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CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence Early Career Transition Award

The CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award is a new funding opportunity available to postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups to help them launch their research faculty careers in Canada.

The first competition is open to racialized women (including trans and non-binary women and cisgender women) and Black people.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and partners recently announced a new research opportunity to advance racial and gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in the research ecosystem. The inaugural offering of the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award aims to address historical and longstanding barriers to inclusion, systemic discrimination and racial inequities, lack of mentorship through equity and intersectionality lenses, and disproportionate underfunding for Black people and racialized women, especially in community-based health research.

Support will be available for UCalgary applicants, including:

  • Workshops and resources on embedding EDI into mentorship
  • Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia
  • Review of draft applications
     
Funding details on ResearchNet

Jump to section:

Award overview
Award context and objectives
Application timeline
Support and resources for applicants
FAQ

Page last updated March 17, 2023.

Award overview

Eligibility

  • Self-identify with at least one of the following groups, as defined by the Employment Equity Act and in the CIHR EDI Self-Identification Questionnaire: racialized women; Black people.
  • Hold a postdoctoral researcher, clinician, or research associate appointment that does not have independent research responsibilities.

Resource: Decision Tree

Up to 6 years of phased funding

Phase 1 - Mentored (2-3 years): $20,000/year research allowance, a $70,000/year stipend, mentorship, and career development. Applicants will propose a Research Project for Phase 1 that will establish the foundation for their independent research program as faculty members in Phase 2. Applicants must work with their Primary Mentor to identify how they will distinguish their proposed research project from their Primary Mentor's research program.

Phase 2- Independent (3-4 years): includes at least $240,000/year in research allowance and salary support, and faculty mentorship. Awardees are expected to transition to an independent research faculty position – marking the start of Phase 2 – within 2 to 3 years of the funding start date.

Application requirements

Proposal must address the evaluation criteria: 

  • Experience, training and contributions
  • Career goals and career development plan
  • Research approach
  • Mentorship plan
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion 

Applicants are expected to work with their Primary Mentor to prepare the application. Letters of support and supplemental information are also required.

See full application requirements on ResearchNet

Next deadline: April 26th

Internal deadline for submission of full and complete application plus RFAA to postdoc@ucalgary.ca. For more details, see date below and the Funding Opportunities Database entry for CIHR REDI.

 

Postdoc Office will supply signature and Letter from Host Institution at time of approval

Award context

This program is one outcome of the Government of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and targeted funding for Black scholars in Budget 2022 and was developed after a process of engagement with health researchers and trainees on their anti-racism action plan. As reported by CIHR, “Most of the session participants were health researchers and trainees from communities impacted by racism.”

The CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award is among the federal Tri-Agency EDI initiatives to combat systemic racism and embed equity, diversity, and inclusion in the research ecosystem. The University of Calgary has numerous initiatives in alignment with these objectives, as signatory to both the Dimensions EDI Charter and Scarborough Charter on anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education, and through its Research and Teaching Awards EDI Plan. Such opportunities are part of a broader strategic approach to redress systemic discrimination and barriers, and align with the University of Calgary's commitment to inclusive excellence in research.

Award Objectives

  1. Promote research independence and academic research career readiness of highly qualified postdoctoral researchers, clinicians and PhD-holding research associates belonging to specific underrepresented groups;
  2. Increase the number of funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups conducting excellent research who secure their first independent research faculty position in a Canadian academic, health system or research institution; and
  3. Provide funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups with early career support to enhance their probability of future success in obtaining independent research funding and launching successful research faculty careers in Canada that will contribute to the creation and/or use of health-related knowledge to improve the health of Canadians.
     

Application timeline

Important dates

Please take note of these deadlines and their associated tasks, as they are in place to ensure you submit the best possible application for the award.

Internal deadline to submit a full and complete application for Institutional approval and sign-off prior to applicant submission to CIHR.

Submit the following documents to postdoc@ucalgary.ca by 12:00 pm (noon), April 26, 2023:

  1. A completed and signed RFAA form
  2. Complete application from ResearchNet (PDF format), including application form and all attachments [Proposal, Letters of Support, Certificate of Completion for the Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Modules, Indigenous Experience-Name (if applicable)].
  3. Confirmation of submission of CIHR EDI Self-Identification Questionnaire
  4. CIHR Academic CV for Applicant, Primary Mentor, and each additional academic mentor (PDF)
  5. Applicant profile CV of non-academic mentors (PDF) (if applicable)
  6. Letter Confirming Not an Independent Researcher, signed by your Department Head (for applicants in the clinician or research associate category, or whose primary appointment is outside UCalgary)
  7. UCalgary attestation of identity

After its review of your application, the Postdoc Office will provide the following documents, to be included in your final application:

  1.  A Letter from the Host Institution describing its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and outlining examples of efforts taken to make research environments inclusive, accessible, safe, and supportive for the applicant's research and professional development. This letter will be signed by the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Research), Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
  2. Signed CIHR Routing Slip
     

Final deadline for the applicant to submit to CIHR via ResearchNet.

