ESC Early career training grant

Applications submission deadline 31 January 2017

Request for application here

Purpose of the Training Grant Programme

To provide an opportunity for clinical training in the field of cardiology in an ESC regular member country other than their own.
The goal of this award is to help young candidates attain clinical competence and acquire experience of high quality cardiological practice which will enable them to contribute to improving academic standards on return to their own country. With this goal in mind preference is given to applicants from countries or regions where modern clinical cardiology is not yet strong, provided that there is enough evidence that the applicant can, after the Training period, contribute to the improvement of clinical cardiology in his home country upon his return.

Eligibility

Any citizen or permanent resident of a country, which is a regular ESC or ESC affiliated member, can apply. Applicants who have not been ordinarily residents in such country throughout the three years preceding the application date are not eligible. Periods of residence mainly for full time education will not be accepted as ordinary residence for this purpose.

Physicians in cardiology with < 2 years in training.

Applicants should be < 30 years of age at the day of application deadline.

Tenure

Training may be undertaken for any period from six months to one year.

Level of support

Early Career Training grant recipients will receive a sum of Euros 25,000 per annum for their daily subsistence.

Application

Proposals may be submitted for specialized training or further training in the subject relevant to a particular clinical interest. Applicants are advised to seek a centre in another country within Europe which not only offers good training opportunities but is also appropriate for the particular field in which they wish to train.
Application forms, which are in electronic format, may be obtained from the ESC at the following email address:

Email: grants@escardio.org

Notes on applying for Early Career Training grant

1. The application form is in five parts and is in electronic format (Word), and should be completed and submitted electronically.  Paper applications will not be accepted.
All parts of the application should be returned by the closing date, by the responsible persons who have been requested to complete them, directly to the European Society of Cardiology electronically at grants@escardio.org
For the open competition the closing date is January 31^st.Candidates should submit their applications in advance, preferably by mid January, so that they may be advised of any missing elements in time to be able to contact those concerned.  Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. It is essential that those parts of the application completed by the responsible persons other than the applicant (i.e. Sections B – E) are sent to us directly by them (and not by the applicant) in electronic format to grants@escardio.org.

2. Candidates should read the regulations for Early Career Training grant. Submission of an application will be taken to imply acceptance of these conditions. An application which is not in accordance with these rules will not be considered.

3. Applications will be submitted for consideration exactly as received by the office. Applicants are therefore urged not to submit incomplete forms as they may then be rejected.

4. Applications must conform to the accepted lay-out in the electronic forms and provide the necessary information as requested. Please make a careful selection of your documentation.

Conditions and regulations

Part 1 - Purpose and scope of the programme

Part 2 - Method of application

Part 3 - Standard regulations

Appendix I - Residence eligibility regulations

PART 1. Purpose and scope of the Early Career Training grant programme

Purpose of programme

1.1 The Early Career Training grant programme enables medical graduates to learn an innovative method/technique, be familiar with the organization and work of an internationally recognized research group. Participate in clinical activities at host institution.

1.2 Applicants are advised to seek out a centre in another country within Europe which not only offers good training opportunities but is also the most appropriate for the particular subject in which they wish to get training.
The application and proposal for the training has to be prepared in collaboration with the proposed host centre. The host centre has to nominate a supervisor who will take the main responsibility in this preparation and on the supervision of training, if a training grant is awarded.

Period of support

1.3 Training may be undertaken for any period from six months to one year as requested by the applicant. Awards for longer periods will not be considered.

Financial provision

1.4 The Early Career Training grant provides financial support of 25,000 Euros per annum to the grant recipient in addition to the agreement to be arranged with the selected centre (host institution). A fixed term contract of employment is usually signed between the institution and the grant recipient. The host institution should confirm its agreement on this process. For periods of time less than one year the grant is reduced pro rata. Grant recipients are urged to discuss the cost of their proposed programme of work with the host department so as to ensure that the department is in a position to meet any expenditure exceeding this amount and the head of the department will be expected to confirm this on Part D of the application form.

