The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research-funded Center on Health Services Training and Research, also known as CoHSTAR, has opened its latest call for applicants for research opportunities, including two new efforts that target physical therapists from underrepresented groups.

The latest CoHSTAR additions are diversity-targeted opportunities as part of the center's visiting scientist program as well as its mentored summer research program. In both instances, CoHSTAR is calling for applicants from underrepresented groups as defined by the National Institutes of Health. That definition includes individuals from racial or ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related sciences, as well as individuals with disabilities.

The visiting scientist program is for a current faculty member who is a PT and engaged in physical therapy-related health services research. The 12-month experience will begin with a four-week intensive summer mentorship and culminate in a research presentation, publication, and/or pilot grant application.

The mentored summer research program is for graduate students who are either enrolled in a DPT program or who are licensed physical therapists enrolled in a PhD program. The experience is expected to last eight to 10 weeks and should lead to a research presentation and/or paper.

Candidates for both diversity-targeted opportunities will be paired with a faculty mentor or mentoring team at Brown University and will receive travel support, peer mentoring, and information resources.  

Applications for the positions must be received by Feb. 15, 2021.

More Fellowship Opportunities From CoHSTAR

In addition to the new offerings, CoHSTAR has opened its call for other fellowship opportunities, also with a Feb. 15, 2021, application deadline. The positions are:

• Full-time postdoctoral fellowships: Trainees work onsite at one of three participating institutions. They will be provided with mentorship, didactic training, travel support, information resources, and secretarial or technical support.
• Part-time faculty fellowship: Faculty fellows will retain their faculty appointments at their home institutions while using CoHSTAR support to maximize their protected time for research activities. Research fellows will be paired with a CoHSTAR site and faculty mentor or mentoring team. Fellowships provide mentorship, travel support, and information resources.
• CoHSTAR faculty fellowship with Johns Hopkins: The recipient will participate in a part-time faculty fellowship position through a Johns Hopkins University Visiting Scientist Program. The fellowship may extend to two years.

CoHSTAR was established with a grant of $2.5 million from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. Funding for this initiative was made possible with a $1 million gift from APTA, gifts from 50 APTA components, and donations from physical therapists, foundations, and corporations with a shared passion for the field of physical therapy.