February 6: Register Expression of Interest

March 13: Deadline for draft proposal submission.

March 27: Deadline to submit Mentor Letters of Support for review

Support and resources for applicants

Mentorship through Anti-Racism and Equity Lens Workshop

The CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award is a new funding opportunity available to postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups to help them launch their research faculty careers in Canada. This program is one outcome of the Government of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and targeted funding for Black scholars in Budget 2022 and was developed after a process of engagement with health researchers and trainees on their anti-racism action plan. The inaugural offering of the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award aims to address historical and longstanding barriers to inclusion, systemic discrimination and racial inequities, lack of mentorship through equity and intersectionality lenses, and disproportionate underfunding for Black people and racialized women, especially in community-based health research. 

 

The first competition is open to racialized women (including trans and non-binary women and cisgender women) and Black people. 

 

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is supporting this process through the creation of guidelines, toolkits, and workshops to increase knowledge on mentoring for the requirements of this program and to ensure they are supported to assist racialized women (including trans and non-binary women and cisgender women) scholars and Black scholar mentees in their research journey through equity and intersectional lenses. The first mentorship session is open to applicants and supervisors or mentors to learn more about the guidelines for mentorship plan requirements for this application and to understand best practices on how to approach mentorship through an anti-racism and EDI lens. 

 

 

 

Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 11 – 12.30 p.m. MDT

 

 

CIHR-hosted information webinars

There are currently no webinars scheduled.

Previous webinars:
February 1 & 2, 2023 | Presentation Slides

 

UCalgary info sessions and workshops

CIHR REDI Information Session delivered in partnership by Research Services (Postdoctoral Office), the Office of EDI, and the Cumming School of Medicine.
February 9, 2023  | Watch Recording

This session provides an overview of the REDI opportunity, including the context for this offering, the importance of safe and appropriate mentoring for early career researchers who identify as Black and/or as racialized women, the two-phase program structure, advice on key application components and requirements, an overview of support and review services available to applicants, the submission process and timeline, as well as answers to common questions. Please join us for a comprehensive look at this exciting new program from CIHR, and to learn more about how UCalgary can support you in applying for similar and related upcoming opportunities from the Tri-Agency and other funders. 

Workshops on Mentorship delivered by the OEDI, RSO, and Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia.
 

Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia

Comprised of UCalgary faculty who identify as Black people and/or racialized women, the Mentorship Advisory Group is available to advise applicants and those planning to mentor Black people and racialized women trainees and early career scholars, including postdoctoral researchers and early-career research associates, and clinicians.

Mentors will receive guidelines, supports, and workshops to increase knowledge on mentoring for the requirements of this program and to ensure they are supported to assist racialized women scholars and Black scholar mentees in their research journey through equity and intersectional lenses.

Direct questions about finding a mentor, establishing a mentorship network, or effective mentorship of Black scholars or racialized women scholars, to postdoc@ucalgary.ca. 

Review of draft applications

To support you in putting forward the strongest application possible, the Postdoctoral Office will be accepting draft applications for the REDI Career Transition Award using a staged timeline approach. Draft materials will be reviewed by members of the Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia.

Submitting important application components prior to CIHR’s agency deadline is strongly encouraged to enable us to work collaboratively with applicants and their mentors to provide iterative feedback and wraparound service in collaboration with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

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Research and Teaching Awards EDI Plan

The UCalgary Research and Teaching Awards Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan was developed to embed a foundational commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the identification and nomination of candidates for external research and teaching excellence awards. 

Learn more

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Scarborough Charter

The Scarborough National Charter on anti-Black racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education: Principles, Actions, and Accountabilities is a commitment by institutions across Canada to combat anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in higher education.

Learn more

EDI data hub

EDI Data Hub

View UCalgary's collection of institutional EDI Data, including the EDI Dashboard, at the EDI Data Hub. 

Learn more

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EDI Terminology

Familiarize yourself with relevant terms with the OEDI's Language of EDI Glossary and terminology provided by CIHR.

