Interdisciplinary Research Leaders

Overview

<p>The broad goal of the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders (IRL) program is to produce diverse interdisciplinary leaders who conduct and apply high-quality, community-engaged, action-oriented, equity-focused health research in order to drive improvements in the health of communities. Another central goal of the IRL program is to foster and support new interdisciplinary, action-oriented research collaborations that will help build the evidence base for effective community interventions to improve health for all. Accordingly, the program will recruit and select applicants represented by teams of three people—two mid-career researchers and one community member—to become IRL program fellows. These IRL teams will join together as a diverse cohort of fellows who will participate in a three-year program. During this time, fellows will receive:</p> <ul> <li>leadership training</li> <li>opportunities to learn and apply cutting-edge research methods</li> <li>expert mentoring</li> <li>extensive networking opportunities; and,</li> <li>both fellowship and research funds. </li> </ul> <p>With these resources, IRL fellows will be better equipped to effect change and become the next generation of leaders in population health and health equity research. </p> <p>For this IRL cohort (beginning September 2020), the two research themes are:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Community Environment and Health:</strong> The IRL program seeks leaders who will conduct action-oriented research projects focused on community environments and health. For purposes here, we use "environment" in the traditional, biophysical sense. That is, this theme is focused on the physical, chemical, and biotic factors (e.g., soil and other living things) that impact human health and health equity. Included are issues relating to land use; noise pollution; solid, liquid, and hazardous materials management; underground storage tank control; septic and sewer systems; vector control; drinking water quality; water sanitation, and similar factors. This theme is not focused on the impacts of social, cultural, or built environments, per se, though such things may be related to biophysical environments. The term "community environment" is used to make clear that we seek research leaders interested in equity and change at the local level, such as a town, city, or even a state. Simply put, this theme is not focused on global climate change and the world systems that drive it.</li> <li><strong>Families and Child Health:</strong> The IRL program seeks leaders who will conduct action-oriented research projects focused on supporting families and child health, and health equity. While research addressing all aspects of families is welcome, we are particularly interested in research addressing and supporting the health of fathers and their children. </li> </ol>