Crime Mapping Research Center Fellowship Program. MENU TITLE: Crime Mapping Research Center Fellowship Series: NIJ Solicitation Published:July 1997 5 pages 6,974 bytes NIJ Fellowship Opportunities National Institute of Justice ------------------------------ CRIME MAPPING RESEARCH CENTER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM RESIDENT RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through its Crime Mapping Research Center (CMRC), is supporting research and development in the area of computerized crime mapping. CMRC's Visiting Fellowship Program offers research opportunities to individuals interested in the criminal justice applications of mapping. Through the Visiting Fellowship Program, Fellows investigate new approaches and applications of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in the criminal justice community. Visiting Fellows study topics of mutual interest to the Fellow and the CMRC while in residence at NIJ for 3 to 18 months. Fellows are expected to prepare reports, suitable for publication by NIJ, summarizing the results of their research. Specific products will be negotiated with the Fellows during the preaward period. Fellows also may be asked to: o Participate in developing plans for nationally significant CMRC programs. o Interact with CMRC and NIJ staff and other Fellows. o Provide technical assistance and training in specific areas. o Present seminars in their areas of expertise. o Develop informational materials for new or current projects. NIJ and the Crime Mapping Research Center are particularly interested in applications from candidates working in areas related to the long- range goals of CMRC's research and development programs. Emphasizing the nexus of research and practice, CMRC's Fellowship Program solicits applications from geographers, GIS specialists, criminologists, and senior researchers in other related disciplines. The Crime Mapping Research Center seeks candidates with extensive experience in criminal justice, geography, and GIS technology. These applicants have demonstrated a leadership ability and expertise that they wish to enhance through the Fellowship program. Applicants may be currently employed in colleges and universities, private nonprofit research institutions, or State and local research or criminal justice agencies. Current research topics include the development of crime mapping algorithms, investigation of spatial algorithms, theory of crime and place, the mapping of the journey to crime, and the use of maps by criminal justice professionals. About the CMRC NIJ established the Crime Mapping Research Center with funds available under the technology assistance provisions of the 1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act amending the 1994 Crime Act. Headquartered at NIJ in Washington, D.C., CMRC represents a partnership between NIJ's Office of Research and Evaluation and Office of Science and Technology. In its continuing efforts to promote the research and development of crime mapping, the Center opened a satellite office in Denver, Colorado, at the Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, Rocky Mountain Region. The Crime Mapping Research Center undertakes several actions to serve as a clearinghouse for crime mapping research and development within the United States, including: o Research through fellowships, intramural activities, and NIJ-funded grant awards. o Evaluation of best practices, GIS use in police departments, current criminal justice applications, and needs. o Development of training programs, a national geocoded data archive, and new analytic software. o Dissemination through conferences, workshops, Web sites, and a listserv. APPLICATION INFORMATION Application Procedures. Applicants should submit a proposal to the CMRC Director expressing their interest in fellowship opportunities; they should enclose career vitae and a brief concept paper (4-5 double-spaced pages) that describes research objectives, how the work to be performed at CMRC would contribute to national knowledge and practice, and how their residence at NIJ would contribute to the work of the CMRC. The Crime Mapping Research Center will review concept papers for suitability with current CMRC needs and priorities and selectively invite the development of full proposals reflecting a scope and work plan of mutual interest. Selection Criteria. The selection process is highly competitive. Candidates are chosen on the basis of their background and experience as well as on the quality and viability of their proposed projects. In most instances, proposals for CMRC's Fellowship Program are reviewed by external peer reviewers as well as CMRC professional staff. Eligibility Requirements. NIJ awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, individuals, and profitmaking organizations that are willing to waive their fees. For this program, no indirect costs are allowable. Award Amounts. Funding allocations for this program are based on the quality of the proposals received and the extent to which they are related to ongoing research, evaluation, or science and technology priorities. Fellows receive full financial and logistical support from CMRC as well as access to the abundant criminal justice resources of NIJ (e.g., hardware, software, and research assistants). Applicants should develop reasonable budgets that adequately cover the cost of their proposed projects. NIJ recognizes that in extraordinary cases a move to the Washington, D.C., area can impose a financial hardship. Therefore, the applicant's salary may be adjusted to compensate for differences in costs of living between the applicant's place of residence and Washington, D.C. This differential cannot exceed 20 percent of the applicant's current salary. An allocation for relocation expenses may be approved to supplement the cost of temporary housing in the Washington, D.C., area or commuter travel from the Fellow's permanent residence to Washington, D.C. Award Period. Visiting Fellowships last from 3 to 18 months. The period in residency and starting date at NIJ are negotiable. Due Date. Applications may be submitted at any time. Applicants should anticipate a period of 3 to 9 months between proposal receipt at NIJ and an award decision. Two copies of concept papers should be sent to: CMRC Fellowship Program National Institute of Justice 810 7th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20531 Staff Contact. Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ's Crime Mapping Research Center to discuss topic viability before submitting concept papers. To obtain further information about CMRC's Fellowship Program, prospective applicants may contact the Crime Mapping Research Center at 202- 616-4531 or by e-mail at cmrc@ojp.usdoj.gov.