NFEM Scholar/Mentor Program 

The National Foundation of Emergency Medicine (NFEM) invites academic institutions to apply to the Scholar/Mentor Program. The two-year program supports junior emergency medicine faculty and their Mentors as they develop the next generation of academic emergency medicine scientists.

Program at a Glance

• Program period: July 1, 2027–June 30, 2029
• Funding: $50,000 per year for two years, or $100,000 per Scholar
• Awards: Up to three awards to Departments of Emergency Medicine per cohort.
• Institutional commitment: 20% protected research time through clinical buy-down

Scholar Eligibility

The program is intended for junior faculty in an academic emergency medicine track who are within five years of their faculty appointment or terminal training.

• Preference will be given to candidates who are emergency medicine physicians.
• Scholars must not have a K award.
• Scholars must not serve as principal investigator on any National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.

Program Goals

The program aims to: 

• Stimulate, train, and foster an enduring academic commitment to emergency medicine research.
• Support junior investigators as they work toward research independence.
• Strengthen institutional mentorship and research infrastructure in academic emergency medicine.

Funding and Institutional Commitment

NFEM will provide $50,000 per year for two years per Scholar, contingent on an institutional match.

The Department of Emergency Medicine and/or School of Medicine must provide:

• 20% protected research time through clinical buy-down, approximately one day per week.
• Protected time drawn from clinical responsibilities, not administrative or teaching duties.
• A Chair-signed commitment confirming the protected time.

The institutional match must:

• Come from Department and/or School of Medicine resources.
• Be identified in the application.
• Not be funded directly or indirectly by the NFEM award.

Use of NFEM Funds

NFEM funds may be used only for direct costs that support the Scholar’s research and career development, consistent with the approved budget.

The award may not be charged for:

• Indirect costs or facilities and administrative (F&A) costs.
• Institutional overhead.
• Institutional taxes or assessments.
• Similar administrative charges.

Applicants must submit a proposed two-year budget that describes the anticipated use of NFEM funds and separately identifies the institutional contribution, including the required clinical buy-down and any additional institutional or in-kind support.

Program Expectations

Scholars are expected to:

• Develop an individualized plan with their Mentor and the Director of the NFEM Scholar/Mentor Program.
• Participate in periodic webinars and Zoom meetings with NFEM program leadership.
• Submit two abstracts and one manuscript per year, where appropriate.
• Attend each NFEM Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the SAEM Annual Meeting.
• Present research near the end of the program at the NFEM Annual Meeting.

Scholar Research Focus

NFEM does not prescribe specific research topics. Proposed projects should:

• Be grounded in emergency medicine, the emergency care system or the populations emergency medicine serves.
• Address meaningful, answerable questions that advance the science, practice, quality, equity, safety, innovation or delivery of emergency care.
• Use hypothesis-generating and/or hypothesis-testing approaches appropriate to the stage of inquiry.
• Support relevant innovation and technology development, such as diagnostics, decision support, digital health, data science or care models, when there is a clear path to improving patient care or system performance.
• Contribute to a sustainable academic path for the Scholar, with potential for future extramural funding and scholarly impact.
• Align with the strengths, resources and strategic priorities of the institution’s emergency medicine program.

Projects may focus on clinical or translational research, health services, implementation science, education, policy or data science, provided they are directly relevant to emergency medicine.

Institutional Eligibility

Institutions will be selected based on their ability to demonstrate:

• A vision and mission aligned with NFEM.
• Adequate research infrastructure, including active clinical research projects, research staff, and access to regulatory, biostatistical and administrative support.
• A commitment to research and junior investigator development.
• Access to a research fellowship or other structured research training program that supports emergency medicine faculty. The program does not need to be housed within emergency medicine.
• Engaged junior and senior faculty who are willing and suitable to serve as Scholars and Mentors.
• Willingness to provide the required match, including Chair-signed 20% protected time through 20% clinical buy-down.
• A commitment to acknowledge NFEM support in resulting research products and grants.

Required Application Components

Submit all four components below. NIH-format biosketches are required for both the Mentor and the Scholar. Separate lists of grants or peer-reviewed publications are not required.

1. Institutional Narrative

Recommended length: 3–5 pages

Describe:

• How the institution’s research vision and mission align with NFEM.
• The research and training infrastructure, including existing research programs, relevant fellowships or training opportunities, the potential Scholar pipeline and the mentoring environment.
• How participation will benefit the institution, department and proposed Scholar.
• The institution’s commitment to 20% protected research time through clinical buy-down.
• Any additional institutional or in-kind support.

2. Mentor Information

Limit: Up to 2 pages, plus an NIH-format biosketch

Include:

• Mentorship experience, including prior mentees, their projects and evidence of their success, such as academic appointments, grants, publications or leadership roles.
• The Mentor’s research experience and expertise relevant to the proposed Scholar and project.
• A mentorship plan describing:
  • Meeting frequency.
  • Engagement, such as one-on-one meetings, feedback on grants or manuscripts, and networking support.
  • How the Mentor will monitor progress.
• Proposed goals, metrics and milestones for the Scholar, such as abstracts, manuscripts, grant submissions, skill development and progress toward independence.
• The Mentor’s current NIH-format biosketch.

3. Scholar (Mentee) Information

Limit: Up to 2 pages, plus an NIH-format biosketch

Include:

• A personal statement describing career interests, long-term goals and commitment to a research-focused or research-intensive career in emergency medicine.
• The primary research topic, its relevance to emergency medicine, its importance to patients or care systems, and its potential scientific and clinical impact.
• The proposed research plan, including the central hypothesis, specific aims and a concise description of the methods.
• A curriculum and training plan, such as coursework, workshops, certificates, seminars or methodological training.
• Additional Mentors or collaborators, their roles and how the mentorship team will support the Scholar.
• Prior research experience and how program support will help the Scholar move toward research independence or a research-intensive academic career.
• The Scholar’s current NIH-format biosketch.

4. Proposed Budget and Budget Justification

Submit a two-year budget that:

• Lists anticipated expenses for Year 1 and Year 2.
• Clearly identifies how the $50,000 annual NFEM award will be used.
• Briefly justifies each major budget category.
• Separately identifies the institution’s contribution toward the Scholar’s 20% clinical buy-down and protected research time.
• Identifies any additional institutional or in-kind contributions.