Cluster Application
Eligibility
Cluster size consists of a minimum of 3 faculty of which one must be a Senior Faculty. Departments will have 2 years to complete the hiring of their Cluster. Cluster hires will occur in the following two categories:
- They should be broadly intellectually coherent
- Preference would be given to those clusters which span more than one department
- Funding would be directed at matching startup
- There would be a timeline for hiring (i.e. 3 people over 2 defined years)
- They should be broadly intellectually coherent
- Preference would be given to those clusters which span more than one department
- Broad clusters can be identified when there is an articulated strategic reason for doing it.
- There would be a timeline for hiring (i.e. 3 people over 2 defined years)
Eligible STEM Disciplines
STEM Departments include: Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biological Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Biostatistics, Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cellular Molecular Physiology, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, and Civil And Systems Engineering, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Cross-Disciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Health and Engineering, Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Health Sciences Informatics, Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychological and Brain Sciences.
FGJFEP Navigation
Application Process
The application process for the Fannie Gaston-Johansson Faculty of Excellence Program will occur annually with a two-step process, as follows:
- A pre-proposal (“Letter of Intent”)
- For pre-proposals selected by the Provost’s Office, an invitation will be extended to submit a full “Invited Proposal”
Note: When considering clusters, we encourage you to consult with colleagues and leadership across the university. All clusters will be strengthened by co-investment from participating schools and those that are aligned with the strategic plans of the divisions.
LETTER OF INTENT | There will be a broad focus on the cluster discipline, the internal faculty members who drive the cluster and those who will be part of the cluster and on the possible external faculty candidates who could contribute to the cluster. Submit to Interfolio ONE PDF document consisting of materials from the following 3 categories below:
Key Cluster Information
Format: 11+ point font, 1-inch margins
- Cluster title
- Names and CVs of the two faculty leads who will organize the cluster searches with assistance from the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity
- 100-word synopsis of the recruitment area(s) that span schools/departments
- Five JHU colleagues from two or more schools/divisions interested in mentoring the recruitments
- The names of 2 to 3 potential senior people to be hired in the cluster
- Strategies of how the Department will identify potential junior faculty including the names of potential faculty members
Statement of Support from Deans (Schools) and / or Directors
Format: 2 pages, 11+ font, 1-inch margins
- Include a mentoring plan that identifies who will be responsible for mentoring the cluster faculty, which includes regular monitoring and feedback on scholarly progress and vitality of cluster.
- Describe the current resources available to support the cluster
- Agree to meet with the Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Diversity on a quarterly basis to share updates and discuss potential barrier(s)
Broad Vision for the Cluster
Format: 1 page, 11+ point font, 1-inch margins
- Describe the area(s) of scholarship that the cluster will enhance at JHU and what ways is JHU optimally positioned to support this area of scholarship.
- Describe how this cluster adds diversity to the scholarship, teaching, and service mission of JHU
- Describe how the cluster could enhance other pathway and diversity initiatives at JHU (e.g., Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative, Provost Postdoctoral Fellowship, etc.)
INVITED PROPOSALS | The Provost’s Office will select proposals from the clusters proposed in the Letters of Intent competition and will invite the cluster leads to compete for Presidential funding; these are the “Invited Proposals” for which details are provided below:
Expanded Vision for the Cluster
Format: 2 pages, 11+font, 1-inch margins
- Articulate a willingness and/or plan to adopt new strategies to educate current faculty on how to support diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Describe the current inclusive and equitable search practices
- Describe areas of expertise needed to enhance diverse scholarship, teaching and service at JHU
- Articulate a commitment to adopt practices and policies that have been proven to facilitate full participation and advancement of diverse scholars
- Articulate a willingness to address any potential culture or climate issues in the department
Commitment to Cluster Structure and Resources
Format: 2 pages, 11+font, 1-inch margins
- Describe the current inclusive and equitable search practices
- Articulate a willingness and/or plan to adopt new strategies to educate current faculty on how to support diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Describe areas of expertise needed to enhance diverse scholarship, teaching and service at JHU
- Articulate a commitment to adopt practices and policies that have been proven to facilitate full participation and advancement of diverse scholars
- Articulate a willingness to address any potential culture or climate issues in the department
Departmental Mentoring Plan
Format: 2 pages, 11+font, 1-inch margins
- Describe a detailed mentoring plan for the new faculty member. This plan should include a strategy for the department to develop personalized faculty career and research development plans for each faculty hired under this award. This plan should include individual, group, and peer mentoring. Example topics for the development plans include the following: identification of courses for skill development, workshops/courses/seminars around topics such as grant writing, manuscript preparation, enhancing laboratory management, staff supervision, budgeting, academic advancement, leadership skills, and balancing teaching, research, and This plan should also address strategies the department will employ to reduce isolation, increase community building, and foster career development for the new faculty. The frequency of mentoring and the names of specific mentors should be included.
- Eligibility of mentor(s). The mentor(s) should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research and be committed both to the career development of the faculty member and to the direct supervision of the candidate’s research. The mentor must document the availability of sufficient research support and facilities for high-quality Faculty members will be encouraged to identify more than one mentor, i.e., a mentoring team, if this is deemed advantageous for providing expert advice in all aspects of the research career development program. In such cases, one individual must be identified as the primary mentor who will coordinate the candidate’s research. The mentor, or a member of the mentoring team, should have a successful track record of mentoring individuals at the candidate’s career stage. Where feasible, women, individuals from diverse racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities should be involved as mentors to serve as role models.
SELECTED CLUSTERS | Those clusters selected by the Provost’s Office will be encouraged to recruit eligible faculty members who will contribute to the cluster(s) selected.
Timeline
- 02-01-2023 University-wide call for Cluster Proposals
- 03-10-2023 Letter of Intent due by 5 PM
- 03-20-2023 Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal
- 05-19-2023 Invited Proposals due by 5PM
- 08-21-2023 Selection of 2-3 Clusters by Provost and President
- 09-15-2023 Public Announcement of Selected Clusters
Review
The review process will be led by the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity who, at each stage of the process, will use appropriate program review committees to evaluate the submissions and present the selected proposals or individuals to the Academic Affairs Vice Provost Team, Provost, & President Provost for final approval.
The FGJFEP Review Committee will be selected to review to provide guidance on the final selection. Each reviewer will provide a recommendation that includes an assessment of the proposed cluster’s potential to advance the university’s standing in strategically significant ways, including by contributing to the Faculty Diversity Initiative in particular and JHU’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion more broadly.
The Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Diversity will provide the recommendations to the Academic Affairs Vice Provost Team, Provost, & President for a final selection of 2 clusters. Divisional leadership will collaboratively construct financial, administrative, and operational commitments for each of the selected clusters.
Evaluation Criteria
Prerequisites:
- Aligns with priorities of divisional leadership (support from the deans/directors)
- Cluster Hire will add to the diversity at Johns Hopkins
Evaluation (scored 1-5):
- Recruitment area seeks to solve a pressing world problem or is focused on important scientific discovery and scholarship that improves diversity at Hopkins
- Clear description of potential hires and the range of departments/center in which they might be located, and how these hires will work with each other and other faculty in their respective departments/centers.
- Cluster hires have past experience in DEI efforts
- Detailed Mentoring and Success plans for the Cluster hires regarding faculty development, retention, progression, and promotion
- Reasonable resources needed for cluster’s success