Introduction

The Amuthan Medical Research Fund was established in 2013 in memory of Amuthan Annamalai, a Year 6 medical student at James Cook University who passed away on 25 January 2013. The objective of the fund is to improve the health of under-served populations in the tropics through medical research and community development in the fields of public health/health promotion, infectious diseases (especially typhoid and/or Dengue fever) and/or health services. The fund will support research that will lead to improved quality of life, health equity and excellence in clinical care for people living in the tropics.

This bursary is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.

Nature of the Bursary

The value of the bursary shall be $1,800, for the purposes of a summer school research project. A maximum of two bursaries will be awarded in any year.

It is expected that a journal manuscript will be submitted for publication as an endpoint of this work, thus some work would be required before and after the official summer school period.

Subject to successful outcomes, a previous recipient may be supported to continue their research in subsequent years.

Eligibility Criteria

The Amuthan Medical Research Bursary shall be open to competition among applicants who are:

• Admitted to the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University;
• Enrolled full-time (12 credit points per teaching period); and
• Of good academic and professional standing.

Preference will be given to a 2nd or 3rd year student.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Criteria are:

• Qualities of the applicant, academic potential and degree to which they demonstrate commitment to values of social justice and equity (30%);
• Scientific quality of the proposed research project (30%);
• Relevance to the objectives of the Amuthan Medical Research Fund (10%);
• Feasibility of carrying out and completing the research in proposed time frame (10%); and
• Potential to build capacity in public health, infectious diseases or health services research in the tropics (10%).

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted on the official application form no later than the date set by the Selection Committee for the year in which the award is to be made.

Applicants must submit with the official form, where appropriate:

• A written statement of no more than 500 words addressing the aims of the fund;
• A copy of their curriculum vitae; and
• A concise research project proposal (500 words) identifying the proposed work during the bursary, accompanied by an indication of support from a suitable supervisor.

Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant’s suitability to receive the bursary, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant’s academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.

Selection Process

The award of the bursary shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Dean, College of Medicine and Dentistry (chair), or nominee;
• Discipline Head, General Practice and Rural Medicine, or nominee; and
• Associate Dean, Research & Post graduate Education, College of Medicine & Dentistry, or nominee.

The Selection Committee reserves the right not to award a bursary in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no applicant of sufficient merit to warrant an award.

The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the bursary.

Payment

Moneys payable to the recipient shall be paid in a single instalment at the commencement of the summer school research project or as otherwise determined by the selection committee.

Conditions of the Bursary

In the event the Selection Committee cancels or suspends the student’s bursary, a student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Complaint Management Policy and Procedures.

The requirements of the bursary shall not make the awarding of the bursary conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

Administration of the Bursary

The bursary shall be administered by the Scholarships Office, on behalf of the Selection Committee.

The funds of the bursary shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Moneys payable in any year to the holder of an award shall be paid at such times and in such amounts as the Committee deems appropriate to the circumstance of each case.

Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.

Definitions

Unless there appears a contrary intention in these rules:

"Academic institution" includes University, Technical and Further Education College, private education provider, secondary school and any other institution that undertakes teaching or research.

"Academic record" means the official records of the University, or any other academic institution that details the levels of academic achievement attained by the person whose academic record it is.

"Award" means the scholarship.

"Awardee" means the recipient of a scholarship.

"Applicant" means the person applying for the bursary.