DRIVEN

The mission of Driving Research: An Interdisciplinary, Vibrant, Engaged Network (DRIVEN) is to cultivate a community of interdisciplinary clinical and translational investigators and promote their individual and collective professional development, recognition, and advancement.

We focus on the following mission aligned activities at UAB:

• To identify, support and promote faculty award recognition and leadership program participation locally, regionally and nationally
• To identify, support and promote senior faculty representation on regional, national, and international scientific advisory committees of foundation, professional society and federal programs
• To identify opportunities and support the development of competitive foundation, professional society and federal grant applications
• To support the academic advancement, promotion and tenure among DRIVEN community
• To sponsor and convene professional development and social activities for the DRIVEN community

We offer the following services to support the DRIVEN community:

• DRIVEN Microgrant Awards: DRIVEN believes that in order to ensure their future success, DRIVEN scholars must begin an independent track record of extramural funding early in their careers. Accordingly, DRIVEN has established DRIVEN Microgrants, which provide financial support designed to enhance scholars' career development and research productivity
• Events and Socials: Connect with a supportive network of peers.
• Professional Development: Promote individual and collective professional development, recognition, and advancement.
• Matchmaking Report: Access to customized reports on funding opportunities specific to your areas of interest and level of training.
• Collaborator and Mentor/Mentee Matching: Need to find a collaborator or mentor with particular expertise? DRIVEN can help connect you to potential partners within UAB and the CCTS partner network

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DRIVEN stand for?

Driving Research: An Interdisciplinary, Vibrant, Engaged Network

What is DRIVEN's purpose?

Led by Dr. Bertha Hidalgo, Associate Professor in the UAB Department of Epidemiology. DRIVEN is a network of accomplished health scientists striving to create a vibrant scientific community. Our current priority is to increase research successes and retention of research-intensive faculty at UAB.

What is DRIVEN’s mission?

DRIVEN’s mission is to cultivate an open community of interdisciplinary clinical and translational investigators and promote their individual and collective professional development, recognition, and advancement.

Who is DRIVEN for?

DRIVEN is for everyone.

What can DRIVEN do for me?

• DRIVEN Microgrant Awards: DRIVEN believes that in order to ensure their future success, DRIVEN scholars must begin an independent track record of extramural funding early in their careers. Accordingly, DRIVEN has established DRIVEN Microgrants, which provide financial support designed to enhance scholars' career development and research productivity.
• Events and Socials: Connect with a supportive network of peers.
• Matchmaking Report: Access to customized reports on funding opportunities specific to your areas of interest and level of training. Please visit our website for more information.
• Professional Development: Promote individual and collective professional development, recognition, and advancement.
• Collaborator and Mentor/Mentee Matching: Need to find a collaborator or mentor with particular expertise? DRIVEN can help connect you to potential partners within UAB and the CCTS partner network.

How can I get involved?

Join our network and sign-up to be a mentor or mentee by filling out this registration form.

Microgrants

Rationale and Goal

DRIVEN believes that in order to ensure their future success, DRIVEN scholars must begin an independent track record of extramural funding early in their careers. Accordingly, DRIVEN has established DRIVEN Microgrants, which provide financial support designed to enhance scholars' career development and research productivity.

Award Description

Microgrants may be utilized to enhance a DRIVEN member’s training and research productivity. Microgrants are for $2,000 direct costs or less. No indirect costs will be disbursed. Allowable expenses include (but are not limited to) scientific editing, software licensing, resources/equipment, graphic and table design, publication fees, consultations with career and life coaches, honoraria for external grant reviewers, and, in general, other expenses for expanding professional horizons. Unallowable costs include participant incentives, childcare expenses, conference registration fees and travel. All award winners must submit a short written report detailing their experiences at the end of the calendar year of award.

If an application is funded, the applicant will receive a financial award and be designated as a DRIVEN Microgrant Awardee. Monies must be used within one year of award notice.

Applications will be reviewed monthly.

Eligibility

1. This award is available to DRIVEN members in any UAB discipline, department or school. Apply to DRIVEN by registering under the "JOIN DRIVEN" tab.
2. From January through September of each calendar year, awards will be available to early career faculty only. From October through December of each year, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows may also apply for Microgrants.
3. Only one DRIVEN Microgrant will be awarded per person per calendar year.
4. A Maximum of two microgrants will be awarded per person.

A partnership between the COERE and the CCTS.