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Research Awards, Fellowships & Professorships

Research Awards, Fellowships & Professorships

The College’s Clinical Studies Group runs various awards throughout the year. Details of awards and competitions can be found below, along with details on how to enter.

Awards and Competitions

+ RCEM Undergraduate Essay Prize 2024

Royal College of Emergency Medicine Undergraduate Essay Prizes 2024

This year the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) is pleased to announce two prize categories:

  1. The RCEM Undergraduate Research Essay Prize
  2. The RCEM Undergraduate Quality Improvement Essay Prize

Prizes

The prize for each category includes: £500, a one-year RCEM membership, and reasonable travel, accommodation, and registration fees for the RCEM Annual Scientific Conference 2024 (ASC24).

In addition, winners of both categories will be invited to present their work as an oral presentation at RCEM Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, which will take place in Gateshead between 8-10 October.

Eligibility

Submissions are invited from undergraduate students (medical and non-medical) at a recognized teaching institution in the UK and Ireland. Individuals are not required to be RCEM members.

Instructions for authors

The essays should describe original research or quality improvement, and should have clear applicability to emergency medicine. The work must not have been published in a journal or presented at a major UK or international conference. The essays should be written in English and not exceed 1500 words (excluding title, sub-titles, and references) – up to two tables/figures are allowed.

Essays must not include reference to an institution (or anything else that may reveal the identity or affiliation of the author). One applicant can be considered per submission, and individuals cannot submit to both categories. The applicant must have played an important part in the research / quality improvement described, and must have personally written the submitted essay.

Scoring

Submitted essays will be scored by an expert panel convened by the RCEM Research Committee.

Submission instructions

Essays (in Word file format) should be submitted electronically, together with a completed application form to: policy@rcem.ac.uk before 17:00 on 29 February 2024.

Further information

Please contact:

Dr. Ed Barnard, Emergency Medicine Consultant, Cambridge – edward.barnard@nhs.netResearch Essay Prize

Dr Aileen McCabe, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland – aileen.mccabe@tuh.ieQuality Improvement Essay Prize

Application form available here (Pdf version)

Application form available here (Word version)

+ Blue Sky Ideas Award - Clinical Studies Group

Clinical Studies Group
Blue Sky Ideas Award

Blue Sky Ideas Application

The next round of applications for Blue Sky Ideas will run late 2023.

Do you have a fantastic research idea you are struggling to get off the ground? This section of the research engagement day is open to all clinicians or researchers to pitch a research idea (5 slides max) to the meeting. There will be open critique and review from ED research experts and advice on potential funding streams.

There is up to £5000 funding from RCEM available to support the best Blue Sky ideas which will be decided by a panel on the Research Engagement Day.

We invite applicants to consider the James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership when submitting their ideas. Other research ideas are welcome for open peer and professional review.

Please submit your research on a single page in PICO format: P – Patient, problem or population

I – Intervention
C – Comparison, control or comparator O – Outcomes

The closing date for submission of abstracts is Friday 06 January at 17:00. All abstracts will be reviewed, and the top scoring ones will be shortlisted for oral presentation. Applicants will receive email notifications containing a decision about their submission from the following week.

All submission forms will be discarded 3 months after the event date. The information supplied in this form will be shared with judges. Your name and email address will be kept on record for 3 years so we can contact you about the outcome of this submission and when future opportunities to submit abstracts arise. Should you wish to remove your details from our database, please email events@rcem.ac.uk

Download the application form here PDF version

Download the application form here Word version

+ RCEM/NIHR CRN Awards

RCEM/NIHR CRN Awards

Award Categories and Eligibility

Category A: Early Career Researcher* and those new to research showing a significant contribution to recruitment into NIHR portfolio studies
Targeted towards Medical professionals (including consultants within three years of consultant start date) working in Emergency Care Research. The panel will be looking for evidence to support all of the following criteria:

