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Application Process

Procedures

The MLA Research Training Institute Fellowship Program Jury will conduct an anonymized review and select applicants based on scholarship and institute eligibility requirements. The selection criteria will focus on commitment to learning research skills, the quality and promise of the research topic submitted, work experience, and professional contributions. All application materials and selection processes will be handled confidentially. 

The application form clearly distinguishes between anonymous and non-anonymous responses.  

While there is no limit to the number of applications that may come from one institution, only one applicant will be selected from a single institution per year.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

  • employed as a health sciences library professional or as a library professional who provides health information, support, and services to health care professionals, researchers, educators, students, patients, consumers, or the public
  • completed a graduate program in library and information studies or have equivalent graduate credentials in related information science disciplines
  • able to attend the Research Training Institute May 2024–June 30, 2025
  • ability to pay the institute registration fee of $1,595 by May 30, 2024, in order to hold their space in the institute (unless applicant receives scholarship)
  • membership in MLA is NOT required

Graduate Students

RTI '24 is accepting applications from Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate students. For more information about the application process for LIS graduate students, please contact Project Director, Susan Lessick, at slessick@uci.edu.

Scholarships and Research Funding

A variety of scholarship opportunities are available to RTI Fellowship Program applicants in need of financial support. MLA also offers an array of funding opportunities to enable practicing health sciences librarians to pursue research and professional development.

Applicants applying for scholarships or other research funding should note the following:

  • The research project proposed for the institute must not have been previously funded by MLA.
  • Applicants may apply for additional funding opportunities available through MLA or other funding institutions (i.e., MLA chapters, MLA sections, National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM), etc.).

Application Instructions 

Please thoroughly review the instructions below before beginning the application process.

Deadline:

  • Applications for the Research Training Institute are accepted until March 8, 2024, 11:59pm, Central Time.
  • Applicants accepted to the institute will be notified in April 2024. 
  • Incomplete or late submissions will not be reviewed.
  • Accepted applicants must confirm invitation to attend the institute by April 30, 2024.

Checklist:

The application process consists of submitting the following documents: 

  • application form
  • CV or biosketch. A good source of information for formatting CVs is the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Biosketch Format.
  • Letter of support from director, dean, or administrator indicating support for participation in the yearlong institute.

Application Preparation:

Applicants will need to provide extended, anonymized answers to four questions on the RTI Fellowship Program application form. 

  • Explain why you are applying and what you are hoping to gain from participation in the Institute. Explain how you will manage your time and balance research tasks with workplace demands throughout the year-long process. (no more than 300 words)
  • Please provide a brief description of the research topic that you would like to develop while in the RTI program. Include one potential research question you would like to explore in relation to the topic. Note that research topics and questions may evolve and change during the Institute. (no more than 300 words)
  • Please include citations (no more than 5 citations) of past research that are relevant to your research topic. Include only key findings and conclusions of past research. Briefly summarize the key findings on your topic. (no more than 200 words)
  • Please describe clearly how your research topic will address a significant issue in health sciences librarianship? Identify the gaps of knowledge that can be addressed by your research topic? (no more than 200 words) PLEASE NOTE that the research topics of accepted applicants will be developed during the institute as they acquire knowledge and explore various approaches and methodologies. Participants will develop and refine their proposals in collaboration with institute instructors and peers, with the goal of having a well-constructed research project soon after they return to their home institutions.

Download the RTI Fellowship Program Jury Application Rubric for reference.

  • MLA members must login.  
  • Non MLA members must create a guest user profile to login.
  • Choose the 2024 Research Institute online application form.
  • Complete online form and upload all documents no later than March 8, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (central time).
  • Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.
  • Questions? See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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