Endowment for Education Research Award (EERA)
Expanding the science of education
Expanding the science of education across Mayo Clinic is integral to ensuring the highest quality educational experience for learners at all stages of training and practice. Recognizing the importance of research in ensuring educational excellence, the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors has provided an endowment to advance scholarship in education, promote the careers of Mayo Clinic educators, and enhance the value of Mayo Clinic education programs. The Office of Education Research, within the Office of Applied Scholarship and Education Science (OASES), administers these funds in sponsoring the Endowment for Education Research Award (EERA).
In 2026, two award tiers are offered. All awards are distributed over a period of one calendar year (January - December 2026).
- Tier I awards are intended for small-scale projects and pilot studies designed to test new ideas or hypotheses. Tier I applicants can request funding up to $12,500 in direct costs. Over the past five years, we have funded an average of nine Tier I projects annually.
- Tier II awards are intended to support research that builds upon or extends existing education programs or earlier scholarly projects. Tier II applicants can request funding up to $50,000 in direct costs. Over the past 5 years, we have funded an average of two Tier II projects annually.
Eligibility
All Mayo Clinic employees from any location with an academic rank of Instructor or higher are eligible. Students, residents, and fellows are not eligible to apply, but may be project team members. Individuals can only submit one proposal per funding cycle. More information about project eligibility and required application materials can be found in the Request for Applications and Application Instructions.
Key dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | Application submission portal open - Submit your Application |
| June 27, 2025 | Research budget requests for Tier II projects due to Sue Rubow (Office of Sponsored Projects Administration) |
| July 14, 2025 Noon CDT |
Application submission deadline for all proposals. No proposals accepted beyond this date. |
| October 2025 | Awards announcement |
| January 1, 2026 | Funding start date |
| December 15, 2026 | Funding end date |
Application components
Applicants will be asked to provide relevant information about their proposal, including award tier, project title, proposal abstract (150-word maximum), study personnel, and total budget amount requested.
In addition, applicants will be asked to upload the following supporting documents in PDF format. Please see Request for Applications and Application Instructions for detailed instructions about the application requirements.
- Research Proposal (blinded for review)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biosketches for Study Personnel (required of PI and mentor)
- Letters of Support (usually at least 3)