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Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program

Description
The Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program  takes its name from the year when the adult population of the United States is estimated to become a diverse majority. SRCD is excited to support the professional development of a diverse group of researchers as we move towards this new period. We are seeking applications from both scholars and mentors!
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Deadline to submit an application for SRCD's 2024 Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholars Program has passed.

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Horowitz 2019

History of the Program

Description

The Frances Degan Horowitz Millennium Scholars Program (MSP) was developed in 1999 as a vehicle to encourage and support scholars from under-represented ethnic/racial groups from North America in pursuing graduate work in developmental science. In 2020, the Wallace Foundation provided funding to SRCD to strengthen the program, extending it from mentorship specifically at the SRCD Biennial to a year-long program. The new name for the extended program is now the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program.

Image to the right features Millennium Scholars Program mentors and mentees at the 2019 SRCD Biennial Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (March 2019).

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Purpose of the Program

The program provides educational and professional development for scholars who are underrepresented in the developmental science field, giving them a launching point for a career in the field of child development, while also granting invaluable opportunities for mentors. More advanced scholars in the field provide graduate students guidance and support in their pursuit of educational and professional goals. Individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and disciplinary groups are recruited to serve as mentors. 

Through participation in the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program, scholars , as well as mentors, have the opportunity to be reimbursed for registration costs for the SRCD Biennial meeting and one pre-conference, as well as participate in a year-long program consisting of monthly seminars and one-on-one mentorship meetings. These experiences enable scholars to gain valuable exposure to the field and allow them to interact not only with their mentors, but also with other scholars and professionals. Mentors have the opportunity to share their lived experience and expertise with students, build their professional networks, and form collaborative relationships that extend way beyond the mentoring period. Mentors and scholars are paired up by the Advisory Committee prior to the start of the program.

Meet the Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee for Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program consists of Dr. Michael Cunningham (Tulane University) , Dr. Mayra Bámaca (University of California, Merced) and Dr. Charissa Cheah (University of Maryland, Baltimore County).

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What's New This Year - DC Meeting!

SRCD is dedicated to nurturing close connections within a safe space, and we understand the importance of doing so in person. SRCD is excited to announce the inclusion of an in-person orientation at the SRCD headquarters in Washington, DC to kickstart the 2024 Horowitz Program. This one and one-half day meeting will take place June 24-25, 2024, and will include networking among scholars and mentors, professional development sessions, engagement with SRCD policy fellows, short research presentations, and more. This event will be followed by monthly professional development seminars over Zoom as well as one-on-one meetings between scholars and mentors through December 2024.

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What To Expect

Description

When: June 24-25, 2024

This will include the following benefits for all scholars and mentors:  

  • SRCD will reimburse travel costs to come to Washington, DC. 
  • 1-2 nights in a hotel (dependent on where you reside in the US)  
  • A one-and-a-half day meeting which will include: 
    • Professional development sessions, 
    • Networking, 
    • Opportunities to briefly present research, 
    • Panels with Policy Fellows or other researchers, 
    • Meals and refreshments. 
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Reflections From Scholars and Mentors

Scholar reflections:

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“[The program was] a natural space to gain resources, build connections and be myself—this is so rare in academia/overall society!”

“In reflection of my academic year, it was truly my favorite part. I hold so much gratitude and hope we can all reconnect again.”

“I am leaving feeling like my professional network has expanded and feeling less alone with respect to being one of the only BIPOC people in my department. Hearing how my experiences are similar to other people in other departments has been comforting.”

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Mentor reflections:

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“It is rewarding and important to connect with budding scholars. I felt that I was well paired and that I was really helping to make a difference by providing additional support and guidance in the trajectory of a scholar.”

“I like providing an opportunity to students to have a supportive and safe space to talk about issues and questions they may have in their training…[it is] beneficial to hear various opinions regarding different topics that trainees may not get from their immediate supervisors.”

“I loved getting to meet [my mentee] and am thrilled to continue to support her through her dissertation development journey and additional shared workstreams after the program ends!” 

