LeaHD LHS Scientist Request for Applications

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many potential LeaHD scientists are you recruiting for this cohort?

LeaHD plans to have 3 cohorts of 4 Scientists each: cohort 1 began in 2024; cohort 2 will begin in the fall of 2025; and cohort 3 is planned to begin in 2027.

Will other materials (letters of support, budgets, budget justifications, etc.) be required? 

The request for applications contains the detailed list of the materials required for the initial application. Candidates who are selected to advance to the final interview stages will be asked to provide additional materials including: an institutional letter of support confirming that 40% effort can be dedicated to the program, a formal budget for the 18 month period, and a budget justification. Please do not submit these materials with your initial application.

Can applicants recommend or request possible mentors?

No. Candidates who are selected to advance to the final review stages will be matched with an academic mentor by the LeaHD team, based on the applicant’s learning goals and research support needs. Health System mentors will be determined by each partnered health system after final Scientist selections have been made.

What kinds of institutions are eligible for this award? 

All LeaHD Scientists must be employed by institutions that are eligible to receive federal funding, given that LeaHD funding is through a subcontract to the Scientist’s home institution. LeaHD is unable to award funds to individuals, organizations, or institutions not authorized to receive federal funds.

Are applicants outside of the sponsoring institutions at a disadvantage?

No, although applicants employed by LeaHD partner institutions are eligible to apply, they receive no special consideration as a result of their affiliation.

In our essays, should we speak to our anticipated research proposal(s)? Or, are the essays more focused on our interests and backgrounds more generally?

Essays should not include any specific research proposals because LHS Scientists will develop projects collaboratively with their embedded health system partners. Applicants should describe their relevant experience, the type of science that they’re interested in and how it directly relates to learning health systems research, and how they believe their experience and interests fit with the stated learning health system priorities preferably with more than one health system partner. 

What are the key qualities or experiences that the leadership team is seeking in candidates who apply for this program? 

The strongest candidates will have a clear understanding of what learning health systems research is and articulate how this type of research aligns with their career goals. Other qualities that would be viewed favorably include: strong qualitative or quantitative analytic skills; prior engagement with health systems; experience working with teams; experience working with health system data;, experience developing research or quality improvement projects in health systems; and a record of scholarly productivity. 

Does the Scientist project need to be planned with a LeaHD health system partner, or can it be planned at the health system of the applicant’s employer?

LHS Scientist projects are developed by the LeaHD Scientist and their LeaHD embedded health system partner to help address an issue identified as a priority by the health system. Scientists are encouraged to apply what they learn from working with their LeaHD health system partner to their own institutions. This work would occur outside of the hours dedicated to the LeaHD program. 

If we received funding through LeaRRn or CoHSTAR, are we still eligible to apply for LeaHD?

Yes, recipients of awards and fellowships by LeaHD’s sister programs LeaRRn and CoHSTAR are eligible to apply to the LHS Scientist Program.

Are the Health System priorities determined based on the current needs of the health systems? Will there be any adjustment to these topics once the match is identified?

LeaHD health system partners provide updated priorities before each Request for Applications is posted. However priorities are subject to change based on each health system’s evolving needs. 

Should applicants identify the specific health system partner(s) that they are interested in, or should they more broadly identify themes that are found in priorities for multiple partners?

Applicants should name specific health systems that they are interested in working with when describing the alignment of their research interests with the priorities of one or more LeaHD health system partners.

Does proximity to health systems factor in? Have health systems been amenable to working with scientists who are physically located quite a distance away? 

LHS Scientists typically work with their health system partner through remote meetings, with occasional in-person visits. An applicant’s distance from a partnered health system site is not an explicit review criteria.

Learning Health System Scientists conduct research within a health system to improve the health-related quality of life of persons with disability and chronic conditions by addressing inequities in access to and quality of rehabilitation and long term services and supports. Employees of health systems or community organizations and academic faculty members are eligible to apply to be LHS Scientists. 

Our LHS Scientist Program supports protected time for formal training and expert mentorship in LHS research. LHS Scientists are embedded within a LeaHD health system partner. 

Mentoring: We match LHS Scientists with an academic mentor and an on-site health system mentor through alignment of research interests and health system priorities. Academic mentors proactively track and advise the scientists’ academic development, health system engagement, and research activities. Health system mentors help guide development and execution of the embedded research project and facilitate operational engagement with the site.

Core training: We provide mentored professional development that emphasizes experiential training grounded in a competency-based curricula. The 18-month training program includes core didactic activities and individualized training activities, such as training in responsible conduct in research, PCORI Methodology Standards, and planning for dissemination and implementation. Trainees participate in regular peer-mentoring and “works in progress” meetings, AcademyHealth presentations, and a workshop in grant writing.

Individualized training activities: LHS scientists and their mentors identify additional coursework, conferences, and workshops to address knowledge gaps or targeted skills through development of an individualized training plan (IDP). 

Embedded Research Partnership: Embedded health system engagement is critical to help identify, design, and implement a LHS project that meets the priorities of the health system and is feasible to conduct during the training period. Health system mentors work with the LHS Scientist to co-create the research project with guidance from the academic mentor and other LeaHD methodology experts. Regular health system engagement throughout the training period helps integrate the LHS Scientist into regular operations, identify opportunities and relevant initiatives, and chart the course for the embedded scientists’ activities.

Support provided:

We support LHS Scientists for 18 months with the expectation that they commit a minimum of 40% time and effort during the program. Funding includes effort, professional development, travel, conferences, coursework, and research expenses up to $150,000 (including salary and fringe, and additional research expenses).

Eligibility:

We are interested in applicants who are:

• Health system clinical or operational leaders
• Community organization employees
• Academic faculty members
• Research or data scientists

Individuals seeking advanced training in LHS research, in addition to those who are changing their career direction or are new to LHS research, are eligible to apply. 

We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

To be eligible for the program applicants must have:

• Doctoral level training or organizational research/quality improvement and/or health informatics experience, and a track record of dissemination activities consistent with their current role,
• A commitment to improving service delivery and outcomes for persons with disability and/or chronic conditions through rehabilitation or long term services and support (LTSS).

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must possess a visa at the time of application that will allow them to remain in the United States for the term of the Scientist appointment.

Application Requirements:

Applications must include: 

1. 1000–2000-word essay describing:

• motivation for pursuing LeaHD training
• career trajectory to date, including training and prior research
• alignment of career goals with priorities of one or more LeaHD health system partners

2. 500-word statement describing:

• previous engagement with persons with lived experiences (PWLE) of multiple chronic conditions and receipt of rehabilitation and long term services and support

   OR

• vision for how to engage persons with lived experiences (PWLE) of multiple chronic conditions and receipt of rehabilitation and long term services and support
  

3. An NIH formatted biosketch

4. An NIH formatted “other support” (OS) page (Note: Even if you do not have OS to report, you must state that using this page)

Submit all materials as a single PDF to LeaHDResearch@gmail.com saved as LastName LHS Scientist Application

During the selection process, applicants will:

• participate in a virtual informational interview with LeaHD leadership to answer questions and discuss potential academic mentor and health system matches; 
• complete the LHS Research Core Competency Needs Assessment to assess the applicant’s knowledge and training goals;
• participate in an interview to clarify goals, training needs, and project ideas.

After initial interviews, the LeaHD team will confer with potential mentor and health system matches for the top applicants. Interested members of selected health system leadership and potential mentors will then be invited to participate in follow-up interviews with applicants to determine fit and make final applicant selections.