BHI Brain Health Scholar Nomination Process

1. The nominator will review the narrative below or download it here.
2. If there is a student(s) you wish to nominate for the BHI Brain Health Scholar program, please complete a brief  online nomination form for each youth leader you choose to nominate and advise the nominee that they have been nominated. 

This nomination process is open to individuals who are high school honor students, undergraduate, graduate, or medical student leaders who participate in a youth program, attend a school or a school within a school district (others by special consideration), or college/university/graduate school that is collaborating with the Brain Health Initiative.  

An authorized representative of the nominating organization will nominate the identified thought leader(s). The qualified candidate(s) should have an interest in science, medicine, health and human services, community or public health, and/or education. Brain Health Scholars have the right to refuse the nomination and may withdraw from participation at any time during the project.

Brain Health Scholars will participate in a hybrid model with Brain Health Initiative clinicians and scientists. Specifically, Scholars help carry out the community engagement, research, and innovation agenda with the Brain Health Initiative to understand better and take action on the brain health and well-being concerns, values, priorities, and attitudes of both youth and adults. Scholars participate in didactic training related to the science of brain health and the scientific process of community-based research.  Scholars also receive training, tools, and resources to translate science into action to impact themselves and those they care about, as well as to promote and protect brain health, fight brain illness, and improve brain performance for all ages throughout the community.  

This program is also strategically planned to support personally youth thought leaders, and those they interact with, through the stressful period of adolescent and young adult development, to normalize and destigmatize their lived brain health and illness experiences, and to share the science of brain health and performance.

Some elective research, community engagement and outreach responsibilities will require transportation. All scholars will receive an annual certificate of participation documenting service hours.

The Brain Health Scholar will work primarily remotely, so must have reliable access to the internet. Their duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Complete confidentiality agreement.
• Attend and complete didactic training, including webinars, labs, and presentations on the science of brain health and research methods. 
• Upon completion of training, serve as a Brain Health Community Educator.
• Complete the BHI youth stakeholder prioritization survey. In doing so, the research assistant will contribute a youth perspective on the brain health risk and protective factors in their community, and help to shape the research, community engagement, and intervention agenda.
• Assist in all stages of the research process on various BHI projects, including needs assessment, planning (program design), implementation and evaluation. BHI research projects may be descriptive, qualitative, quantitative, or exploratory.    
• Assist in creating communications and recruitment of future Brain Health Scholars.
• Assist with creating press releases and participating in media events regarding the BH Scholar program.
• Serve as Brain Health Champions in schools and at community events.
• Manage and respond to project related emails.
• Receive support in the college undergraduate and graduate admissions process through letters of introduction and personal outreach by BHI faculty to the scholars’ top college choices.

About the Brain Health Initiative (www.brainhealthinitiative.org)

The Brain Health Initiative, Inc. (BHI), a 501(c)(3) global non-profit, uses a cutting-edge approach to protecting brain health, promoting brain performance, and preventing and fighting brain illness across the lifespan. The BHI is on a mission to build brain-healthy communities, cultures that promote brain-healthy lifestyles, foster protective factors, and address risk factors, thereby improving brain health and optimizing brain performance outcomes while addressing disparities at the individual, family, and community level.  BHI is activating the next generation of brain health advocates and is a leader in brain health engagement, research, innovation, and education. Brain Health Matters and Lifestyle Makes a  Difference.