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Benefits

All applicants (scholars and mentors)
  • Opportunity to attend the 2024 Horowitz in-person orientation in Washington, DC. All travel and hotel expenses will be reimbursed by SRCD.
  • Reimbursement for SRCD’s 2025 Biennial meeting registration and one pre-conference registration.  

Scholars  
  • $2000 stipend to allocate towards professional development opportunities throughout the year. See a list of events and trainings which alumni have attended during the program.
  • Mentorship: All scholars are assigned a mentor to work one-on-one with throughout the year.
  • Monthly professional development seminars led by the Advisory Committee, other mentors, and guest presenters. These topics are decided upon each year by the cohort. In the past they have included “How to Thrive, Not Just Survive in Graduate School,” “Applying for Grants and Fellowships,” “Publications,” and “Careers Post-Graduate School, Both Within- and Outside- of Academia.”

Mentors
  • $2000 honoraria to work one-on-one with a pre-doctoral, early career scholar participating in the program.
  • Opportunity to attend and/or present during monthly professional development sessions.
  • Opportunity to build collaborative relationships with scholars and other mentors.

Commitments

All applicants (scholars and mentors)
  • Attend the welcome meeting in Washington, DC in June.
  • Attend monthly professional development sessions virtually with the cohort.
  • Schedule one-one-one monthly meetings with their mentee/mentor.  
  • Complete the end-of-year report to help SRCD with continuous quality improvement of the program.  

Scholars  
  • Develop a list of professional development opportunities to spend their stipend on.
  • Submit an Individual Professional Development Plan to their mentor to be used at monthly touch-base meetings to track progress and update plan when new opportunities or challenges arise.
  • Follow SRCD procedures to request reimbursement for up to $2000 USD for professional development activities identified in the plan.

Mentors
  • Review and approve mentee’s Individual Professional Development Plan.
  • Participate in monthly group seminars with the cohort. Facilitate one group seminar discussion on a topic of expertise (grant writing, publications, how to make the most out of graduate school, etc.) either during the virtual seminars or during the in-person meeting in June.  
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Application Information

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants (scholars and mentors)
  • Must be members of SRCD at the time of application and, if selected, throughout the duration of the program.
  • Must be currently residing in the US.  There are no restrictions on citizenship or country of origin.

Scholars  
  • Open to graduate students who are pre-doctoral candidates (i.e., pre-dissertation)
  • Preference will be given to applicants demonstrating a need for the resources and opportunities offered by the Towards 2044: Early Career Scholar Program as well as interest in context, culture, race, and ethnicity.

Mentors
  • Mentors must have obtained a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in the developmental sciences (or a related field).

Scholar Application Materials

  • Curriculum vitae or resume
  • A brief bio (200 word limit) 
  • Academic transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
  • Description of research project (current or planned; may involve dissertation research but this is not required) and other professional development goals that would be the focus of the scholar’s Individual Professional Development Plan (750-word limit)
  • Responses to the following questions (maximum 300 words each):
    • Please summarize your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any experiences relevant to the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program  
    • Why would participating in the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program be important for your career development?  
    • In your view, what are key obstacles faced by scholars from under-represented groups who are pursuing careers in developmental science? What are the unique perspectives and strengths available to such scholars? How can programs like this one help to address the obstacles and build on the strengths? 

Apply here
The deadline to apply has passed.

Mentor Application Materials

  • Curriculum vitae or resume
  • A brief bio (200 word limit) 
  • Responses to the following questions:
    •  Please summarize your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any experiences relevant to the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program and your commitment to mentoring scholars from under-represented groups. 
    • In your view, how can a program like the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program best support scholars from under-represented groups pursuing careers in developmental science? 

Apply here
The deadline to apply has passed.

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Scholar Application      Mentor Application

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Deadline to submit an application for SRCD's 2024 Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholars Program has passed.

For inquiries, please contact scholar@srcd.org.

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How We Are Funded

This program would not be possible without the generous funding of the Wallace Foundation. 

2021-2023 Scholars and Mentors