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Description
Fellowships provide support for highly qualified candidates at the post-PhD or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.
Funds Available
CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.
Applications are invited in all areas of health research.
For this competition, applications will be accepted in all areas of health research.
The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 for up to 5 years. The value and duration of each fellowship is related to the major degree held, licensure (where applicable), location of tenure and experience of the applicant.
Research allowance: $5,000 per annum.
Stipend
The annual stipend level for those with a PhD degree (or equivalent) is $40,000 per annum.
The following stipend levels apply to health professionals who hold licensure (full or educational) in Canada at the time of taking up the award. The stipend level is dependent upon the number of years of research or clinical training completed since obtaining the health professional degree. Upon completion of two years of postgraduate research training, the awardees may be eligible to receive a stipend increase to the higher level. (Updated: 2008-09-03)
- Less than 2 years of research or clinical training experience: $40,000
- Two or more years of research or clinical training experience: $50,000
The stipend for health professionals who do not hold licensure in Canada is $21,000 per annum (i.e., equivalent to a Doctoral Research Award). Upon completion of two years of postgraduate research training the stipend may increase to $40,000 per annum.
For awards held outside Canada $5,000 is added to the annual stipend.
Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are taxable.
This award is non-renewable.
Duration of Support
The duration of support will depend on the degree(s) and licensure (where applicable) held by the applicant:
- For those with a PhD degree (or equivalent), or PhD and health professional degrees, the maximum period of support is three years, and candidates will only be eligible for support until the end of their fifth year of post-PhD training.
- For those with a health professional degree who do not intend to proceed to a PhD degree, the maximum period of support is four years.
- For those with a health professional degree who intend to proceed to a PhD degree, the maximum period of support to complete the PhD degree is five years (from all federal funding sources) and includes funding received to complete a Master's degree or non-degree research training.
The total duration of funding provided by CIHR through this program may not exceed the maximum periods of support described above. Note that Health Professionals receiving funding through this program to complete a PhD degree may also be eligible to apply for post-PhD funding through this program.
Effective Dates:
- For post-PhD and health professional awardees not enrolled in a degree program: Awards must be taken up within 12 months of the date of offer, and may commence on the first day of any month.
- For graduate student awardees: Awards must be taken up within 12 months of the date of offer and must start January 1, May 1 or September 1 following the offer of award.
Funding Opportunities in Specific Research Areas
Funds are available for this competition to support Fellowship award applications in specific research areas:
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Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:
- To provide recognition and funding to academic researchers early in their career.
- To provide a reliable supply of highly skilled and qualified researchers.
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Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business
office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally
administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the Eligibility
Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements
for individuals and institutions.
Specific to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General
Guidelines for Training Programs.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:
- Applicants to the October competition are not eligible to apply to the following February competition.
- The program is open to both Canadians and citizens of other countries.
- At the time of application, a candidate must hold, or be completing a PhD
or a health professional degree (or equivalent). The health professional degree
must be in a regulated health profession such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy,
optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, nursing or rehabilitative science
which requires at least a Bachelor's degree to be eligible for licensure in
Canada. To determine if a particular health profession is eligible, please
consult the list of Eligible Health Professions.
- For individuals that do not hold a health professional degree, awards will take effect only after the recipient has completed all requirements of the PhD program, including the oral examination.
- Candidates with more than three years of post-PhD research training by the competition deadline are not eligible to apply for this award. Any interruption in a candidate's post-PhD research training will be taken into account in determining eligibility.
- A candidate may not hold more than three years of federal award funding (in total from SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR, or a combination thereof) to undertake post-PhD studies. Recipients already holding a post-PhD award from a federal source for a term of three years are not eligible to apply.
- Individuals wishing to undertake post-PhD research training in the same research environment (e.g., same department, supervisor or co-supervisor) in which they received their PhD are NOT eligible for an award.
- Candidates with a health professional degree may propose a program of research leading to a Master's or PhD degree; however, registration in a graduate degree program is not a requirement.
- These awards are normally held at Canadian institutions; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for awards to be held outside Canada. Candidates who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents may apply for awards to be held in Canada only.
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Guidelines
This funding opportunity will follow the General
Guidelines for Training Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate
the use of Gender and
Sex-Based Analysis in applications.
Allowable Costs
The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance.
For the research allowance, awardees should review the Use
of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR,
NSERC
and SSHRC)
Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable
costs and activities.
Conditions of Funding
All conditions specified in CIHR
General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through
this funding opportunity. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional
Responsibilities, Ethics, Official languages policy, Access to Information and
Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful
applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the
release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization
for Funding (AFF) document.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants
is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor
grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health
research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect
that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described
in Use and Disclosure of
Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to
Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements
of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's
premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this
funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.
