UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) are seeking applications for their inaugural Social Justice Research Council (SJRC) Equity Fellows program for the 2025-26 academic year. The deadline to apply is Jan. 27, 2025.

SJRC Equity Fellows are expected to engage in work, together or individually, that aligns with the mission of SSRI or CTSI and help support SJRC efforts to advance a culture of inclusive excellence across Penn State. SJRC Equity Fellows are also expected to engage in cross-cutting work that aligns with Penn State's values and strategic plan, especially the University's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The SJRC Equity Fellows program is open to all Penn State faculty regardless of appointment type (tenure-line, teaching, clinical, research, etc.), rank or campus location. An SJRC Equity Fellow will be appointed for one academic year, with the potential for renewal. Fellows will be granted one course release per year for SSRI and CTSI, if approved by their department head, or summer salary, for SSRI only.

A broad range of possible areas of work for SJRC Equity Fellows include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Identify barriers for inclusion among faculty, staff and/or students
• Improve practices in equity-minded faculty support and mentoring, working to foster an inclusive culture and enhance belonging
• Create events or opportunities to foster professional learning and rebuild community among faculty supporting mentoring, research and service
• Contribute to current groups identifying novel ways of evaluating scholarly activities, as well as their impact on the field, to better recognize and value a wider range of scholarship and engagement

All applications should be submitted to ssri-seed-grant@psu.edu. The deadline for applications is Jan. 27, 2025, and award notifications will take place on Feb. 17.

The SJRC serves as an interdisciplinary, university-wide initiative aimed at promoting equity, social justice, inclusion, and belonging. Situated within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR) and led by the OSVPR Institutes, SJRC works to advance the shared mission of fostering interdisciplinary and translational research while also supporting a diverse academic community at Penn State. Please direct questions about the SJRC Equity Fellows or the application process to Betsy Beck.