The Award
The grant is for up to £2,000 GBP and may be given to one single applicant, or divided across several applicants.
In order to assist the winner of this award to achieve the best outcomes, and facilitate the greatest impact of their work at home and internationally, the following options are available for use at the request of the grant winner:
A research mentor from the relevant field and discipline
Access to the full set of AMEE research guides
Access to an online version of the Research Essential Skills in Medical Education (RESME) course offered by AMEE
The ability to participate online in an AMEE conference. Please note this does not include the registration fee or other costs associated the conference
How to Apply
To apply for a MERCS Grant, you need to submit a proposal outlining your project. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
The application form includes:
Title of your proposal
Details of the Principal investigator and any associate investigators: institution, address, contact details
Proposed start and end date (max. 2 years)
A scientific summary where the significance of the project is explained (maximum 200 words)
An outline of the project (1000 words total), including:
Problem statement/topic/issue/relevance
Conceptual framework/theoretical framework
Research question(s)
Description of proposed design and methods (at least 1/3 of your summary should address this area)
Dissemination and Implementation Plan (maximum 200 words). This may include the following:
Publication and presentation in local, national and international forums
The building of local or national networks through the outcomes of this project
Development of communities of practice within the local institution and the national context – both real time and virtual
Specific ways in which the research may impact medical education locally or internationally.
Budget and Justification
Each section should include a word count. Applications which go over the word count will not be reviewed.
Also required for the application are:
A brief narrative describing the applicant and teams’ current position within the community of practice in their country, and the extent to which this grant will help develop that community further. (maximum 750 words)
Specific rationale for why the study will be of interest to people outside the institution where it will be conducted (maximum 200 words)
The completed application form and supporting documents should be sent by email to [email protected]
Selection Criteria and Review Process
Submissions must be from groups/teams (whether existing or formed for the purposes of the proposed project). Applications which do not fulfil these criteria will not be reviewed.
Proposals are evaluated against the following criteria:
Relevance, and clear goals related to health professions education and the specific gains for learners, faculty and/or patients
The extent the proposal builds on the work of others (literature and theory), and demonstrates current knowledge of the field
Appropriate methods (data collection, instruments). To what extent is the proposed project feasible?
How and to what extent will effective communication of the project and its results be accomplished (dissemination)?
What is the potential for national or international impact (research) in addition to local relevance.
Potential to further develop the community of practice within health professions education in the applicants’ local/national setting
Applicants will be notified on the outcome of their application after the submission deadline has passed.