EACME Visiting Scholarship Exchange Programme

The European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics (EACME, founded 1985) is an international network of academic and non-academic centres which has the aim to promote research, education and consultation in the field of (bio)-medical ethics by way of exchange of information, teachers and researchers, and organisation of annual conferences.

Additionally, EACME places particular emphasis on supporting and promoting young talents and junior researchers in the field of (bio)-medical ethics. The creation of ties with researchers from differing European countries is especially important for the development of an individual research project of a young researcher.

In a unified European context, young researchers have an even greater need for international contacts that will allow them to position their own project beyond national boundaries in an international framework.

Through exchanges with colleague-researchers from other European countries, young researchers broaden their personal and scientific horizons, which can lead to an enrichment of their own academic vision.

EACME sees it as a suitable forum to sustain a European exchange program for junior researchers (master students, PhD students, early post-docs). Below, some principal goals and some organisational aspects are described.

EACME is convinced that the exchange program can pursue these (and other) goals.

Goals

1. Provision of intercontextual ad intercultural knowledge

When engaging in ethics, a Centre for Biomedical Ethics will usually react to the needs and trends that appear in its own society or own research domain. The visiting scholarship allows a young researcher to gain direct access to these developments. The researcher can check and see in how far such developments have an importance for his/her own context. He or she can also keep the home-centre informed about new or continuing developments and can even make suggestions, in terms of future projects, how these can be implemented in its own context.

2. Provision of specified ‘direct’ knowledge

Most European Centres for Biomedical Ethics have a specialised data collection that can be of great use for the development of the research of young researchers. However, not all information is attainable via internet or other media; information can often be found more efficient through consultation of direct sources, like persons/other researchers. The visiting scholarship makes this direct consultation and contact possible.

3. Sharpening of communicative skills

Through personal contact with ethicists from other European countries, a young researcher can develop the communicative skills that are necessary for the completion of high quality scientific research. The researcher learns how to engage in a dialogue with colleagues in order to elucidate, to frame, and to verbalize his/her own research. Thereby the scientific vocabulary is not only broadened but also an environment is created wherein the researcher can take the first steps in an international arena, which will lay the necessary groundwork to continue with his/her career.

Organisational Aspects

EACME does not see it as its primary function to finance an exchange stay. EACME is rather committed to provide the network and to act as an organisational interface between the visiting researcher and the Centre to visit. EACME assumes that the visiting researcher is able to have access to financial support from national research grants or analogous sources. However, EACME contributes to the exchange program with an amount up to €1500.

The data (address, research topics, …) of the EACME-members who explicitly have confirmed their willingness to participate as a hosting centre are available in the list below. The data of the other EACME members are readily available for consultation here.

EACME members can contact each other directly to discuss the possibilities and modalities of a visiting scholarship. The President and/or the Secretary-General can help individual researchers/centres getting contact with other researchers/centres, affiliated with EACME.

The length of the research stay is not defined by the EACME. Depending on the research topic, it might make sense to work in a hosting Centre from one to 12 months.

If you are interested in participating as a junior researcher (or a hosting centre), please contact the EACME before completing the form below.

Visiting Scholarship Form

The EACME scholarships are for researchers / students moving from one EACME centre to another EACME centre

To apply for a EACME visiting scholarship you will require the following documents / information.

1. A covering letter addressed to the EACME-President, outlining why you wish to carry out your activities in a specific EACME centre. The name of the EACME-centre and dates of your proposed stay must be specified in this letter;
2. Curriculum Vitae;
3. Your research proposal. This should be a short outline of the research you are carrying out;
4. Two academic references (list the name, title, mailing and e-mail addresses, telephone numbers. These colleagues should know your work, and at least one should be from outside your home institution.);
5. Enclose all supporting documents (e.g. articles) that can demonstrate your expertise;
6. A letter of invitation of the hosting centre (if you already have one, see further below).

Once your full application has been received, it will be considered within four weeks. You will then be informed whether the Visiting Scholar status will be offered to you.

We regret to say that EACME is unable to help with accommodation. Please contact your hosting Centre. We are sure they can provide you with ideas or strategies for accommodation.

Please note: we highly welcome a short – one-to-two page(s) – report of the benefits of your research stay. We will publish your personal report on our website and in our EACME-Newsletter. Contact Angelique Heijnen at the end of your stay to arrange when arrange submission of your report.