrating Population, Health, and Environment in Uganda
After decades of instability and civil conflict, Uganda has enjoyed relative
stability, sustained economic growth, and great improvements in health over the
last 20 years. During the same period, Uganda's population has grown rapidly,
and in 2009 surpassed 30 million people. This rapid population growth is
contributing to the degradation of Uganda's natural resources, the backbone of
the country's economy and household livelihoods. Continued reductions in
poverty depend in large part on finding innovative and integrated solutions to
the complex population, health, and environment problems affecting Uganda's
poorest people. This policy brief was written by Jason Bremner, program
director for Population, Health, and Environment at PRB, and Eric Zuehlke, an
editor at PRB. The brief is based on the Uganda PHE Assessment written by Elady
Muyambi of Pro-Biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda, with assistance from
members of the Uganda PHE Assessment team.
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PRB Discuss Online – Africa’s Future: Improving the Health of Mothers and Children
Every
year in sub-Saharan Africa, 265,000 mothers die in childbirth and 4.5 million
children die before the age of 5 from preventable causes. One important way to
reduce maternal mortality and improve child health is through family planning,
which helps women avoid unintended pregnancies and allows them to choose the timing
and number of pregnancies they have. The rapid population growth that Africa
continues to experience is because women have many children (5.4 children per
woman on average in the regions), and this sustained growth in population
adversely affects many aspects of national development, including environmental
sustainability, economic well-being, health status, and governance. Although
Africa continues to be greatly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the
continent’s rapid population growth more than offsets the deaths due to AIDS.
In spite of these challenges, family planning continues to be one of the best
opportunities to improve the health of mothers and children throughout Africa.
John Bongaarts, vice president and distinguished scholar at the Population
Council, will answer your questions about population growth and policy options
in sub-Saharan Africa. "It's become very clear...when you talk to women,
that there's no need for coercion. Women want to use contraception and often
have unwanted children," he says. "Reducing unintended pregnancies
and population growth contributes to reducing child mortality and improving
maternal health."
Bongaarts has worked at the Population Council since 1973. His research focuses
on a variety of population issues, including the determinants of fertility,
population-environment relationships, the demographic impact of the AIDS
epidemic, population aging, and population policy options in the developing
world.
Where: http://discuss.prb.org. You may submit questions in advance and during
the discussion. A full transcript of the questions and answers will be posted
after the discussion.
When: Thursday, July 30, 3009
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Webcast: John Bongaarts; Jotham Musinguzi, regional director of Partners in Population
and Development, Africa Regional Office in Uganda; and Nafissatou Diop,
reproductive health and family planning technical advisor and country director
for the Population Council in Senegal, took part in a U.S. congressional
briefing in June on this topic. View a webcast of the briefing. The event was
co-sponsored by the Association of Population Centers, Population Action
International, Population Association of America, Population Council,
Population Reference Bureau, Population Resource Center, and UCLA Bixby Center
on Population and Reproductive Health.
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