While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities,
all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound
by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
(PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the
PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any
commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity
will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Communication Requirements
Grant recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes
and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See
CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public
Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for
details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing
institutes / partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and
decision letter.
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Performance Measurement
CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:
- contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;
- encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.
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Review Process and Evaluation
Peer Review
A CIHR peer
review committee will evaluate the full applications. The committee may be drawn
from one of CIHR's pre-existing committees or may be created
specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based
on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and
partner(s), following CIHR's Policy
on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance
Review (CCIP).
Evaluation Criteria
Fellowship Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide
for Reviewers - CIHR Fellowships.
The following general criteria for evaluating training award applications will be used:
- Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
- Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
- Research Training Environment
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How to Apply
Note: This funding opportunity requires the use of ResearchNet to apply for funding.
- A step-by-step overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under How to Apply for Funding.
- The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.
- To complete your application, follow the steps identified below.
- Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete (including all required signatures) and submitted on time to CIHR. Effective September 1, 2008, CIHR will assume no responsibility in following-up with applicants who submit an incomplete application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted into the competition.
To complete your Application using ResearchNet:
- Register to obtain a CIHR PIN. This will allow you to validate your Common CV for CIHR. Please note that the CIHR PIN cannot be used to logon to the Common CV, which is an external site. If you already have a CIHR PIN, do not re-register.
- Register with the Common CV network. This will allow you to access the Common CV. If you have already registered with the Common CV, do not re-register. During the ResearchNet e-Submission process, you will be directed to complete a Common CV (for CIHR) by entering the data requirements which are common to all agencies on the first screen of each section (Identification, Contact Information, etc…) and by completing additional CIHR-specific data.
- Register to obtain a ResearchNet account. You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, please do not register for a new account.
- Logon to ResearchNet and follow the on-screen instructions for full application. Provide clear and concise answers to all applicable questions in one of the official languages.
Additional instructions that must be followed for this funding opportunity:
A complete application consists of:
- Common CV Modules (validated for CIHR) for both the candidate and the proposed supervisor(s). Draft copies of the CV modules will not be accepted;
- Official transcripts of the candidate's graduate and/or health professional training, including proof of any degrees completed, in the original sealed envelope. CIHR will only accept an official student's copy of the transcript if submitted in the original sealed envelope from the institution. Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America (translated in either English or French);
- Proof of a current and valid Canadian licensure for applicants with a health professional degree with an expiry date (if available)
- Sponsor's Assessment of a Candidate Award from three people under whom the candidate has trained and who have had a good opportunity to assess the candidate's potential for research. Assessments should be provided by the candidate's PhD supervisor and postdoctoral supervisor(s) (if applicable);
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or residency for candidates is required; and
- Candidates who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Canada are required to have their proposed supervisor write a separate supporting letter ensuring that the required research space and resources will be provided. This letter of support does not replace one of the required Assessments for a CIHR Fellowship Candidate.
In order to ensure fairness in the evaluation of Fellowship applications, equivalent time must be guaranteed for each reviewer to assess each complete application. As a result, CIHR will accept updates to applications (notices of acceptance of publications, letters confirming academic appointment, and notices of any other funding requested or received only) until November 15, 2008 for the Fall competition and March 15, 2009 for the Spring competition.
Send the required signature pages and/or other documents by courier to:
RE: "CIHR Fellowships"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Fellowships, Program Delivery Coordinator
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-948-8199
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: Fellowships@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your ResearchNet account or the e-Submission process contact:
CIHR ResearchNet Support
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-9080
Email: support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca
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Partner/Collaborator Description
Canadian Institutes
of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research.
Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of
scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation
into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products
and a strengthened Canadian health care system.
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Additional Information
Appendix: List of CIHR-Eligible
Health Professions
- Audiologist/Speech-language Pathologist
- Chiropodist/Podiatrist
- Chiropractor
- Dentist/Dental Surgeon
- Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist
- Medical Laboratory Technologist
- Medical Radiation Technologist
- Midwifery
- Naturopath
- Occupational Therapist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physician/Surgeon
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist
- Registered Nurse
- Registered Psychiatric Nurse
- Respiratory Therapy
- Social Worker
- Veterinarian
Notes:
- To be considered eligible for CIHR programs, the health profession must require at least a Bachelor's degree for licensure in Canada and be regulated by provincial legislation.
- The provincial legislation regarding licensing requirements for the above professions will vary from province to province.
- All health professionals in one of the disciplines listed above and licensed to practice in Canada are eligible to be considered for the higher stipend level under the CIHR Fellowships program and when being paid from a CIHR grant.
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