PART 2. Method of application

Eligibility

2.1 Applicants must meet the residence requirements set out at Appendix 1.

2.2 The qualifications required are as follows:
Physicians in Cardiology training less than 2 years. Applicants should be under 30 years of age at the day of application deadline (no exceptional circumstances, such as maternity leave, will be permitted).

Selection criteria

2.3 Criteria for selection includes: Grades at Medical School (upon graduation). At least two presentations (oral or poster) at an international congress or at least four presentations at a national congress.

Motivation and desire to pursue a career in Cardiology.

Supervisor at home institution and external referee confirm excellence, motivation and potential of candidate.

Supervisor at host institution confirms that he/she knows the candidate, believes in his/her potential and willing to actively support his/her during the grant period.

Submitting a formal application

2.4 Application forms are available electronically from the ESC at grants@escardio.org. The closing date for applications for the ESC Early-Career Training Grants competition is January 31^st. All 5 parts of the application must be received by the above mentioned date for the application to be considered. Applications are considered by the ESC Training and Research Grants Committee within 10 weeks.

2.5 Applicants are advised to read the following notes carefully before submitting an application.

Location

2.6 Training may be undertaken in a suitable university department or similar institution within a country, which is a regular ESC member. Applicants are expected to make their own arrangements for acceptance in the host institution.
Obtaining signed approval of the host institution representatives is the key task for the candidate before he submits the application to the ESC.

2.7 The ESC is unable to provide assistance with transfer or household removal expenses incurred by training grant recipients on taking up an award.

Subject of training

2.8 Proposals must obviously result from discussion between applicant and supervisor but the applicant should submit personally composed proposals for clinical training.
The application form has been designed to make it clear that the head of the proposed department is willing to receive the candidate and provide the necessary facilities.

Conditions for application

2.9 Applications for the ESC Early Career Training Grants are made on the understanding that the host institution, the supervisor and the training grant recipient agree to accept the regulations relating to the programme. The ESC intends the programme to be operated with flexibility and reserves the right to deal as it sees fit with any application of unusual nature. Furthermore, the ESC reserves the right to waive any rule, subject to the need to ensure that training funds are properly expended.

2.10 Part A of the application should be completed by the applicant and, when ready, sent with Part E (see below) directly to the ESC at grants@escardio.org

2.11 Applications must be supported in each case by:
(I) the head or supervisor of the department or establishment in which the candidate is at present working. The applicant should show the head of department the whole application with Part A completed, together with these regulations, and ensure that the latter is aware of the closing date; the present head or supervisor of the department or establishment should then complete Part B of the form and return it directly to the ESC at grants@escardio.org
(II) An independent referee of the applicant's choice, who is familiar with his/her work but not attached to the current or proposed host department. The referee should complete Part C of the form and return it directly to the ESC at grants@escardio.org.
(III) The head or supervisor of the proposed host department, who should complete Part D of the form and return it directly to the ESC at grants@escardio.org.
(IV) An appropriate administrative authority (e.g. finance officer, registrar, bursar, secretary) of the proposed host institution, who should complete Part E of the form and then return it to the applicant; the applicant should send it directly to the ESC, together with Part A, at grants@escardio.org.

2.12 Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the parts are returned in electronic form to the ESC by those concerned in time for the normal closing date for applications.

2.13 Applications are required to clarify with the head or supervisor of the proposed host centre the language requirements needed for training and they will have to provide evidence that they are fluent enough in the language(s) needed.

PART 3. Standard regulations

Status of training grant recipients

3.1 An award under these regulations will normally be administered through the medium of a fixed-term contract of employment for the period of the award, entered into between the grant recipient and the host institution.

Grants

3.2 Additional grants may be received but should take into account the amount offered by the ESC
(Euros 25,000 per annum).

Insurance and tax

3.3 The applicant is responsible for the set-up of his own personal and professional insurance and for compliance with taxation rules according to the local fiscal regulations.

