ELEVATE Scholar
ELEVATE Scholar
ELEVATE Scholar 2026–2027
For the next two years the ELEVATE Center will sponsor a Student Scholar. Jenna Murray is currently a fourth-year MD/PhD student in the University of Utah’s Medical Scientist Training Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Colorado College in 2017 and a Master of Public Health from Dartmouth College in 2021.
Jenna worked as a research fellow with the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Native American Program prior to moving to Utah, where she is pursuing an MD with a graduate certificate in Tribal, Rural, and Urban Underserved Medicine and a PhD in Health Systems Research from the Department of Population Health Sciences.
Her doctoral research focuses on the social networks of Native American pregnant and postpartum people participating in a culturally responsive perinatal substance use program. As an Eastern Shoshone scientist and aspiring OB/Gyn, Jenna aims to advance community-driven, reciprocal research that honors sovereignty and traditional knowledge as essential tools to enhancing the health of Indigenous communities.
Social Network Analysis of CEREMONY Participants: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study
Primary Aim: This longitudinal study assesses how Native mothers’ social relationships and networks affect their substance use recovery and maternal health outcomes as they complete a culturally-integrated perinatal substance use program (CEREMONY).
ELEVATE Scholar 2024-2025
The ELEVATE Center selected its first ELEVATE Scholar for 2024-2025. Dr. Casey Tak is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy at the University of Utah. With a broad background in health economics and outcomes research, including specific training in economic evaluations, policy analysis, complex survey data, and large datasets, his long term goal is to inform policy and practice that reduce access barriers to health services. His research program primarily focuses on access to substance use disorder care/treatment and the associated patient outcomes among pregnant and parenting individuals.
Barriers Pregnant and Postpartum Patients Encounter
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There are many barriers that pregnant and postpartum patients encounter when trying to seek treatment: availability of providers willing to treat/prescribe medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), stigma from family/friends/clinic staff, Medicaid coverage, and availability of medication at the pharmacy (or proximity of nearest opioid treatment program), among others.
These barriers are often exacerbated for folks living in rural areas. As an ELEVATE Scholar, Dr. Tak’s research project aims to:
- document perinatal patients’ experiences accessing MOUD and identify the aspects of MOUD and OUD treatment patients value most,
- and identify sets of characteristics preferred by pregnant and postpartum individuals associated with MOUD treatment.
Eligibility for Scholars Program
We aim for selected ELEVATE Scholars to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
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Have a clinical doctorate or PhD degree or its equivalent.
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Have completed any postgraduate training normally expected for a faculty appointment in their field (including clinical or postdoctoral fellowship training or residency if they have chosen not to subspecialize).
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Have no more than six years of research or research training experience beyond their last doctoral degree (timeline can be extended based on NIH criteria for extending ESI status).
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Have identified mentors with extensive research experience relevant to the scholar’s individual research and career development goals.
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Be able to spend at least nine person months (or at least six person months for surgical specialties) of full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development activities.
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Not be, or have been, a PD/PI on an R01 or subproject of a program project (P01), center (P50, P60, P23, P30, U54) grant, independent mentored career development (K-series) grants, or other equivalent research grant awards, except for an R03 or R21 award.
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Not already be in the process of applying for an independent mentored career development grant, P01 grant, or R01 grant.
NOTE: These requirements are guidelines but we reserve the right to be flexible for specific candidates.
How to Apply
Qualified Individuals Application Process
If you are qualified and interested in applying to the ELEVATE Scholar Program, you must complete an online application consisting of the following:
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A cover letter describing your career goals and how participation in the ELEVATE Program would help you achieve those goals.
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A three to five-page research proposal that would include:
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objectives,
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rationale and background, methods,
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the specific importance of SUD relating to pregnancy on the proposal, and
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interdisciplinary aspects of the proposal. (Please also submit a timeline, one to two-page career development plan and appropriate references.)
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Current bio-sketches for the candidate and proposed mentorship team.
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Letters of reference from primary mentor or mentorship team. The letters of reference should address the candidate’s research experience and proficiency, the candidate’s educational and training background, and (if applicable) their clinical skill set.
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A letter of support from their (prospective) department chair or division head that would confirm the candidate’s eligibility (see previous section) and statement of assurance of protected time.