Edge Funding

Partners

We support early career faculty who are facing care giving challenges
By offering professional and personal 'extra hands,' the goal of PARTNERS is to restore stability and protect promising research careers.

The PARTNERS program will begin accepting applications in July 2025.

PARTNERS knows that life happens. We support early career faculty who are facing care giving challenges so that career momentum can be maintained or restored when the going gets rough.

By offering professional and personal “extra hands,” the goal of PARTNERS is to restore stability and protect promising research careers.

Vanderbilt and Meharry faculty with extraordinary caregiving responsibilities may apply for PARTNERS.


QUESTIONS
For questions about the program, or to apply, please email Helen Bird, Senior Communications Specialist.

How it Works
SCREENING & SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

PARTNERS applications begin with a confidential screening to ensure eligibility is met.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the Scientific Review Committee will assess each application.

CONFIRMATION

Division chief or chair will certify that faculty is in good standing.

The reasons for eligibility will NOT be conveyed, only the fact of eligibility for the award.

TAILORED ASSISTANCE

Assistance is tailored to eligibility and individual needs.

>

To be eligible to apply for PARTNERS, you must be:

  • Faculty at the rank of instructor or above and
  • Have a career development award such as a K that protects at least 50% of your time for research/training or
  • Within the first year of your first R01 or equivalent (including VA Merit)
>

TYPES OF PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES (budget required)

Coverage of clinical time (buy-out)

Clinical study coordinator effort

Editorial support for manuscripts, grants, or progress reports

Trained medical record abstractors

Informatics expertise

Database enhancements

Laboratory technician effort

Statistical support

Project management consultant

Postdoctoral fellow

Work/study student assistant

>

INSIGHTS INTO NEEDS OF ACADEMIC FACULTY

Hartmann KE, Sundermann AC, Helton R, Bird H, Wood A.  The Scope of Extra-Professional Caregiving Challenges Among Early Career Faculty: Findings From a University Medical Center.  Academic Medicine. 2018; Epub ahead of print. PMID: 29596083

Jagsi R, Jones RD, Griffith KA, Brady KT, Brown AJ, Davis RD, Drake AF, Ford D, Fraser VJ, Hartmann KE, Hochman JS, Girdler S, Libby AM, Mangurian C, Regensteiner JG, Yonkers K, Escobar-Alvarez S, Myers ER.  An Innovative Program to Support Gender Equity and Success in Academic Medicine: Early Experiences From the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists.  Ann Intern Med.  2018; Epub ahead of print. PMID: 29554690

Brown AM, Morrow JD, Limbird LE, at al. Centralized oversight of physician-scientist faculty development at Vanderbilt: Early outcomes. Acad Med. 2008;83:969–975. PMID: 18820531

Munson M, Weisz O, Masur S. Juggling on the ladder: Institutional awards help faculty overcome early-mid career obstacles. American Society of Cell Biology Newsletter. 2014; 37:9.

Jagsi R, Butterton JR, Starr R, Tarbell NJ. A targeted intervention for the career development of women in academic medicine. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:343–345.

Beckett L, Nettiksimmons J, Howell LP, Villablanca AC. Do family responsibilities and a clinical versus research faculty position affect satisfaction with career and work-life balance for medical school faculty? J Womens Health. 2015;24:471–480.

Questions

For questions about the program, or to apply, please email Helen Bird, Senior Communications Specialist.

upcoming Partners events [ view all events ]
January 13, 2025 | 9:00 am (In-Person) Dr. Todd Edwards | 2525 West End, 6 Floor boardroom
Grant Pacing Workshop
Grants & Funding
Pre/Post Doc
January 16, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Panel | PRB 206
Newman Seminar
Grants & Funding
Early career faculty
January 30, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Dr. Bill Cooper | PRB 206
Edge Seminar
Pre/Post Doc
RCR
February 6, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Panel | PRB 206
Newman Seminar
Faculty Life
Early career faculty
February 12, 2025 | 8:00 am (In-Person) Student Life Center
Forum
Doing Research
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
February 20, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Dr. James West | PRB 206
Edge Seminar
Writing & Publishing
Pre/Post Doc
RCR
March 27, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) TBA | PRB 206
Edge Seminar
Newman Seminar
Faculty Life
Mentoring
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Management & Leadership
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
RCR
April 3, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Russ Bebee | PRB 206
Edge Seminar
Doing Research
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
April 10, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Dr. Julie Bastarache | PRB 206
Newman Seminar
Grants & Funding
Early career faculty
May 1, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Stacey Satchell | PRB 206
Edge Seminar
Newman Seminar
Faculty Life
Life Hacks
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
CONFIDENTIAL | SUPPORTIVE | RESTORATIVE
Testimonials
find out first
For local announcements, follow @EFSInsideScoop.