John A. Watson Faculty Scholar Fund

Faculty Recruitment Awards: Faculty members who demonstrate a commitment to our mission of diversity and who were recruited through a formal search process within the past two academic years. Faculty from all academic series are eligible, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Mid-Career Support Awards: One award granted for a UCSF faculty member who has been a member of the faculty for more than two academic years and who shares our commitments to diversity and/or focus on health equity, anti-racism, and health and healthcare disparities..

Opportunity Transition Funds: Residents, fellows and post docs who are in their final year of training at UCSF and who share our commitments to diversity and/or focus on health equity, anti-racism, and health and healthcare disparities.

A Watson Scholar Fund Review Committee will review all applications. The committee will consider the following factors in the review process:

1. The department/ORU’s commitment to the nominee (including the start-up package, space commitment, percentage research time, etc.).

2. The Chair/Director’s description of the nominee’s anticipated scholarly contributions, ability to make a unique contribution to the department and/or the school, and the nominee's potential to have a positive impact on the department’s and/or school's culture.

3. The nominee’s ability to contribute to diversity priorities within the department/ORU as described in the Chair/Director’s nomination letter.

4. The department/ORU’s history of receiving Watson Scholar Fund Grants.

After the Watson Scholar Fund Review Committee has ranked candidates, the Dean’s Office will review the ranked list and conduct a needs assessment for each department. The final decision will be based on the rank of the candidate and the assessment of the department’s needs.

The amount of the award is up to $75,000 per year.

The award period is no longer than three years (i.e., the total award cannot exceed $225,000 over three years).

Each year, up to nine new grants will be awarded – four in the Faculty Recruitment category, one in Mid-Career, and four in the Opportunity Transition category.

Each year of the three-year grant, the recipients of the awards will be reassessed by the Watson Scholar Fund Review Committee to ensure that the faculty member has contributed to the school’s mission and has demonstrated an impact, as described in the nomination letter.

In each of the three years, the chair/director will be responsible for submitting a brief letter that provides an update on the candidate’s contributions and the awardee's current CV to the Watson Scholar Fund Review Committee. The Watson Scholar Fund Review Committee will review the chair/director’s letter and determine whether the funding will continue for the following year, up to a maximum of three years. At the end of the final year, each faculty member will submit a final report that summarizes the impact of the funding support on their career and future plans.

Nominations should be submitted by the department chair or ORU director. The nomination packet has three components:

1. The Chair/Director’s nomination letter (two-page maximum).  Please address each of the following:

• The nominee’s qualifications and specifically how the particular qualifications and strengths of the nominee will enhance the academic excellence, breadth, and diversity of the faculty within the department.
• How this funding will make a difference in the candidate’s career trajectory and how it contributes to their future development.
• Existing diversity metrics in the department and why the candidate could contribute to the diversity initiatives and accomplishments within the department.
• The recruitment/start-up package and detailed information regarding the department/ORU’s commitment to the nominee. Specifically:
  1. Salary
  2. Start-up Package
  3. Space
  4. Additional Funding Sources
  5. Leadership Role (if any)
  6. Mentorship
• For Mt Zion nominees: Is the nominee an active part of the Mount Zion community (lab, research/scholarship program or clinic located at Mt Zion)?  If yes, do the nominee's activities at Mt Zion include research as described as "the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate and evaluate new concepts, methodologies and understandings (this could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes)"?*

2. The nominee’s current CV.

3. The nominee’s offer letter.

Applications should be addressed to the Watson Scholar Fund Committee and submitted in a single PDF to Stephanie Belger.

*Awardees who are active members of the Mount Zion community will be funded by the generosity of the Mount Zion Health Fund.