Early Career Mentored Research Award

 

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. 

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.

• Studies that consider and investigate the balance between physical realism and resource utilization (cost, sustainability, and scalability) in simulation education.
• Studies comparing factors related to the use of high vs. low-fidelity simulations and simulators.
• Studies investigating simulation-based factors (debriefing method, fidelity, learning modalities, etc.) that lead to optimization and acceleration of competency and learning in teams.
• Studies investigating optimal dose, frequency and interval of simulation training sessions for competency-based training.
• Studies comparing variables (faculty presence, feedback methods, etc.) that influence and inform the setting of standards and assessment methods used in competency-based training.
• Studies that investigate the relationship of simulated participant methodology and emerging technologies, including hybrid strategies.
• 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.
• 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.
• Studies comparing the effectiveness of various debriefing techniques on learner competency, retention or other psychometric parameters.

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)

 

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)