GUIDELINES

I. Purpose

           The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) recognizes the vital role of the research mentor who selflessly shares knowledge and skills, instills values and attitudes, and inspires those involved in the research process, thereby creating an enabling environment and contributing to capacity-building in research.

          The Best Mentor Award is offered biennially to recognize and reward mentors in health research who have built the capacities of researchers in the health sector and, in the process, propelled significant advances in the Philippine National Health Research System’s (PNHRS) thrusts as identified in the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA).

II. Objective

          The Best Mentor Award recognizes excellence in mentorship that instills passion among researchers, redounding to enhanced relevance and productivity in health research.

III. Definition of Terms The Health Research Mentor is actively engaged in health research as:

 trainer

 preceptor

 adviser

 advocate

 participant/initiator in health R & D implementation, promotion and utilization

IV. Eligibility

A. Who can nominate

The nominating party may be any of the following:

 head of the nominee’s institution or immediate supervisor

 colleague/s

 trainee/s

 student/advisee

Self-nomination is not allowed.

B. Who can be nominated

1. must be a Filipino citizen

2. at least a holder of master’s degree degree

3. actively involved in mentoring researchers/students or colleagues for at least 5 years

4. has a good track record as a researcher in terms of publication, product development or policy formulation

5. professionally involved in health research activities either as a research program/project leader, principal and co-principal investigator, mentor/adviser/trainer, or author/co-author

6. actively involved in health research activities such as conduct of research training and extension work, paper presentations, fund generation, research promotion and networking, research agenda setting, and capacity-building activities

Winners are ineligible for subsequent nominations.

V. How to nominate

Submit the recommendation form (either personally delivered, by courier, or thru email) for initial screening to the regional consortium secretariat. (Please refer to the attached paper for the list of addresses)

For completed DOST-PCHRD and ASTHRDP scholars, submit entries to DOST-PCHRD for screening and endorsement of the PCHRD Scholar’s Society (PSS).

A. For the qualified nominees

The requirements below should be submitted within the deadline

1. Five (5) hard copies of the following documents: 1.1. Accomplished curriculum vitae of the nominee using the prescribed format for Best Mentor Award

1.2. A narrative description (1,000-1,500 words) of the nominee’s mentoring activities, accompanied by supporting documents, e.g. photos and other relevant documentation.

1.3. Description of other achievements attained related to health research for the last 5 years, including supporting documents e.g. photocopy of certificates of recognition/awards/honors received by the nominee, which are relevant to the nominee’s eligibility criteria in Section IV.B

2. Cite names of 5 mentees, their achievements in research, and a narrative description of the nominee’s contribution to the success of each mentored research.

B. Schedule of Selection and Awarding

The award is given every two years.

C. Selection Process

c.1. Procedures

  The decision of the National Selection Committee is final.
  The consortium must provide DOST- PCHRD with the complete list of nominees from their region.
  Documents pertinent to the nomination of non-winners will be returned to their owners.

c.2. Cluster and National Criteria There will be a review of nominations by the Cluster/National Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

c.2.1. Research Guidance                                                                        40%

 Quantitative Indicators – refers to the no. of research mentees guided, advised or mentored by the candidate; also includes the nominee’s years of experience in mentoring.

  Qualitative indicators – to be decided by the evaluators; may include extent, quality/result of the research guidance/mentoring done e.g., awards and other forms of recognition received by the mentor and/or other mentees

c.2.2. Track Record in Research                                                               25%

  Publications refer to peer-reviewed journals during the last 5 years:

       main author in a Philippine journal or international journal

       co-author in a Philippine journal or international journal

 Awards received refers to recognition received for the research completed as:

       main author/principal and co-principal investigator in the Philippines or International

       co-author/member of a research team in the Philippines or International

 Paper presented refers to the number of times the nominee presented a paper in a conference, workshop (either oral or poster) in the Philippines or abroad

 Completed research covers completed unpublished researches over the last 5 years

c.2.3. Dedication in promoting research                                                   20%

 Types of active involvement in five years

      Teacher, adviser, panel member, critic

      Advocate of policies  Reviewer of journal article/editor/member of editorial board/team

      Member of professional organization/network  Trainor in training courses/resource person/lecturer

      Research manager/director, coordinator, evaluator, monitor

 Quality of active involvement within 5 years as:

      Teacher, adviser, panel member, critic

      Advocate of policies  Reviewer of journal articles, editor/member of editorial team

      Trainor in training courses/resource person  Research manager, coordinator, evaluator, monitor

c.2.4. Contribution towards a supportive research environment                   10%

 Providing research opportunities as:

      Organizer/initiator of program, project, policy  Organizer/initiator/member of team for workshops, conferences   

      Organizer/initiator/member of team for training courses  Director/chair/administrator for research

      Study group leader

      Research team leader

c.2.5.Other criteria as agreed by the Evaluators                                          5%

This may include awards/recognition received by mentees/ advisees/students of the nominee or any agreed criteria; impact of R&D in terms of patenting, commercialization, and/or utilization of research results into policies and actions such as training modules developed, teaching manuals, community modules, contribution to national health development/equity and/or relevance of research results in health care delivery; etc.

c.3. Award Criteria

 A nominee must obtain a score of at least 80% to be eligible for the cluster award.

 The Selection Committee (cluster and national) has the option not to declare a winner for a given year.

c.4. Composition of the Selection Committee

 Cluster Selection Committee

Chair: Representative from non-members of consortia

Members: Representative from DOH Regional Office

               Representative from CHED Regional Office

                Representative from DOST Regional Office 2 technical experts identified by DOST- PCHRD

 National Selection Committee

Chair: To be elected from among the Members of the Committee

Members: Representative from the DOH Central Office

               Representative from CHED Central Office

               Representative from UP-NIH 2 technical experts identified by DOST- PCHRD