The Fellows Award supports talented researchers with bold ideas from across the globe, who aspire to be the next generation leaders in mental health research, as they establish their independence.
MQ seeks to fund a diverse research portfolio that reflects a bio-psycho-social approach to mental health. The MQ Fellows Awards are open to researchers anywhere in the world and from all disciplines related to mental health research. Research may involve theoretical, experimental, social sciences or medical humanities approaches. Aligning with the work of our Brighter Futures Programme, applications to the 2020 MQ Fellows Award must have a focus on children and young people (which we define as from prenatal development up to 24 years of age). Projects should focus on genuine impact by charting, informing, developing and/or testing preventative or therapeutic interventions.
With the Fellows Award, MQ aims to support the most promising early career scientists, clinician-scientists and researchers working to launch their independent research careers in the field of mental health. Awardees will be asking questions that can bring transformational advances in mental health science, undertaking research with the potential to improve the lives of young people living with mental illness.
Awardees will also demonstrate their commitment to leadership, interdisciplinary research, and being ambassadors for MQ. They will join a global community of MQ supporters and friends who are championing progress across all sectors of mental health research
Eligibility
The MQ Fellows Award is designed to support early career researchers investigating questions that will ultimately improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness. Applicants will have made an outstanding start to their research career as demonstrated by their research results and career track record to date.
We are seeking applicants who are establishing their independence through their intellectual efforts and leadership. Researchers need to be fully committed to this path and at a career stage that demonstrates this commitment. Applicants will be able to demonstrate that they are either newly independent or will be independent by the time the awards are finalised in the summer of 2020.
This award is not suitable for stand-alone 3-year post-doctoral research projects. Applicants must be early career researchers wishing to establish their independence:
- with a PhD, DPhil, DClinPsy, MBBS, MD or equivalent
- have accumulated 3-7 years by January 2020 through whole-time-equivalent research experience, equivalent in nature to postdoctoral research
- be able to show that this award will help to establish your independence relative to your current position
The onus to demonstrate appropriate career stage falls on the applicant.
Eligible applicants must:
- make a clear case for how their proposed project is relevant to children and young people (from prenatal development up to the age of 24 years), and how it focuses on charting pathways to genuine impact on mental illness via developing treatments or preventative interventions.
- be able to demonstrate in their submitted application that:
- the proposal has been informed by the priorities of people with lived experience of mental illness. This could be done for example (but not limited to) through addressing questions identified in published research priority setting exercises, such as James Lind Alliance projects conducted for Young Peoples’ Mental Health, Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Digital Mental Health.
- the project contains elements of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) and/or co-design, as appropriate to the particular proposal. MQ defines PPI in line with the UK NIHR Involve definition as research done with or by members of the public rather than to, for or about We define co-design in line with the key principles outlined here and consider that, proportionately and appropriately done, PPI and co-design almost always improve research and often hasten impact.
- the proposal considers the interdisciplinary nature of mental health research
- the proposal will work towards providing robust results that will follow open research practices.
- be eligible to enter the UK for an interview and to participate in annual meetings, if (s)he is not a UK national. Applicants, who can be from any country, are responsible for obtaining their own visa, if required.
- complete and submit their application in English.
Applications may be rejected without further consideration:
- if it is received in an incomplete state
- is provided in a format other than requested
- is received after the stated deadline
- does not meet the specified remit
- if applicants have substantial funding commitments (research support in excess of £225,000/year, excluding fEC/indirect costs)
MQ recognises that good research takes place in supportive environments and will assess applications accordingly. The host institution, which can be anywhere in the world, should be well recognised in the field and provide strong support for independent research whilst encouraging professional and personal development. All research must comply with applicable local and/or national regulations/laws and meet an equal standard established by the UK as outlined in the guidance notes.
Applications should be accompanied by a statement of support from the Head of Department of the host institution.
You and your institution must agree to MQ’s Standard Grant Conditions and Policies before beginning an application, as the terms and conditions associated with an award is not negotiable.
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/articles/apply-fellows