First Cohort of Mid-Career Fellowship program Fellows Named

The first cohort of Mid-Career Faculty Fellowship (MCFF) program fellows have been named and will begin the year-long program this fall.

Fellows from each academic college were selected to participate. They include:

College of the Arts
Dr. Benjamin Yates and Ashlie Boelkins

B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration
Dr. Sarfraz Khan and Dr. Javier Portillo

College of Education and Human Development
Dr. Heather Stone and Dr. Jeremy Foreman

College of Engineering
Dr. Yin Feng and Dr. Mehdi Mokhtari

College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Holly Damico and Dr. Elizabeth Bobo

College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Dr. Scott Sittig

Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Dr. Sonya HY Hsu and Dr. Yi-Hong Wang

The MCFF Program aims to engage mid-career researchers and scholars in research, creative activities, and funding proposals. In alignment with the University’s Strategic Planning and OVPRIED’s RISE UL: Vision 2030, the MCFF program will “enhance funded research and scholarly productivity across all disciplines.”

To be considered for the program, faculty must be tenured associate professor rank, nominated by their unit head/director to the College Dean. An external mentor will coach them in research productivity, grant activities, national/international recognition, community-engaged scholarship, career success, and networking throughout the year.

Resources provided to the Fellows

OVPRIED will provide $5,000 in research support to each Fellow, which can be used for any research-related expenditures (for example, research related supplies, student/scientist support, travel, and article processing charges). The $5,000 allocation for research support shall not be used by the MCF Fellow in the form of stipends or salary compensation. OVPRIED will also offer an honorarium of $1,000 to each external mentor.  The academic Department and College may provide a course release or service release for one semester. The academic units may also provide additional support, such as travel funds to the Fellows.

Alignment with Other Campus-wide Programs

The MCFF program will provide the following opportunities for the Fellows:

• The Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Office of Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development have recently initiated a Research Travel Grant program for faculty. MCF Fellows are encouraged to apply for this opportunity and will be given priority towards their Research Travel Grant Application. They will be eligible for an additional $500 toward the Research Travel Grant award to support this program.
• The University is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) (https://www.facultydiversity.org/). The Office of VP for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development will partner with the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Graduate School to ensure the use of the services offered by NCFDD. The MCF Fellows will be given the opportunity to participate in the 14-Day Writing Challenge program offered by NCFDD, if the Fellow is interested.
• The opportunity to work with the James Jackson Community of Scholars program, a joint venture of the Office for Campus Inclusion and the Graduate School. https://diversity.louisiana.edu/engage/james-jackson-community-scholars 
• MCF Fellows will get the chance to meet with the James Jackson Scholars for social and scholarly activities. Moreover, they will be encouraged to mentor at least 1 James Jackson Scholar within two years upon completing this program.

Fellows will submit at least one grant proposal to any external funding agency as a PI within two years of the completion of the program.