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:
- CIHR REDI Information Session (date TBA)
- Workshops and resources on embedding EDI into mentorship
- Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia
- Review of draft applications
Jump to section:
Award overview
Award context and objectives
Application timeline
Support and resources for applicants
Expression of interest form
FAQ
Page last updated January 24, 2023.
Award overview
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
- Promote research independence and academic research career readiness of highly qualified postdoctoral researchers, clinicians and PhD-holding research associates belonging to specific underrepresented groups;
- 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
- 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.
Register your expression of interest in the REDI program to receive updates about the program, UCalgary support services, and deadlines by submitting an Expression of Interest form. Please indicate if you would like assistance in finding a mentor or establishing a mentorship network.
Your registration will also be used to plan the availability of reviewers through the Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia. Late registrations are welcome, but full support will not be guaranteed.
Deadline for submission of draft proposal, including Mentorship Plan and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion sections.
Deadline for submission of drafts of the Letter of Support from Primary Mentor (max. 2 pages) and Letter of Support from each Additional Mentor (max. 1 page each).
Please note that, while the Primary Mentor must hold an independent research appointment with a status that permits the supervision of trainees (Masters, PhD, Postdoc) in areas of investigation related to the applicant’s proposed Phase 1 research, this opportunity recognizes the contributions of non-academic experience-based mentors as Additional Mentors.
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:
- 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)].
- Confirmation of submission of CIHR EDI Self-Identification Questionnaire
- CIHR Academic CV for Applicant, Primary Mentor, and each additional academic mentor (PDF)
- Applicant profile CV of non-academic mentors (PDF) (if applicable)
- 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)
- UCalgary attestation of identity (details forthcoming)
After its review of your application, the Postdoc Office will provide the following documents, to be included in your final application:
- 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.
- Signed CIHR Routing Slip
Final deadline for the applicant to submit to CIHR via ResearchNet.
Support and resources for applicants
UCalgary info sessions and workshops
CIHR REDI Information Session delivered by the Postdoc Office and OEDI (details forthcoming)
Workshops on Mentorship delivered by the OEDI, RSO, and Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia (details forthcoming)
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.
- Can I Mentor African-American Faculty? by Kerry Ann Rockquemore in Inside Higher Ed
- Barriers to the Successful Mentoring of Faculty of Color by Tangier M. Davis, Martinque K. Jones, Isis H. Settles, and Paulette Granberry Russell in Journal of Career Development
- Increasing Pathways to Leadership for Black, Indigenous, and other Racially Minoritized Women Authors by Maki Motapanyane and Irene Shankar in Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture and Social Justice
- The Truth about Mentoring Minorities by David A. Thomas in Harvard Business Review
- Assessing the need for Black mentorship within residency training in Canada by Onaope Egbedeyi BA, Hadal El-Hadi MD, Tina R. Madzima MDCM, Teresa Semalulu MD MPH, Modupe Tunde-Byass MB BS, Rukia Swaleh MD; for the Black Physicians of Canada Research Group in Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Publications – Eliminating systemic racism on CIHR website
- A Guide for non-Black Mentors of Black Students and Underrepresented Students of Color in STEM by Veronica Padilla Vriesman
- New Collaborative Builds Primer for Missing Black Health Curriculum by Françoise Makanda for the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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.

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.

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

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).
Expression of Interest
If you are interested in applying for the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award, please let us know by February 6, 2023 by submitting the form below. Your registration will also be used to plan the availability of reviewers through the Advisory Group for mentorship of Black people and racialized women in academia.
Late registrations are welcome, but full support will not be guaranteed.
Collection of personal information
Your personal information is collected under
the authority of section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If
you have any questions about the collection or use of this information, please visit our
Access to Information page.