  1. Increased research recruitment and/or developed new pathways to recruitment
  2. Contributed to the successful delivery of NIHR portfolio studies
  3. Engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in NIHR CRN clinical research

Category B: Early Career Researcher* and those new to research from all nursing and allied health professional groups showing a significant contribution to recruitment into NIHR portfolio studies
Targeted towards nurses and all allied health professionals working in Emergency Care Research, including, but not limited to: Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Associates and Emergency Nurse Practitioners. The panel will be looking for evidence to support all of the following criteria:

  1. Increased research recruitment and/or developed new pathways to recruitment
  2. Contributed to the successful delivery of NIHR portfolio studies
  3. Engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in NIHR CRN clinical research.

Category C: Emergency Care Research Team making an outstanding contribution to the NIHR portfolio studies in 2020-2022
Targeted towards the entire spectrum of clinical trials teams contributing to Emergency Care research. The panel will be looking for evidence to support all the following criteria:

  1. Significant contribution to recruitment across numerous NIHR portfolio adopted studies showing how you have led a significant number of trials that have changed practice
  2. Engaged with patients to inform them of new opportunities to participate in NIHR CRN clinical research.

Application Process and Judging of Applications

  • Applications should be made using only the application form. Any additional information submitted will NOT be considered by the panel
  • Applicants should note the word limit for the application
  • Completed application forms must be received by midnight on Sunday 04 December 2022. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged
  • Applications will be assessed by the judging panel, including representatives for the Trauma and Emergency Care National Specialty Group and members of RCEM research committee
  • Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 16 December 2022. We expect a high number of applications and are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
  • The awards for each category include one free registration to the RCEM Research Engagement Day on 20th January 2023, plus a certificate and trophy.
  • Both of the Early Career Researcher awards have a £1000 prize which can be used towards increasing your contribution to NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies in the future.

Award Presentations
The awards will be presented during the next RCEM Research Engagement Day on Friday 20 January 2023 at RCEM Octavia House, London There is an expectation that the winning applicant of each category will be available to attend the ceremony.

Application Form
Download the application form and send the completed form to policy@rcem.ac.uk. If you have any questions, please email policy@rcem.ac.uk.

Supporting information
Royal College of Emergency Medicine and NIHR Awards Application Guidance Notes | NIHR

Download the application form (Pdf version)

Download the application form (Word version)

*Please note: an Early Career Researcher (and those new to research) is defined as being a health care, social care and public health professional currently in training posts or within 5 years (excluding career breaks and extended pro rata for those in less than full-time work) of appointment to substantive NHS (or equivalent) positions. Special consideration will be given to those who can demonstrate they were only able to take up research opportunities later in their career.

Fellowships

+ Doctoral Research Fellowship 2024

Doctoral Research Fellowship 2024

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) is launching the next round of the RCEM PhD Fellowship Scheme. Applications are invited from trainees in Emergency Medicine (EM) from CT1 and above, who wish to develop academically. As the scheme aims to support the development of research capacity to improve emergency health care. This scheme will fund Fellowships to undertake research involving patients, samples or data from patients, people who are not patients, populations, health technology assessment and health services research. The RCEM does not fund research work involving animals and/or animal tissue.

Potential applicants and their host organisations should note that the RCEM PhD Fellowship Scheme is a personal award designed to contribute to an individual’s salary costs (the remainder being provided by the applicant’s supporting consortia) on completion of the PhD research project.

The Doctoral Research Fellowship (RCEM-DRF-Policy) is aimed at individuals of outstanding potential, early in their research careers.  It aims to fast-track them through a customised research training programme in an environment reflecting their individual talents and training needs. It is anticipated that successful applicants would become independent research leaders within 6 to 10 years of completing the RCEM-DRF award.

Following completion of a RCEM-DRF, the Fellows are expected to have successfully completed a robust research and training programme and be able to show evidence of:

  • Completion of the research proposed in the application
  • Award of a PhD
  • Completion of a substantial and wide-ranging training element
  • Increased research skills
  • Publications arising from the Fellowship
  • Involvement in collaborative relationships

Evidence of the above will be sought through interim and final report monitoring.

