MSSU Trainee Support Program

• Master’s Level – $10,000 for 1 year
• Doctorate Level – $10,000 for 1 year

Master’s Level

Have applied to, been accepted to, or be enrolled in a full-time thesis-based Master’s degree program under the supervision of a researcher who is an MSSU Scientist in a university, college, or institution (e.g., medical training programs, regional hospital authorities’ hospitals) in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia.

Doctorate Level

Have applied to, been accepted in, or be enrolled in a full-time thesis-based Doctoral degree program under the supervision of a researcher who is an MSSU Scientist in a university, college, or institution (e.g., medical training programs, regional health authorities’ hospitals) in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia.

Eligibility and Supervision

• All trainees supported by this award must be supervised by an MSSU Scientist with an academic appointment in the Maritimes.
• All trainee applicants must complete the CIHR-IMHA Patient Engagement Training and include the Certificate of Completion with their application.

Project Requirements

• Show how the research activity undertaken is patient-oriented in nature and how POR is to be integrated throughout the research project.
• Address a health research priority in the province in which the trainee attends university.
• Show the impact / relevance to the population (in the Maritime province in which the trainee attends University), and
• Show how the trainee will measure outcomes that matter to patients / how that has been determined.

Awardee Commitments

• Take part in the MSSU Patient-Oriented Research Practicum.
• Participate / present at any upcoming MSSU Summits or Events.
• Participate in any other pertinent activities identified by MSSU during the term of the funding.
• Submit a Final Report at the end of funding term (within 60 days of the project end date).

Generative AI Use

• Applicants must disclose if and how generative AI was used in the preparation of their application. Disclosure will not negatively impact review or scoring. All submissions will be reviewed and scored according to the Assessment Criteria.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is original work and that all sources, including generative AI tools, are appropriately cited.
• Applicants should be aware that generative AI use may affect writing quality and make it difficult to acknowledge information from other sources.

New Brunswick

• Primary Care
• Mental Health
• Aging
• Health System
• Surgical
• Technology
• Health Human Resources
• Transportation
• Rural Health

Nova Scotia

• Research that contributes to recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
• Research focused on access to people-centered, flexible, quality healthcare.
• Research contributing to healthcare delivery excellence, including:
• 1. Opportunities for team-based care
  2. The ability of healthcare providers to work to their full scope of practice
  3. Innovative models to reduce wait times
• Research that addresses the factors affecting health and well-being of Nova Scotians, including emerging issues in population health and harm reduction.

Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee composed of MSSU Scientists and Patient / Public Partners to ensure that they:

• Fit with the objective and requirements of the funding program, including the importance of the study to the establishment of applicant’s research career in the Maritimes.
• Meet the requirements outlined in the Trainee Support Program Rubric.

Applicants should avoid scientific jargon as their application may not be reviewed by experts in their discipline.

Application Support

Applicants should send any questions related to the application and eligibility well in advance of the deadline to Claire Keenan at claire.keenan@nshealth.ca.

Sex and Gender

Please refer to the MSSU Sex and Gender Considerations webpage and the Gender and Sex Flowchart for resources to support your application.

Funding Caps

A trainee’s total funding from all funding sources may not exceed the annual cap established by their institution. It is the responsibility of the trainee to notify their institution of all funding received.

An MSSU Trainee Support Program recipient who holds funding that exceeds the institutional funding cap will be named an Honorary MSSU recipient (i.e., no funding will be issued). All complimentary training opportunities will be offered to both funded and honorary recipients.

Letters of Support

Letters of support from supervisors or research team members etc. are not required and will not be accepted with submitted applications.

Patient-Oriented Research Practicum

To learn more about how to develop a patient engagement plan, discuss solutions to common challenges, and learn directly from an experienced Patient/Public Partner, applicants are encouraged to participate in our 2.5-hour Patient-Oriented Research Practicum before submitting their application. 

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