THANK YOU!
We've received a strong response to our Call for Early Career Mentored Research Award Letters of Intent and are currently reviewing those submissions.
OPENING SOON!
SSH DISCOVERY AWARD
One $30,000 award will be given
2025 APPLICATION CYCLE will open
soon.
Apply Now
Letter of Intent Instructions
Award Objectives
In 2013, the Research Committee of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) established the Early Simulation Career Research Award Program (formerly the SSH Novice Research Grant Program) to support the development of new investigators and research initiatives. The Society has awarded over 20 monetary awards to early career research projects in healthcare simulation research.
Early career researchers developing methodologically sound simulation-based research projects using quantitative, qualitative, or hybrid, mixed-method approaches are sought for these awards. Studies that are both innovative and have strong potential for a positive impact on the simulation field are encouraged. The potential impact on the applicant’s career is also considered.
Funding Available
Research awards of up to $10,000 are available.
Research Priorities for Consideration
Below are priorities identified by the Research Committee for the 2025 funding cycle; however, the Committee does not restrict funding only to these priorities and will consider high-quality proposals that advance theoretical and applied knowledge in healthcare simulation research.
1. Studies that consider and investigate the balance between physical realism and resource utilization (cost, sustainability, and scalability) in simulation education.
2. Studies comparing factors related to the use of high vs. low-fidelity simulations and simulators.
3. Studies investigating simulation-based factors (debriefing method, fidelity, learning modalities, etc.) that lead to optimization and acceleration of competency and learning in teams.
4. Studies investigating optimal dose, frequency and interval of simulation training sessions for competency-based training.
5. Studies comparing variables (faculty presence, feedback methods, etc.) that influence and inform the setting of standards and assessment methods used in competency-based training.
6. Studies that investigate the relationship of simulated participant methodology and emerging technologies, including hybrid strategies.
7. Studies measuring the impact (emotional, learning, retention, etc.) of in situ simulation events on participating professionals and/or care teams and patients not involved in the event.
8. Studies comparing Extended Reality (XR) based simulation with non-XR based simulation modalities, as it applies to training effectiveness/efficiency, learner outcomes, and mitigation of learner cybersickness.
9. Studies comparing the effectiveness of various debriefing techniques on learner competency, retention or other psychometric parameters.
How to Apply
Step 1: Letter of Intent
The letter of intent (LOI) is a high-level outline of your research project, including the gap to be addressed through the research, the overall design/methodology planned to complete the project, your project timeline, budget, and supporting references.
Step 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
Upon completion of the LOI review process, select projects will be invited to submit a comprehensive and fully detailed proposal for further review and final consideration for funding.
If you are selected to submit a full proposal, the following deadlines apply:
Awards will be announced at the 25th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH 2025), being held in Orlando, Florida, USA, January 10 - 14, 2025.
Award Stipulations
Period of Funding
Projects must be completed within 18 months from the date of receipt of funds.
Progress Report
Principal Investigators receiving a funded award are required to submit a progress report at nine months and a final report at the end of the 18 months.
Publication and Presentation Requirements
Manuscripts resulting from awarded studies must be submitted FIRST to Simulation in Healthcare, the official journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. If, during the peer review process, the manuscript is not accepted to Simulation in Healthcare, authors are free to submit the work to other journals of their choice.
An abstract resulting from the project must be submitted for presentation at a live or virtual SSH-sponsored educational program.
Applicant Eligibility
- The principal investigator (PI) may not have received more than $10,000 (USD) in previous research award funding from external sources.
- The PI may not have been the primary author on more than five peer-reviewed articles now in publication.
- One project submission will be accepted from each PI.
- Mentorship from an experienced researcher is required. Contact information for the project mentor must be included in the Letter of Intent proposal, as mentor participation will be verified for selected projects.
- Co-investigators other than the project mentor are encouraged, though not required.
NOTE: Only one project submission will be accepted from each Principal Investigator.
Scope of Project
- Studies that are both innovative and have strong potential for a positive impact on the simulation field are encouraged
- Award projects may be used for PILOT projects that are intended to lead to larger investigations.
- A comprehensive range of sound empirical research methods will be considered (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods)
Exclusions
- Projects should not be related to funding for current or future academic research required for degree completion
- Award funding is not intended for review projects (e.g. scoping reviews, meta-analysis, systematic reviews)
Budget Parameters
The award is designed to be the only source of external funding for submitted projects. Projects for which non-SSH funds are being used in addition to non-SSH external funding sources are not eligible.
