CIHR Observer program for the Project Grant: Fall 2020 competition

Sponsor

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) 

For More Information

More information on this ERC opportunity, see sponsor site

Note, before completing the application you will need the following:

• your CIHR PIN
• a PDF of your biosketch Common CV (draft CCVs are not accepted)
• a letter from your institution attesting that you meet the criteria to be considered as an early career researcher
• the names of two peer review committees – in order of preference – that you would like to observe. If you list more than two committees, only the first two will be considered.

Description

CIHR is pleased to offer an Observer program for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) for the upcoming Fall 2020 Project Grant competition. This program is designed as an opportunity for ECRs to observe peer review committee meetings and gain valuable insights on the review process. While in-person face-to-face peer review remains CIHR’s standard, it is not a viable option for this competition. The peer review process for the Fall 2020 Project Grant competition will therefore be delivered via synchronous video conferencing that mimics the in-person process.

The role of the ECR:

Selected ECRs will be invited to observe a synchronous committee meeting as part of the review process for the Project Grant competition. There will be two individuals selected to observe per committee. As observers, the ECRs will not participate in review discussions.

Please note that all eligible applicants to the Spring 2020 Observer Program were informed that their application was retained and transitioned to the Fall 2020 Observer Program and do not need to reapply. While in-person face-to-face peer review remains CIHR’s standard, it is not a viable option for this competition.  Selected ECRs will be invited to observe a virtual Project Grant meeting delivered via synchronous video conferencing that mimics the in-person process. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in this Observer program, individuals must meet CIHR’s definition of ECR, as of the application deadline of the Project Grant competition, October 14, 2020. Please note that CIHR is currently consulting on its ECR definition and expects to announce any changes by August 31, 2020. Also note that this program is only open to ECRs working at Canadian institutions. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply.

Candidates who are submitting applications as a Nominated Principal Applicant or Principal Applicant in the current Project Grant competition are eligible for this opportunity, but cannot observe the committee that is adjudicating their submission. ECRs who previously participated in the Observer program for a Project Grant competition are not eligible to participate.

ECRs who have submitted applications to past CIHR Observer programs are required to re-submit an application to be considered for this opportunity.

Please note that participation in this program is not a prerequisite to becoming a reviewer in the future (nor is it a guarantee that an individual will meet the eligibility criteria to become a reviewer at a later date). Also note that this program will help to shape peer review training and mentoring strategies and as such a survey will be issued to all participants at the end of this process.