MERG research support bursaries
Do you have a great idea for a medical or science education research project, which needs some funding to get underway?
The Medical Education Research Group (MERG) wants to support members of the school to conduct pedagogical research. In addition to the advice and support which the group offers, we want to help with the costs which research can incur. After the success of last year’s bursary scheme, we’re once again making some funding available to cover direct research costs, for example travel or transcribing. We hope that this may pump prime staff research and enable broader and deeper engagement with educational research in the school of medicine.
Proposal
To make pump-priming research support bursaries available to Keele staff upon suitable application.
Eligibility
We will consider applications:
· From colleagues who hold a substantive or honorary Keele contract
· Which have been signed off from the applicants line manager to ensure that their research project is included in their WAM activity
· With University ERP approval (applications can be considered whilst ethics are underway as long as ethical approval appears likely).
Scope
· Projects should generally be aligned to one of the MERG research themes:
1. Assessment and Feedback
2. Preparation for Practice
3. Scholarship and Learning
Although other topics will be considered if a strong enough case is made.
· Maximum funding will be £500 which can be used to fund:
o The direct costs of research i.e. the ‘buy-in’ of goods or services but not the ‘buy-out’ of the applicant’s time. This may include: UK travel directly associated with the research; student collaborator time; transcription or data entry costs; stationery; printing and postage; provided suitable justification can be made.
o Project support cannot be used to fund conference attendance: this would continue to be charged as part of the in-house staff development budget.
Application Process
Applications should be made by submitting a research proposal with background (including existing literature), research question / aims, methods, including proposed analysis, sources of advice and costs.
An ERP application will usually suffice and will normally have the applicant’s line manager’s signature (or if not, a covering email will be required).
This should be forwarded to Faye Palmer at . Each application will be reviewed by three members of the MERG management group and if successful, chair’s (or deputy chair’s) action on funding will normally follow. The group aims to make a decision as soon as practicable, typically within a month of receipt of complete applications.
For Information: The funds will be held by MERG. Except in exceptional circumstance, funds should be spent by asking Faye Palmer to raise a purchase order in advance of spending rather than by submitting invoices. Therefore, the successful applicant should use University approved providers whenever possible. Funds should be spent within the 2017-18 academic year; it may not be possible to pay for items beyond this time frame.
Evaluation
Successful applicants will be required to provide a short summary of the work conducted and the outputs of the research (presentations / papers) after 1 year, with further contact at 2 years to update on outputs. It is hoped that most bursaries will result in some form of external output (publication or conference presentation). There is also an expectation that work supported by this funding stream will be presented at either a face-to-face meeting or as a School seminar presentation. Presentation at a Face to Face meeting during the development phase of the project is likely to benefit the application, and is strongly recommended.