IHSPR Rising Star Award 2013-2014

Timeline and Funding

Application deadline	February 14, 2014
Anticipated Notification of decision	April 2, 2014
Funding per award	Up to three $1,000 awards are awarded annually

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Award
• Eligibility criteria
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information

Description

The CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) is dedicated to supporting graduate students and post-doctoral Fellows and to recognizing the research excellence and knowledge translation initiatives of these emerging health services and policy researchers at an early stage in their career.

Objectives

• To recognize the excellence of Canadian research and innovative knowledge translation (KT) initiatives of graduate students (M.A., M.Sc. and PhD) and post-doctoral fellows studying  health services and policy research;
• To recognize research and/or KT contributions for which a graduate student or post-doctoral fellow has had primary responsibility;
• To promote careers in health services and policy research.

Award

IHSPR will recognize up to three (3) graduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows studying in all fields and disciplines related to health services and policy research.

Each award recipient will receive the following:

• An award of $1,000 award (preferably used to present research at a scientific meeting or to attend a health services and policy research training program);
• Up to a maximum of $1,500 in conference registration and travel support to attend  the 2014 Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) conference;
• Publication of their profile on the IHSPR website and in an IHSPR newsletter; and
• A certificate of excellence from CIHR-IHSPR.

Eligibility Criteria

• Awards will be presented to individuals enrolled in a program of study related to health services and/or health policy at the masters, doctoral or post-doctoral fellow level or recent graduates who are submitting work that was completed during their period of graduate training.
• Canadians and non-Canadians studying at a Canadian Institution are eligible, as well as Canadians studying abroad.
• Awards are granted based on:
  • A maximum of one (1) health services and policy research article published between January 1, 2013 and February 14, 2014 in a peer reviewed journal as first author (both hard copy and electronic/web-based publishing is acceptable within the stated timeframe); or
  • Demonstration of a maximum of one (1) innovative or successful KT initiative (which may incorporate multiple components including, for example, synthesis, dissemination and exchange activities; communication and outreach activities; policy and practice improvement activities, and more) completed between January 1, 2013 and February 14, 2014.
• The article or KT initiative must be an output from a research project in which the trainee was significantly involved during their period of graduate or post-doctoral training.
• Applicants are not required to hold any funding from CIHR.
• Applicants can apply to the Rising Star Award or the Article of the Year Award, but not both.
• Applicants cannot have previously received a Rising Star Award or Article of the Year Award.

Review Process and Evaluation

Applications will undergo an initial assessment by IHSPR staff to ensure that they are eligible, complete, and relevant to IHSPR's mandate and/or priority research areas. Only eligible, complete, and relevant applications will proceed to the application review stage.

A review committee comprised of members of IHSPR's Advisory Board and esteemed researchers from our community will review the applications. Final decisions rest with the Institute's Scientific Director.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• The relevance of their article or KT initiative to IHSPR's mandate and/or priority research areas;
• The potential impact of their article or KT initiative within the field of health services and policy research:
  • Article submissions will be assessed on the impact of the journal; the importance of results; the extent to which the findings represent new information and/or advance knowledge within the field of health services and policy research; and the potential impact of the results on policy, practice or research methods;
  • KT submissions will be assessed on the extent to which the KT activity has accelerated the translation and uptake of knowledge; appropriateness of KT initiative for stated objective and target audience/end user; inclusion of relevant stakeholders; potential impact of the KT initiative in relation to stated objectives; importance of the KT outcomes within the field of health services and policy research; and clarity and quality of applicant's description of what worked well, what did not work well, and why with the KT initiative;
• Research and academic experience based on level of education (e.g., achievements and activities in relation to level of training; extent of previous and current involvement in health services and policy research);
• The overall strength of their online application.

Successful applicants will be notified of the results in April 2014. Awards will be presented at the May 2014 Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) conference.

How to Apply

All applications must include the following:

1. A completed application form [ HTML | PDF fillable (64 KB) | PDF non-fillable (45 KB) | Help ], which requires the following information:
   • A CIHR Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you do not have one, please visit the Register with CIHR web page;
   • A brief biographical sketch, including general research/thesis interests, previous training experience related to health services and policy research, current training and career aspirations (maximum 250 words);
   • A full citation of the published article or title of the KT initiative;
   • A statement describing the (1) relevance and (2) potential impact of your article or KT initiative within the field of health services and policy research (maximum 250 words).
2. A letter of support from your research supervisor.
3. An electronic copy of the published article (published between January 1, 2013 and February 14, 2014).

Or

4. A 1000 word (maximum) description of the KT initiative. Applicants should comment on their KT objective(s), KT activities (e.g., synthesis, dissemination and exchange activities; communication and outreach activities; policy and practice improvement activities), and any outcomes and/or impact that has been achieved (e.g., affect policy or practice, etc.). Applicants should also comment on their experience and impressions (e.g., what worked well, what did not work well,and why).

Please submit the completed application form and an electronic version of the published article or description of the KT initiative to Liz Drake (see below for contact information) on or before February 14, 2014. Please also send a hard copy of the signed completed application form by mail. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Previous Rising Star Award Recipients:

• Rising Star Award recipients - 2012/13
• Rising Star Award recipients - 2011/12
• Rising Star Award recipients - 2010/11
• Rising Star Award recipients - 2009/10
• Rising Star Award recipients - 2008/09
• Rising Star Award recipients - 2007/08