ESE Young Investigator Research Grant

2019 grants have been awarded. For 2020 grants please apply after 1st January.

The aim of the annual ESE Young Investigator Research Grant is to support young investigators in the early phase of their research career in Endodontology.

A "young" investigator in the context of this award is defined as an individual who is ‘professionally’ young in academic terms rather than in chronological age, e.g. pre-doctoral students at all levels (MSc, PhD students and equivalent), and up to 3 years following the award of a PhD (or equivalent). Undergraduate students are excluded.

A maximum of 10,000 € will be awarded annually. The call for ESE Young Investigator Research Grants will be open all year; applications will be evaluated as they are submitted. The award will be budget-based, requiring a definitive itemized budget, with a maximum of 5,000 € per project. If the sum is not sufficient to complete the project, the application will need to show how the deficit will be covered. The research environment (University, laboratory, clinic) should provide the basic equipment (computers, motors, bond strength testing machines, etc.): these will not be funded. However, consumables (instruments, reagents, etc.) and specific services (electron or confocal microscopy, micro-CTs, statistical analysis etc.) can be covered. Travel costs will be covered only for the short-term visits to another laboratory; congress fees or travel costs to conferences are excluded. The ESE will not pay institutional overheads, and may split the grant between several applicants, according to merit. Payment will be made to institutions, and not to individuals.

Rules

1. The applicant must be associated with a dental school or research institute in a country that is a full or associate member of the European Society of Endodontology;
2. The applicant is eligible for maximum of two grants for two separate projects;
3. The applicant must submit by email to administrator@e-s-e.eu:
   • a protocol of the proposed research project, which should describe the background to the topic, the aim and the methodology in detail supported by references to previous research in the field;
   • details of the proposed costing of the project;
   • a brief curriculum vitae with high resolution photograph (head and neck only);
   • a letter of support from the Head or nominated deputy of the Dental School/Institution to confirm that the applicant is to undertake the study at the school;
   • a letter from the supervisor describing the status of the student, the phase of the study, with the estimated time of graduation, if relevant. In case of a recent PhD student, the applicant needs to provide proof of their award date, which should be no later than 3 years at the time of application.
4. On completion of the project a final report must be submitted to the Administrator of the European Society of Endodontology. The applicants will also be expected to submit a manuscript of the completed work to the International Endodontic Journal, which will have first choice on considering the paper for publication. The paper should meet the requirements as stated in the ‘Authors Guidelines’.

All proposals will be evaluated by members of the Research Committee, using the ESE Annual Research Grant Evaluation Form. The questions considered in the evaluation are as follows:

1. How well is the previous research (background) in the field described?
2. Is the research question/hypothesis supported and clearly presented?
3. Can the question/hypothesis be answered with the study design?
4. Is the number of subjects/samples sufficient and has it been justified? For example, have sample size calculations been done when possible?
5. Have the materials and methods been described in sufficient details?
6. How well can the research protocol answer the research question?
7. Do the statistical methods fit the data?
8. Is the applicant sufficiently competent to complete the work proposed?
9. Are sufficient and necessary supervision and/or assistance available to the applicant (if necessary)?
10. How clear is the applicant's role on the project?
11. Is the proposed budget realistic?
12. Has the time table been described?
13. How important is the applied funding for the success of the protocol?
14. Is the topic relevant and important?

Only those receiving a mean score of at least 3.5/5 points (70% of the maximum) are deemed fundable. The decision of the adjudicating panel will be final and all participants will be notified of the decision within two months after receiving the application.