Research projects undertaken as part of a RCEM Fellowship will be included on the NIHR portfolio.  Local Research Design Service (RDS) https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/research-design-service.htm support should be available for all NIHR portfolio project research proposals.

Interviews will be held either online or in London at College buildings. Successfully shortlisted applicants will be notified as soon as feasible.

Please send your application along with a copy of your CV to policy@rcem.ac.uk by 17:00 Monday 01 January 2024.

For more information, please click here: Doctoral Research Fellowship Application

+ Trainee Emergency Research Network (TERN) Fellowship 2024

Trainee Emergency Research Network (TERN) Fellowship 2024

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) is launching the second round of the RCEM TERN Fellowship scheme. This scheme will provide up to 50% of the applicant’s salary (capped at £23,101) each year over a two year period subject to progress.

Applications are invited from trainees or clinical fellows in Emergency Medicine at ≥ST3 level or equivalent who wish to develop this exciting project, with academic support and mentorship from the previous TERN fellow, college professors and the RCEM research committee.

TERN aims to improve research opportunity for all trainees, advanced practitioners and fellows in emergency medicine by facilitating multicentre research projects selected and designed by trainees. Such networks have been hugely successful in the allied specialties of anaesthesia, neurosurgery and general surgery leading to increased research awareness, improved academic training, co-authored publications and changes to clinical practice 1-3. Network projects present a strong opportunity for both academic and non-academic trainees to engage with national research, thus maximising output and impact from non-clinical time.  Although still a relatively new network, TERN has already delivered several trainee conceived and designed national portfolio-adopted projects across over a hundred UK sites; successfully collaborated with Australasian colleagues to deliver an international headache project; secured NIHR partner funding for a 2022 research study on a JLA priority topic; and has published a number of articles on our work.

This fellowship scheme supports TERN through dedicated funding to support project development, co-ordination and delivery. Academic mentorship for the project and fellowship will be provided throughout the post by the RCEM Professors and local supervisors. Assistance with infrastructure, meeting rooms, communications and networking will be provided through use of the RCEM facilities and a modest dedicated budget line.

This scheme is an ideal opportunity for those who have a desire to engage with academic emergency medicine and consider development of a portfolio career. The role will offer significant exposure to project development and delivery, including liaison with research design services, ethics committees, research and development services and use of the IRAS platform. Previous research experience in these areas would be advantageous, but is not essential. Applicants could take up this role either on a Less than Full Time training basis, or as a dedicated and prearranged OOPFR placement.

Potential applicants and their host organisations should note that the RCEM TERN Fellowship Scheme is a personal award designed to contribute up to 50% towards base salary costs (capped at £23,101 each year with the remainder being provided by the applicant’s supporting consortia).

Interviews will be held either online or in London at College buildings. Successfully shortlisted applicants will be notified as soon as feasible.

To apply, please send your CV with a covering letter highlighting how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the post to policy@rcem.ac.uk by 17:00 Monday 01 January 2024.
For more information, please click here: Tern Fellowship Application

Professorships

+ RCEM/NIHR Clinical Research Network Associate Professor Scheme

RCEM/NIHR Clinical Research Network Associate Professor Scheme

New RCEM Associate Professors were appointed in 2023. The next application window for Associate Professorships will be in late 2025.

Role Description

The RCEM/NIHR Clinical Research Network Associate Professor scheme is aimed at recognising and supporting NHS clinicians who are delivering high quality research at a level which is broadly comparable with an academic clinical senior lecturer.

Key elements of the scheme led by the College in partnership with NIHR CRN include:

  • The scheme is advertised nationally and RCEM/NIHR CRN Associate Professor (or similar) title awarded jointly by the College and NIHR CRN for an initial period of three years, to NHS clinicians or clinical academics by a panel comprising College and NIHR CRN representatives.
  • Successful applicants will be provided with mentorship and support through the College and NIHR, including access to academic methodological support in trials and applied health, and dedicated development workshops.
  • The scheme has been running since 2018, when the first four appointments were made.

