The Enrichment Program will provide training in advanced competencies for a select group of learners, offering personalized mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities. Learners should meet with their Local Centre Leader first, to determine which pathway most suits their needs. Find your Centre Leader by visiting the Governance page of our website. Click on each box below, to learn more about these pathways and how to apply.
The PILLAR Pathway operates on a membership model, providing training to candidates selected by a local institution, program, or network. For $15,000 per year for two years ($30,000), a learner can enter this 2-year program.
Graduate training: There is no minimum graduate training required for this pathway. All trainees are welcome up to new investigators less than 5 years into their first faculty appointment.
Protected Research Time: There is no minimum protected research time for this pathway.
Citizenship: This program is open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada.
Scope of Research: Must be perinatal and/or child health and well-being focused
Mentorship: A supervisor or mentor at the learner’s institution or program is required
The membership fee to join this pathway is $15,000 per year for this two-year program ($30,000). Interested groups should email Linda Pires at linda.pires@sickkids.ca for further information.
The adjudication process for this pathway is handled by the supporting institution or program. If you are a learner interested in joining ENRICH via this pathway, kindly speak to you Centre Leader.
These awards are intended for candidates who (1) wish to pursue a career as a perinatal and/or child health researcher, (2) are conducting research in perinatal and/or child health and wellbeing and (3) have already attained salary support at a local, provincial or national level but are still seeking advanced training. Successful candidates will gain complete access to the Enrichment Program. Through an individualized research development plan, learners in the Enrichment Program will enhance their skills ranging from research methods, to managing multi-site teams, to personal wellness, and other relevant topics for researchers. For a complete overview of the curriculum, please visit the curriculum tab of our website. For further information regarding the various training pathways please see the Training Path Summary Table.
This opportunity is open to perinatal and child health research learners receiving a salary award from a research organization (e.g. governmental or non-profit foundation) that is similar in scope to those granted by ENRICH via a local, provincial or national competition (e.g. SickKids CSTP, FRQS, Alberta Innovates, Michael Smith, CIHR, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Fellowship, etc.). Candidates should contact their ENRICH Centre Leader to determine their eligibility for a specific award prior to applying. Current ENRICH awardees who receive a salary award during their ENRICH tenure will be automatically switched to this pathway and their ENRICH stipend payments will stop.
Location of Tenure: The award must be held at a Canadian Post-Secondary Academic Institution, and/or child health research centre/institute affiliated with these universities. Please speak to your Centre Leader for more details. Centre Leaders are not eligible to apply.
Talk to your Centre Leader 1st: Each Canadian Pediatric Academic Centre has a local Centre Leader. Please contact the Centre Leader closest to your academic institution. Centre Leaders should be contacted well in advance of the application deadline (we suggest 45-60 days) to ensure you meet all criteria, before submitting your application to the National competition. Some ENRICH Centres have internal peer review deadlines prior to the ENRICH Competition deadlines.
Timing:
Any interruption in a candidate's clinical and/or research training will be considered in determining eligibility and should be addressed within the CIHR Academic Common CV.
Doctoral Awards: Applicants must have at minimum 2 active years remaining in their doctoral studies from the ENRICH funding start date, which is April 1st of each year.
New Investigator Awards: Candidates should be within 5 years of their first faculty appointment. Active Centre Leaders are ineligible to apply.
Citizenship: This program is open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada.
Applicants may apply at each level of study (PhD, PDF, NI), with success limited to once per phase of training.
Award: Since applicants applying to this pathway have already secured salary support from another granting agency, ENRICH will not provide any additional financial support for this pathway. Accepted learners will however receive complete access to the Enrichment Program, which includes its curriculum, network of mentors, formalized progress review, and more. All applicants entering this pathway should be financially supported by their host institution (travel and accommodation) to attend the annual symposium.
Duration: 2 years minimum – 4 year maximum.
Deadline to apply: This award is an open call (no specific deadlines) and applicants are welcome to apply once they have received a notice of award from the agency providing their stipend.
When you are ready to submit your application click on the “submit now” button above to complete the online form. You will be asked to upload each of the required documents below.
