Author: Tina Kempin Reuter

Second Cohort of SSJR Fellows Announced

Join us in congratulating this semester’s SSJR fellows:

  • Nicole Lariscy, Ph.D., Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Shanshan Lian, Ph.D., Institute for Human Rights, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Geoffrey Silvera, Ph.D., Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions
  • Holly Horan, Ph.D., Department of OBGYN, Heersink School of Medicine
  • Tola Rodrick, Ph.D., Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jessica Morgan, MPH, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health
  • Catanya Stager, Ph.D., Division of Preventive Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine
  • Sarah Tucker, Ph.D., Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions
  • Ragib Hassan, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences

The SSJR Fellowship lasts one semester and focuses on specific skill development relating to social science and justice research. SSJR fellows participate in SSJR workshops and receive additional training and feedback.

The SSJR Fellowship Program has the following objectives:

  • Develop independent researchers in social science and justice research through mentored training.
  • Provide training on the research approaches and viewpoints social science and justice research can offer non-social science disciplines.
  • Teach scientific writing and specific research skills such as grant writing, methods in social science and justice research, and collaborative approaches.
  • Provide instruction on working in interdisciplinary teams.

The fall 2023 iteration of the SSJR Fellowship Program focuses on grant writing within a social justice framework. Participants will be taught grant preparation skills with the tangible goal to produce grant applications and new interdisciplinary projects that incorporate perspectives or policies of equity, inclusion, justice, and human rights suitable for submission to an external agency. The final product will be a grant proposal written (and submitted, pending applicable submission deadlines) by each fellow during the training period or shortly after.

Two Pilot Grant Proposals Funded

Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply for an SSJR pilot grant! We are excited to announce the first round of winners:

Exploring Psychological Safety in the Classroom among Bachelor of Science in Nursing Students, PI: Dr. Sarah Gallups

The objectives of this pilot study are to explore the experience of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students with psychological safety in the classroom, including both didactic and lab settings, identify barriers and facilitators to psychological safety, and estimate differences between demographic groups. The research team will utilize a cross-sectional descriptive study design.

Stability of Opioids and Associated Drugs in Toxicology Samples Selected From a Study of Mortality amongst the Homeless Population in Jefferson County, PI: Dr. Karen Scott

The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive report of opioid-related mortality among homeless persons in Jefferson County January 2012 to December 2022. In addition, a stability study will be conducted on fentanyl in postmortem femoral and central purge
fluid as well as purchased preserved whole blood to evaluate the stability of fentanyl over a six month period when stored at room temperature, refrigerator and freezer condition.

SSJR Pilot Grant Application Now Open

The application for SSJR Pilot Grants is now open to all UAB faculty and postdocs. Funding up to $20,000 is available to provide initial project support for new investigators, allow exploration of innovative new directions for established investigators, and encourage investigators from other areas to incorporate a social science and justice lens into their current expertise. More information is available under Opportunities.

For questions, please contact ssjr@uab.edu.

Timeline

Request for Proposals (RFP) Released: February 27, 2023

Deadline for 1-page Concept: March 20, 2023

Concept paper feedback provided to investigator: April 15, 2023

Deadline for Full Applications: May 22, 2023

Awards Announced: June 15, 2023

Funding Start: June 15, 2023

SSJR Fellows Announced

Join us in congratulating this semester’s SSJR fellows:

  • Anna Helova, DrPH, Department of Health Policy and Organization/Sparkman Center for Global Health, School of Public Health
  • Shannon McCarthy, PhD, Department of Human Studies, School of Education
  • LaToya Melton, MSW, Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Lilian Mina, PhD, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Claire Greenstein, PhD, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mary Ann Bodine-Al Sharif, PhD, Department of Human Studies, School of Education
  • Caroline Richter, PhD, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Julie Paul, PhD, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education
  • Jessica Jaiswal, PhD, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine
  • Jenna Reynolds, PhD, Department of World Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Dr. Catheryn Orihuela, PhD, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

The SSJR Fellowship lasts one semester and focuses on specific skill development relating to social science and justice research. SSJR fellows participate in SSJR workshops and receive additional training and feedback.

The SSJR Fellowship Program has the following objectives:

  • Develop independent researchers in social science and justice research through mentored training.
  • Provide training on the research approaches and viewpoints social science and justice research can offer non-social science disciplines.
  • Teach scientific writing and specific research skills such as grant writing, methods in social science and justice research, and collaborative approaches.
  • Provide instruction on working in interdisciplinary teams.

The spring 2023 iteration of the SSJR Fellowship Program focuses on grant writing. Participants will be taught grant preparation skills with the tangible goal to produce grant applications and new interdisciplinary projects that incorporate perspectives or policies of equity, inclusion, justice, and human rights suitable for submission to an external agency. The final product will be a grant proposal written (and submitted, pending applicable submission deadlines) by each fellow during the training period or shortly after.

Recap: SSJR Research Seminar “Human Rights and Engineering”

Dr. Shareen Hertel, Professor of Political Science and Human Rights at the University of Connecticut, introduced UConn’s Engineering for Human Rights Initiative.

The Engineering for Human Rights Initiative (EHRI) is a collaborative venture between UConn’s School of Engineering (SoE) and Human Rights Institute (HRI) that addresses human rights implications of the most significant challenges in engineering and technology in six key research areas:

  • Water, Health & Food Security
  • Product Design, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain Management
  • Community Planning, Resilience and Justice for a Changing Environment
  • Engineering Education and Accessibility Rights
  • Engineering Substances and Process Sustainability
  • Cybersecurity, Privacy and Human Vulnerability.

The Initiative involves 60 faculty affiliates across departments within UConn’s School of Engineering and in the School of Medicine; School Social Work; Law School; School of Business; College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; and College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources.

Dr. Hertel discussed how social sciences and justice perspectives can be integrated in engineering, the challenges that come with cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the impact this program had on engineering in the state of Connecticut. UConn trains most of the state’s engineers who now have been trained in including equity, justice, and human rights as part of their work. She also discussed ongoing conversations with industry, academia, education, and communities and how stakeholder engagement is key for the social sustainability of engineering initiatives.