Other awards and employments

3.4 Grants are awarded for full-time training and ESC approval must be sought before any other work is carried out within normal working hours. As it will generally be necessary to make a reduction of the grant corresponding to any additional income so derived, grant recipients MUST notify the ESC of any earnings from such work and of any honoraria or awards received. This does not apply however to remuneration received from up to 6 hours a week spent with the supervisor's approval on teaching, clinical sessions or demonstrating, the payment for which may be retained in full if this is in accordance with the host institution's conditions.

3.5 It will be a condition of any award that clinical grant recipients do not engage in private practice for personal gain.

3.6 In case grant recipients are asked by their host institutions to undertake medical duties outside normal working hours their supervisors should consult the ESC in advance about the arrangements and any additional payment which may be involved.

Holidays

3.7 Training grant recipients may take holidays in accordance with the conditions of service of the host institution up to a maximum of six weeks during a complete year. The date and duration of any holiday proposed beyond this period should be reported to the ESC.

Sick leave

3.8 Training grant recipients will be subject to the normal conditions of service of the host institution so far as sick leave is concerned, but the ESC should be notified if a grant recipient is likely to be away through illness for more than a month.

3.9 Early Career Training grant recipients are obliged to have a health insurance either provided by the employing institution or on the grant recipient's own discretion.

Honorary clinical contracts

3.10 Early Career Training grant recipients who undertake, as part of their training programme, work concerned with the care of patients are reminded that they should be in possession of an honorary clinical contract from the appropriate health authority.

3.11 Responsibility for seeking such a contract will lie with the head of the department in which the grant recipient is working, following the usual practice of the local Medical School. Should any difficulties be encountered, the ESC should be informed.

Change of project or supervisor

3.12 Any changes in a grant recipient's training programme or supervisor from those originally approved the ESC will require the ESC's prior consent.

Final report and subsequent post

3.13 Grant recipients are required to submit a report at the end of the training period on the work undertaken and to inform the ESC of the appointment he or she proposes to undertake on the conclusion of the training period. Grant recipients are encouraged to take this opportunity of putting forward any comments they may have on the Training Grant Programme. The final report must be sent to the ESC (same address as for the application) before the end of the training period by both: the candidate and the host institution.

Grant recipients are encouraged to submit an abstract for the ESC Annual Congress following the end of the training period.

Local regulations

3.14 Grant recipients will be subject to the terms of employment of their host institution.

Appendix 1. Residence eligibility for the Early Career Training grant

1. These rules will apply to an award of an Early Career Training grant.

2. Subject to the following provisions of these rules a candidate must at the date of application for an award:

• (a) be citizen or permanent resident in a country, which is a regular ESC or ESC affiliated member.
• (b) have been ordinarily resident in Europe or ESC Affiliated country for the period of 3 years immediately preceding the date of application.

3. Any candidate who is the child of a citizen of a European or ESC Affiliated country will be eligible for an award if at the date of application:

• (a) he is resident in Europe or ESC Affiliated country and
• (b) his parent, being such a citizen, is employed in Europe or ESC affiliated country or if not, was previously last so employed or has been so employed for an aggregate period of 1 year during the period of 3 years immediately preceding the date of application, and
• (c) he has been ordinarily resident in Europe or ESC Affiliated country for the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application.

4. A candidate who is a refugee or the spouse or child of a refugee will be eligible for an award if at the date of application the refugee:

• (a) is ordinarily resident in Europe or ESC Affiliated country, and
• (b) has not been ordinarily resident outside Europe or ESC Affiliated country since being recognized as a refugee or granted asylum.

5. For the purpose of these rules

• (a) A candidate will not (except for the purpose of paragraph 4) be treated as ordinarily resident in a place specified in these rules in respect of any period during which he is so resident wholly or mainly for the purposes of receiving full-time education:
• (b) A period of ordinary residence will not be treated as being interrupted by an absence which is caused:
• (I) by the temporary employment abroad of the candidate, his spouse or his parents, or
• (II) the temporary full-time education abroad of the candidate or his spouse.

Congratulations to 2016 ESC eARLY-cAREER Training Grant Awardees!