Upper Midwest Emerging Scholars Exchange Program
The Upper Midwest Emerging Scholars Exchange is a new, collaborative effort to support the career development of early career faculty in the region. The goal is to create opportunities for faculty to receive invitations to speak at peer Midwest cancer centers. Not only will faculty have a chance to hone their oral presentation skills and bolster their CVs in preparation for promotion, but they will also have an opportunity to develop relationships with potential research collaborators, mentors, and sponsors. Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center members and associate members in the first five-seven years of their career are eligible for this program.
Beginning in the academic year 2025 - 2026, each partnering institution will host two visiting speakers and two scholars from their institution will travel to and present at partner institutions. One scholar will be exchanged each semester.
Program Details
Each scholar exchange experience will include the following:
- A speaking presentation at a Seminar Series, Grand Rounds, or other similar speaking program as determined by the hosting institution
- One-on-one meetings with faculty in research areas relevant to the visiting scholar
- Dinner with host institution faculty members or leadership
- Lunch with host institution early career faculty member or trainees
- A campus/facility tour
- Full travel expenses, including an overnight stay at a hotel near the host institution, transportation, and per diem
- $600 honorarium
Program participant eligibility requirements:
- Cancer Center members
- Assistant Professors in the first 5 years of their appointment
- Individuals who are in the final years of building their CV for promotion, who are building a robust research portfolio, but are still pre-tenure/ pre-promotion
Partnering Institutions
Application Process
Application Timeline
- Application open: Mid-April to mid-June 2025
- Applications will be reviewed, and finalists will be nominated internally and selected by the partnering institutions: June-July 2025
- Selected scholars will be notified: August 2025
- Selected scholars will visit host institutions: September-May 2025
Application Requirements
The following materials are needed to complete the application:
- Responses to four open-ended questions about your interest in the program and ideas for talks
- Ranked preference of host institutions
- Up-to-date CV or NIH biosketch
- A letter of recommendation from an MCC member - either a Program Area Leader, mentor, or collaborator
Questions?
For any questions contact – Misty Pocwierz-Gaines, Cancer Research Training & Education Program Manager, @misty.pocwierz@unmc.edu
Application Form
Applicants should email their completed application form, letter of recommendation, and current NIH biosketch to misty.pocwierz@unmc.edu