SAEMF National Research Scholars Program

One-Year Funded Research Training Opportunity for Medical Students Pursuing Emergency Care Research

The SAEM Foundation (SAEMF), in partnership with SAEM, is proud to announce the SAEMF National Research Scholars Program, a new national initiative designed to support medical students who are interested in emergency care research and careers as emergency medicine (EM) clinician-scientists.

EM has made substantial progress in advancing its research enterprise, strengthening national research priorities, and expanding opportunities for federally funded investigation. However, the specialty continues to face a critical need for a larger and more diverse research workforce. One important barrier is the limited availability of structured, mentored research pathways for medical students who may be interested in EM but have not yet had access to EM research mentors, infrastructure, or career development opportunities.

The SAEMF National Research Scholars Program (SAEMF-NRSP) was created to address this need by providing selected medical students with the opportunity to spend 12 consecutive months conducting full-time emergency care research at a U.S. institution outside their home medical school, under the mentorship of leading EM investigators. The program will:

• Recruit outstanding medical students with interest and potential in research
• Provide structured, mentored research training in emergency medicine
• Expand the national pipeline of EM clinician-scientists
• Create a visible medical student research presence at the SAEM Annual Meeting
• Strengthen connections between medical students and leading EM investigators nationwide

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Award Support

Each selected scholar will receive:

• $55,000 stipend for the research year
• Up to $10,000 in allowable expenses to support travel to select a mentor/preceptor and fellowship laboratory, relocation or moving expenses, attendance at two SAEM Annual Meetings, and health insurance if not otherwise covered
• Complimentary SAEM student membership
• Complimentary student registration for the two SAEM Annual Meetings

Eligibility

Applicants must be medical students enrolled in an accredited medical school in the United States, with the recommendation of an emergency medicine faculty sponsor. In general, scholars should have completed the second or third year of medical school before beginning the research year. Students already enrolled in a medical scientist training program (MSTP) are not eligible to apply. Applicants with prior research experience are encouraged to apply, but extensive prior research experience is not required. Students from institutions without an EM department or EM research program are also encouraged to apply and may identify an EM faculty sponsor from another institution.

Application Timeline

• Applications open: September 1
• Applications close: January 6, 2027
• Finalists notified: February 2027
• Virtual finalist interviews: March 3-4, 2027
• Selected scholars notified: March 7, 2027
• Research year begins: July-September, 2027

Application Requirements and Selection Criteria

Applicants must submit the following materials online:

1. One-page personal statement describing scholarly interests and career plans
2. Three-page essay describing a research problem or topic of interest relevant to emergency medicine, including:
   1. Brief background and literature review
   2. Rational for importance to EM
   3. Possible research strategies or experimental approaches
   4. No more than 12 references
3. Completed application form
4. Official medical school transcript
5. Curriculum vitae
6. Completed recommendation form from the applicant's EM faculty sponsor
7. Two additional completed recommendation forms
8. Any additional supporting materials requested through the online application system

The SAEMF National Research Scholars Program Scientific Advisory Board will select scholars based on:

• The applicant's interest in and potential for a successful career as an emergency medicine clinician-scientist
• The quality of the applicant's essay and ability to discuss the proposed research topic
• The likely impact of the award in providing a productive, meaningful research training experience

Finalists will be invited to participate in a virtual interview with members of the Scientific Advisory Board.