FAQ

Individuals who expect to hold a PhD by July 1, 2023 may be eligible if they also meet the other eligibility criteria outlined in the description of the funding opportunity. Please contact Research Services about your specific eligibility and we will confer directly with CIHR as necessary.

A PhD-holding postdoctoral researcher at a CIHR eligible academic institution, health system or research institution. University of Calgary is a CIHR eligible academic institution.

A clinician holding an MD, DVM, DDS or a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree-holding allied health professional in either a post-doctoral position, or a faculty position denoting independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research, at a CIHR eligible academic institution, health system or research institution.

A research associate or equivalent who is a PhD-holding researcher employed at a CIHR eligible academic institution, health system or research institution.

UCalgary applicants in this category will require a "Letter Confirming Not an Independent Researcher" from their Department Head or Dean confirming that the position does not include independent research duties.

This refers to a broad approach to mentoring of researchers in which the different backgrounds and experiences of research trainees can inform and guide the nature of their mentoring. For more information, CIHR has cited a definition supplied by the National Academies.

CIHR noted in its Dec. 19, 2022 webinar (p. 8) that Black men and racialized women are the least represented groups among academic faculty relative to the Canadian population. REDI will focus on these groups in its inaugural competition, but CIHR expects to expand to other groups in subsequent funding cycles.

The University of Calgary takes its commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility seriously, as well as its obligations to the funding agency under CIHR’s Application Administration Guide and other tri-agency regulations. Accordingly, a completed attestation is a necessary step before the university will endorse an individual’s REDI application.

This funding opportunity will support projects relevant to the following research areas:

  • Health-related research across CIHR's mandate (general)
  • Aging Person in an Aging Society
  • Arthritis
  • Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment
  • Eye Diseases
  • Health Systems
  • HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI)
  • Human Development, Child and Youth Health
  • Infectious Disease and Immune System
  • Musculoskeletal Health
  • Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies
  • Rare Diseases

CIHR has enough funding for approximately 40 awards nationally.

Yes, applicants to this opportunity can be a Canadian citizen*, a permanent resident*, or a citizen of another country**.
 

Notes:
*Applicants with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency are eligible to hold their Phase 1 awards outside or inside Canada. For Phase 2, refer to the Supplementary Information for Phase 2 of the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award.
**Applicants who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents are only eligible to hold their Phase 1 award in Canada

CIHR and the University of Calgary acknowledge that community-based and non-academic mentors play a crucial role in supporting emerging researchers with culturally-responsive mentorship.

For this opportunity, you must identify a Primary Mentor, who will serve as your advocate and advisor. The Primary Mentor must be an Independent Researcher at University of Calgary; however, the mentorship plan can involve a network of up to 5 additional mentors, who need not hold academic positions. Mentors who do not hold an academic appointment must attach an Applicant profile CV (maximum three pages).

CIHR uses the term "racialized" as an alternative to "visible minority"  as defined in the Employment Equity Act  and the Tri-Agency’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire. This definition is consistent with that used in CIHR and Tri-Agency documents such as Dimensions and the NFRF Best Practices in EDI Research. The Employment Equity Act defines members of visible minority groups as “persons, other than Aboriginal [Indigenous] peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.” The Statistics Canada standard identify visible minority population groups as follows: Arab, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Latin American, South Asian, Southeast Asian and West Asian. For more information on other elements of the program, you may refer to the CIHR’s Frequently Asked Questions and CIHR’s funding call for more information on the use of this term.

Please also see the Glossary of Terms used in the University of Calgary’s Equity Censuses to more broadly understand the terms visible minority and racialized. See: OEDI website

CIHR uses the term “racialized” as an alternative to “visible minority” as used in the Employment Equity Act. It is intended to capture those who identify as belonging to one or more of the following population groups: Arab, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Latin American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and/or West Asian. See also: Statistics Canada

At the launch of the initiative, CIHR indicated in public statements, webinars, and in the funding opportunity description that these initial groups are part of a staged process of ameliorating systemic inequities in funding opportunities as identified through research, data, and consultations. This initiative is part of an ongoing process of targeted funding for members of each equity deserving groups. Please see the CIHR funding call for detailed information.

 

CIHR has targeted funding for Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) researchers.  CIHR and the TrI-Agency generally do not use the language of “racialized’ (visible minority) to refer to Indigenous Peoples. CIHR has a dedicated action plan with Indigenous-led governance to advance funding calls and initiatives aimed toward Indigenous scholars and Indigenous-focused research. More information on CIHR’s Indigenous funding opportunities is available here: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52489.html