Award funding MAY be used for:
- Personnel costs - up to 40% (e.g. stipends for faculty/staff/graduate students/trainees, research assistants, project managers, statisticians, data analysts, subject matter experts, consultants, standardized participants (SPs)
- Equipment/material costs - up to 50% (e.g. VR headsets, task trainers, wearables, computers, software, printing, paper, cloud storage, questionnaires, licensed tools)
- Study participant support - up to 10% (e.g. gift cards, food and beverage support, parking)
Award funding MAY NOT be used for:
- Travel
- Conference and event fees
- Membership fees
- Professional development fees (e.g. tuition for educational programs or certification)
- Indirect costs (e.g. organizational administrative support, organizational equipment, rental of space, utilities)
Letter of Intent (LOI) Requirements
Submission Process
Applicants are required to submit the Letter of Intent (LOI). In order to access the LOI submission form, applicants will first need to login to the SSH website at ssih.org, however, membership in the Society is NOT required for application to the award program.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email when the submission has been completed and readied for peer review. Incomplete or nonconforming LOIs will not be forwarded for peer review.
Ethics Review and Human Subject Protection
All proposals submitted must include evidence of submission to an appropriate Ethics Review Board regardless of whether human subjects are used. Documentation of approval or exemption of the project by the review board is not required at the time of proposal application but will be required before the funding of the project.
Background (1,000 characters, includes spaces)
A succinct overview of the field to be studied, including what is known about the topic and what remains to be explored is required. Describe how and why the proposed research will advance understanding in the field or bridge gaps in knowledge. The background literature should also include any supporting theoretical or conceptual framework as dictated by the specific research areas.
Research Question (1,000 characters, includes spaces)
Describe the research question driving the project and the need for the project within the field of healthcare simulation. Projects that can be broadly applied to the field of simulation are encouraged. List the goals and objectives of your study (e.g. to test the hypothesis of your research question). The hypothesis must be clearly stated for quantitative research. For qualitative research, a hypothesis is not necessary, but guiding research questions should be stated instead. Specific aims for the project should also be clearly stated.
Research Methodology (1,000 characters, includes spaces)
Clearly describe the methodology planned for the project, including the research framework intended. It is often useful to organize this section by listing each aim followed by the specific methodology that will be used to accomplish that aim. Other important components can include proposed inclusion and exclusion criteria for subjects, well defined outcome measures, proposed statistical testing, anticipated sample size, and the overall data collection and management strategy. Be as specific as possible.
Project Timeline (1,000 characters, includes spaces)
Provide a timeline overview for project completion within the 18-month time period.
Budget (1,000 characters, includes spaces)
A high-level budget summary must be included, followed by a budget justification explaining how the award funds will specifically be used. The budget justification must demonstrate that adequate support and time will be dedicated toward completion of the stated goals.
References (Include no more than 10 references)
Questions?
Contact the SSH Office of Continuing Education at education@ssih.org
About SSH
The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) was established in January 2004 to represent the rapidly growing group of stakeholders who utilize a variety of simulation techniques for education, assessment, and research in health care. The membership, now numbering over 4,000, is united by its desire to improve healthcare worker performance and reduce errors in patient care using all types of simulation tools including computer screen-based simulators, task trainers, human patient simulators, virtual reality, hybrid devices, and standardized patients. We are a broad-based, multi-disciplinary, multi-specialty, international society with ties to medical specialties, nursing, allied health paramedical personnel, technologists, and industry.
WINNERS - 2024 SSH Early Career Research Award
Use of a Focused Hybrid Curriculum and Task Trainer to Train and Maintain Surgical Airway Skills among Anesthesia Providers
Principle Investigator: Charles Lin, MD, MS
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
The Application of Virtual Simulation in Promoting Empathy
Principle Investigator: Samantha Juan, EdD, RN, MSN, CCRN-A, CHSE, CNE
California State University Eastbay, Hayward, California, USA
Using Virtual Reality in Training Behavior Technicians Who Work with Children with Autism
Principle Investigator: Adam Scott Hockman, MA
ABA Technologies & MGH Institute of Health Professions
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
WINNERS - 2023 SSH Early Career Research Award
The Novel Use of Technology to Support Sustainability of an Obstetric Emergency Simulation Program in a Middle-Income Country
Principle Investigator: Sasha Hernandez, MD
New York University, New York, USA
Differences in Student Experiences of Virtual Simulation Co-creation: Shifting Healthcare Education Towards Equity-centered Authentic Assessment: A Phenomenographic Study
Principle Investigator: Laura Killam, PhD(c), RN
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
WINNERS - 2022 SSH Early Career Research Award
Does Simulation Improve Medical Decision-Making in EMS?