Person specification:

  • Clinicians from throughout the UK who are RCEM members or fellows are eligible to apply. For those from the devolved nations, engagement with the NIHR should be demonstrated; for example, conduct of an NIHR CRN portfolio study, involvement as a Co-Investigator on an NIHR grant or membership of an NIHR committee (including the CRN Trauma and Emergency Care Specialty Group). Formal confirmation of support for the application from the applicant’s employer and, where appropriate, local CRN Clinical Director is required.
  • Applicants are required to demonstrate excellence in research and leadership. The academic level required is broadly similar to that for a University senior lecturer / associate professor. The research element should be evidenced by papers, links to grants, and involvement in strategically important research programmes including delivery of NIHR Clinical Research Network studies and involvement with other elements of NIHR infrastructure or equivalent in the devolved nations. Leadership should be evidenced by, for example, developing emergency medicine research teams locally, involvement with the Royal College, NIHR, NICE, and/or specialty society.
  • Demonstrating funding for protected research time is required at the time of application. We note that potential applicants may already have time funded via a variety of NIHR research infrastructure and other programmes, including, for example, NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care and the Clinical Research Network and NRS Fellowships, local Charitable Trust funds or industry income. The minimum time required is 1PA of protected time for a minimum period of three years.
  • Applicants must set out how they plan to use their 3-year tenure to contribute to the work of RCEM and the NIHR Clinical Research Network, through (a) delivery of NIHR CRN research, and (b) building research activity and capacity in Emergency Medicine.

Role description

  • The award holder is expected to act as an ambassador for RCEM and the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
  • The award holder must contribute to the delivery of NIHR CRN research and to the goals of RCEM to increase research capacity and activity within the specialty of Emergency Medicine.
  • Specific objectives for award holders will be set out upon appointment after agreement with representatives of RCEM and the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
  • A set of performance metrics, tailored to the agreed objectives for each post holder, will be developed to ensure progress is monitored and supported. These metrics will form part of a review process.

The next application window will open late 2025.

Any queries please contact policy@rcem.ac.uk

+ Royal College of Emergency Medicine Professorship

A new RCEM Professor was appointed in 2023. The next application window for the next Fellowship will begin in early 2025.

The RCEM Professorship post runs for 4 years and is awarded in recognition of sustained and continued excellence in academic emergency medicine. This appointment is intended to promote the profile of the recipient, their work and their academic profile along with that of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

The primary purpose of the post will be to give recognition to sustained and continuing excellence in academic emergency medicine (which would apply to both university academics and those undertaking academic work outside of a university setting). The appointment will promote the profile of the recipient, their work and by association the academic profile of RCEM.

The post will be of four years duration.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

  • Current substantive appointment as Consultant / Senior Lecturer (Honorary Consultant) in emergency Medicine in UK or Republic of Ireland (RofI)
  • High Profile publications in last 5 years
  • Publications have impacted / are impacting on practice or teaching of EM in UK/RofI
  • Able to demonstrate planned 5 year programme of research which complements the academic vision of RCEM.

Desirable Criteria 

  • Not a current serving RCEM officer or Committee Chair
  • Academic recognition by local University throughout substantive or honorary lectureship or readership
  • Has / soon likely to have, protected time in job plan for academic work *
  • Higher degree (MD/PhD) in Emergency Medicine, or evidence of significant postgraduate scholarship
  • Appointment to Professor of Emergency Medicine at local institution is not imminent *
  • Appointment as RCEM Professor should enhance likely future academic promotion subsequent to completion of post. *

*A letter signed by the applicant’s Clinical Director and local University Academic Division Lead should be provided in support of these criteria.

For a full description of the role, please see the RCEM Professor job description. (pdf)

 



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