Funding and Fellowship
HKUMed Research Fellowship Scheme for Clinical Academics


In 2020, the LKS Faculty of Medicine established the “HKUMed Research Fellowship Scheme for Clinical Academics” to provide opportunities for clinical academic staff to be relieved of all teaching, clinical and administrative duties to conduct full-time research at the Faculty for a period of six months to one year.  One award will be made each year and the selected Fellow will receive a research grant of maximum HK$1,000,000.

Please refer to the General Regulations and Administrative Arrangements below for details on eligibility and selection criteria.

To be considered, the following documents should be submitted to the Faculty Office by 11 November 2022 (Friday).

  1. Completed application form;

  2. A research proposal, up to 5 pages in length, for the proposed duration of the Fellowship, which may be six months to one year, and any supporting documents.

  3. A brief curriculum vita (up to 5 pages); and

  4. A recommendation letter from the Chairperson/Head/Director of Department/School to confirm that arrangements would be made to release the applicant from teaching, clinical and administrative duties throughout the tenure of the Fellowship, and that the applicant will continue to serve the Faculty for at least 3 years upon the completion of the Fellowship.

Objectives

  1. The LKS Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed) established the HKUMed Research Fellowship Scheme for Clinical Academics in 2020 to provide opportunities for clinical academic staff to be relieved of all teaching, clinical and administrative duties to conduct full-time research at the Faculty for a period of six months to one year. With the establishment of the School of Clinical Medicine in 2022, the scheme is subsumed under the School’s oversight.

Eligibility and conditions

  1. All staff on Terms of Service I in a full-time position at the grade of Clinical Assistant Professor or equivalent and have completed specialist training are eligible to apply for the scheme. Preference will be given to those who hold a tenure-track position.

  2. Whilst relieved of all teaching, clinical and administrative duties, the selected Fellow may, however, undertake supervision of research postgraduate students and research staff, provided that such work contributes directly to his/her research proposed for the fellowship.

  3. The Fellow may also and are highly encouraged to undertake studies leading to a research higher degree if he/she does not already hold such a degree.

  4. The Fellow must continue to serve HKUMed for at least 3 years upon completion of the Fellowship. Should the Fellow leave his/her position during the period of the Fellowship or within 3 years of its completion, he/she will be required to repay the award amount, in part or whole.

Fellowship award

  1. One to two awards will be made each year.  However, if there are no suitable candidates, the School reserves the right to not grant any award in a given year.

  2. The selected Fellow will receive a research grant of maximum HK$1,000,000 subject to review of his/her research proposal by the Selection Panel.

  3. The Fellow’s Department will receive a reimbursement of up to 6 to 12 months’ of the actual remuneration package payable to the staff appointed to replace the selected Fellow, subject to a limit up to the prevailing remuneration package of the top point of the Clinical Assistant Professor salary scale.

Application procedures

  1. Applicants should submit the followings for consideration:

    1. Completed application form;

    2. A research proposal, up to 5 pages in length, for the proposed duration of the Fellowship, which may be six months to one year, and any supporting documents.

    3. A brief curriculum vita (up to 5 pages); and

    4. A recommendation letter from the Chairperson/Head/Director of Department/School to confirm that arrangements would be made to release the applicant from teaching, clinical and administrative duties throughout the tenure of the Fellowship, and that the applicant will continue to serve HKUMed for at least 3 years upon the completion of the Fellowship.

  2. If a Department is submitting more than one application, the Chairperson/Head/Director concerned should rank the applications and provide a brief rationale for the ranking.

Selection Criteria

  1. Selection is based on:

    • scientific merit and impact of the research proposal;

    • research track record of the applicant;

    • comments from the Chairperson/Head/Director of Department/School; and

    • strategic plans and needs of the Faculty.

Selection Panel and Process

  1. A Selection Panel comprising the following members shall assess the applications and make award recommendations

  • Director of the School of Clinical Medicine or his/her designate; and
  • HKUMed Research Deanery.
  1. The Award shall be granted by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, which will consider recommendations from the Selection Panel.

Administrative Arrangements

  1. To meet future circumstances, the regulations of the Scheme may be subject to review annually.

  2. Successful applicants are required to submit a report within one month upon the completion of the Fellowship. The report should include details of the research progress and outcomes achieved. Awardees who fail to submit the report may be debarred from applying for any research grants supported by the School/Faculty in the future.

Completion Report Template

For enquiries, please contact Kathy Wong of the HKUMed Faculty Office (Research):

+852 3910 2744
kathywcy@hku.hk