Principle Investigator: Daniel Johnson, MD
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
Implementation of a Novel VR Crisis Scenario Simulation for Anesthesia Trainees
Principle Investigator: Lenard William Babus, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
WINNERS - 2021 SSH Early Career Research Award
Creation of a Novel Distance-based Learning Curriculum Comparing Immersive Virtual Reality Curriculum to Standardized Simulation for Residents Across Multiple Disciplines
Principle Investigator: Erin Hulfish, MD
Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Caregiver Experience with High-fidelity Tracheostomy Simulation: A Qualitative Study
Principle Investigator: Darlene Acorda, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, CHSE
Texas Children’s Hospital
Houston, Texas, USA
WINNERS - 2020 SSH Early Career Research Award
Simulation Training and Assessment in Interventional Cardiology
Principle Investigator: Yao Xiao
Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University
Guangzhou, China
Increasing Pediatrid Readiness in Critical Access Hospitals: An In-Situ Simulation-based Improvement Program
Principle Investigator: Emily Mathias
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Validation of Using Video-based Simulation to Assess Task Mental Representations
Principle Investigator: Vicky JH Yeh
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, USA
WINNERS - 2019 SSH Early Career Research Award
Pediatric Sepsis Readiness in Latvian Emergency Departments: A Simulation-based Trial
Principal Investigator: Reinis Balmaks, MD
Riga Stradins University
Riga, Latvia
Examining Relationships of the Simulation Faculty Workload Model
Principal Investigator: Nikki Blodgett, PhD, RN
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
ESimulation-based Mastery Learning for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Principal Investigator: Brittany Dahlen, BAN, RN, CCRN-K, CPHON, CPN
Children's Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
WINNERS - 2018 SSH Early Career Research Award
Determining the interval of training required for competence and creating a Musculoskeletal Workshop with Simulators for Primary Care Physicians in Training
Principal Investigator: Mary Lan, MD
Trippler Army Medical
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Does Simulation-based Teaching Reduce CT Scans in Children with Very Low-risk Head Trauma
Principal Investigator: Ilana Harwayne-Gidansky, MD, MA
Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Use of Asynchronous Learning & Online Mentoring as a Low-cost Solution to Develop Simulation Educators in Indian Subcontinent
Principal Investigator: Asit Misra, MD, MEM
OhioHealth Learning
Columbus, Ohio, USA
WINNERS - 2017 SSH Early Career Research Award
Entrustable Professional Activities: Can Simulation be Used to Assess Competency?
Principal Investigator: Tiffany Moadel, Leigh Evans
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
How Does Variation of Moulage Authenticity Impact Engagement of Participants in a Simulation?
Principal Investigator: Jessica Stokes-Parrish
University of Newcastle School of Medicine
Hunter Region, Australia
Socioeconomic Bias: Impact on Physician Decision-making and Patient Safety
Principal Investigator: Heather Fasano
Carolinas Healthcare System
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Implementation of Mental Skills to Enhance Medical Students' Performance
Principal Investigator: Nicholas Anton, MS
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
WINNERS - 2016 SSH Early Career Research Award
De-escalating Angry Caregivers: RCT for Pediatric Trainees Using an SP Curriculum
Principal Investigator: Sarah Hillgenberg, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California, USA
Performance of an ED In-Situ Simulation Program Designed to Improve Sepsis Care
Principal Investigator: Lillian Wong, MD
Institute for Advanced Simulation and Learning (IMSAL)
Bronx, New York, USA
WINNERS - 2015 SSH Early Career Research Award
Defining the Learning Curve for the Digital Labor Cervical Exam
Principal Investigator: Joshua F. Nitsche, MD, PhD
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
WINNERS - 2014 SSH Early Career Research Award
Interprofessional Education in Pharmacology using High-fidelity Simulation
Principal Investigator: Brittney Meyer, PharmD
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota, USA
Questions?
For questions, please contact the SSH Office of Continuing Education at education@ssih.org
Apply Now