Applications Now OPEN!
Deadline: July 31st, 2025
MOLA is a non-profit association of physicians and health professionals working for career advancement, linguistic and cultural competency, and health care access and quality for the Hispanic/Latinx community.
What is the MOLA-MRF Scholars Program?
The MOLA-MRF Scholar Program is a scholarship and research training program that aims to: (a) reduce the overwhelming cost that many students face in the process of seeking healthcare degrees and (b) provide both individualized and group research skills preceptorship to promote academic careers for individuals with demonstrated commitment to improving Hispanic/Latinx health.
The MOLA-MRF Student Scholars receive MOLA’s scholarships funded by the Michael Reese Research and Education Foundation (MRF). Every year, 8 to 12 individuals are selected through a competitive application process to receive these scholarships. These scholarships are merit and need-based awards granted annually to students pursuing higher education in healthcare. Following their selection as a MOLA-MRF Student Scholar, each Student Scholar indicates their research area(s) of interest, is paired with a MOLA professional volunteer research mentor, and chooses a research question they will tackle during their MOLA-MRF Scholar year. In addition to individual pairings with a volunteer research mentor, MOLA-MRF Student Scholars are supervised regarding overall research project milestones throughout the year by the MOLA Scholar Faculty and Program Director. At the conclusion of the MOLA-MRF Scholar year, all Student Scholars present their work as a poster or oral presentation at the annual MOLA Conference. For more information on the MOLA-MRF Scholars Program, click here.
What is the Faculty Scholars Program?
MOLA has created a Faculty Scholar Program (FaSP) to develop and enhance research training and advancement opportunities individuals interested in academic and clinical research careers; prepare faculty to provide research supervision to our MOLA-Michael Reese Research and Education Foundation (MRF) Student Scholars; and support health professionals in using and enhancing their cultural and linguistic skills to improve the health of Hispanic/Latinx communities.
To this end, we are seeking an early career clinical or research faculty in any health discipline who will commit to a 2-year tenure as Faculty Scholar beginning in November 1st, 2025 through November 30th, 2027. During their tenure, the Faculty Scholar will train under the leadership and guidance of the previous Faculty Scholar and FaSP staff to gain necessary skills and experiences to advance to the next level in their chosen healthcare and academic field. Specifically, the Faculty Scholar will supervise the MOLA-MRF Student Scholars as they complete research scholarly projects. The Faculty Scholar will receive a total stipend of $15,000 for their 2-year commitment (dispensed quarterly after the first 3 months of starting their tenure).
What does a Faculty Scholar do?
As part of their experience, the Faculty Scholar will be responsible for implementing the educational components and providing one-on-one and small-group support to the MOLA-MRF Student Scholars. Each MOLA-MRF Student Scholar will develop and implement their own scholarly project under the supervision of the Faculty Scholar.
- Participate in review of Student Scholar applications and Student Scholar selection
- Identify one-on-one mentorship pairings for each of 8-12 MOLA Student Scholars with a MOLA professional volunteer research mentor
- Provide supervision and serve as co-investigator on the research projects developed by the MOLA-MRF Student Scholars
- Meet with MOLA-MRF Student Scholars on a weekly basis for 12 research-focused sessions during the MOLA-MRF scholar program
- Coordinate and offer a minimum of 4 structured didactic events for Student Scholars.
- Supervise the preparation of MOLA scholar projects for academic presentation at the annual MOLA Conference. (Note: Preparation of the research work completed during the MOLA Scholar Program and submission for additional conference presentations and/or peer-reviewed journals is strongly encouraged.)
- Coordinate a minimum of two community events to disseminate the work of the MOLA-MRF Student Scholars to directly engage with Hispanic/Latinx communities.
- Commit to submission of a minimum of ten abstracts for presentations (poster or oral) or proposals for journal articles.
- Create and discuss academic development and future career plans with a senior MOLA leadership/faculty.
- Work as part of the MOLA Education and Research Committee Team, with the support of MOLA-MRF program staff who provide administrative assistance for MOLA Scholar program execution.
Who can apply to become a Faculty Scholar?
The FaSP is open to any early-career physician, healthcare professional, or faculty member whose expertise, interest, and academic abilities have focused on serving Hispanic/Latinx communities and closing the gap in health disparities experienced by these communities.
The applicant must:
- have demonstrated commitment to Hispanic/Latinx health
- have a Master’s degree or higher in a health-related field
- be employed in a healthcare-related institution (any institution funding type is acceptable, whether it is a non-profit, private, government, etc.)
- meet our criteria for “early career” faculty, defined as a person who obtained the highest degree no longer than 10 years ago; and is currently at the rank of Assistant Professor or lower. The faculty position must be held at a United States institution of medical education
- agree to complete Faculty Scholar onboarding (approximately 5 hours total) during October or November, 2025 (exact dates to be discussed with successful candidates).
- agree to a time commitment of 5 hours per week from March-May and 10 hours per week from June to November. June, July and August commitment includes 1 weekly virtual group meeting with MOLA-MRF Student Scholars.
- be available to attend both the MOLA Scholarship and Anniversary Celebration in Summer, 2026 and 2027 (exact date and logistics TBD) and the annual MOLA Conference in late October or early November 2026 and 2027.
What are the steps to apply?
- Please submit the following to: [email protected]
- Letter of Interest
- Up-to-date CV/Resume
- 3 references with email address (including current supervisor)
- Letter of Support from your employer *Optional, but strongly encouraged
- We recommend discussing an arrangement with your department chair to protect 5% of your FTE to participate as faculty scholar. While a confirmation of 5% protected time if selected is not required, candidates who have a plan that has been clearly articulated and for which there is demonstrated institutional support will be prioritized for consideration.
- Applications will close on July 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM
What is the application cycle?
- June 1st – July 31st, 2025: Applications accepted
- August 1st – August 30th, 2025: Finalists interviewed
- September 15th, 2025: Faculty Scholar selected
- November 1st, 2025 – November 30th, 2027: Faculty Scholar tenure
Why should I apply for the FaSP?
Faculty scholars will benefit from a supportive research environment, the opportunity to participate and co-author 8-12 research projects with high potential Hispanic/Latinx health impact, and professional development skills training, such as communication, management, leadership, and teamwork. As a supervisor for the MOLA-MRF Scholars Program, Faculty scholars will have the opportunity to meet and work with 8-12 aspiring healthcare researchers and will have numerous opportunities to network and collaborate with MOLA leadership and MOLA professional volunteer research mentors.
Faculty scholars will receive a stipend and will have a partially flexible schedule. Most work can be completed remotely/virtually.