A complete application consists of:
These awards are intended for candidates who wish to pursue a career as a perinatal and/or child health researcher conducting research in the field of perinatal and child health and wellbeing. Successful candidates will receive an annual stipend based on the level of training, plus access to a scientist development curriculum. Through an individualized research development plan, learners in ENRICH will enhance their skills ranging from research methods, to managing multi-site teams, to personal wellness, and other relevant topics for researchers. For a complete overview of the curriculum, please visit the curriculum tab of our website.
Location of Tenure: The award must be held at a Canadian Academic Institution, and/or child health research institute affiliated with a Canadian University and is open to candidates who are perusing a doctoral, post-doctoral or new investigator career on a full time basis.
Talk to your Centre Leader 1st: Each Canadian Pediatric Academic Centre has a local Centre Leader. Please contact the Centre Leader closest to your academic institution. Centr Leaders should be contacted well in advance of the application deadline (we suggest 45-60 days) to ensure you meet all criteria, before submitting your application to the National competition. Some ENRICH Centres have internal peer review deadlines prior to the ENRICH Competition deadlines.
Timing:
Any interruption in a candidate's clinical and/or research training will be considered in determining eligibility and should be addressed within the CIHR Academic Common CV.
Doctoral Awards: Applicants must have at minimum 2 active years remaining in their doctoral studies from the ENRICH funding start date, which is April 1st of each year.
New Investigator Awards: Candidates should be within 5 years of their first faculty appointment and actively pursuing a clinician researcher career. Active Centre Leaders are ineligible to apply.
Citizenship: This program is open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada.
Licensure (clinician-researcher awards only): Applicants must (a) have a license to practice their clinical specialty in Canada and/or within the Province of the ENRICH Centre from which they are applying, or (b) be registered in a combined clinical and research program, in which their license will be attained upon graduation.
Degrees (clinician-researcher awards only): Candidates may apply from any health profession and/or discipline that meets the requirements of an appropriate licensing body to practice as a child health professional in Canada. These professions include but are not limited to: medicine, surgery, pharmacy, nursing, psychology, nutrition, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, audiology, speech language pathology, sports medicine rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, optometry, chiropractic, and midwifery.
Indigenous heritage (Doctoral Indigenous Scholars Awards only): Indigenous scholars applying to the Indigenous doctoral scholar award must provide proof of an Indigenous heritage by way of a letter from the band office or status card.
Stipend and Duration:
Award | Amount: | Duration |
Doctoral Black Scholar (1-2 per year) | $20,000/year | 3 years maximum |
Doctoral Indigenous Scholar (1-2 per year) | $20,000/year | 3 years maximum |
Doctoral Clinician Researcher (1 per year) | $25,000/year | 3 years maximum |
Postdoctoral Clinician Researcher (1 per year) | $45,000/year | 2 years maximum |
New Investigator Clinician Researcher (1 per year) | $35,000/year | 4 years maximum |
All awards are provided without benefits. Successful awardees are expected to organize their own benefits with the host institution. Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are not subject to income tax.
For Doctoral learners who defend their thesis before the 4-year term ends, the last day of the month that the revised thesis is accepted will act as the new end date for the award. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to inform ENRICH of this change. If funds are paid out beyond this time point, then it will need to be refunded to ENRICH by the Host Institution and/or supervisor.
Parental leave:
Learners for the doctoral award are eligible to receive paid parental leave up to a maximum of 6 months if (a) interrupting the ENRICH award within six months of childbirth or adoption, (b) the learner will be the primary caregiver for the child, AND (c) the learner is not eligible for and will not be receiving employment insurance or other parental benefits from any other sources. The leave must be requested at minimum 30 days in advance of leave start date. The maximum benefit payable by ENRICH is $12,500 for 6 months. This is equivalent to $2083.33 per month of the requested leave. Host institutions are not required to match parental leave funds. Any additional benefit-matching amounts are payable at the discretion of the learner’s host university/training center. For further information regarding your eligibility and requirements, please contact the ENRICH Program Manager and/or your Center Leader.
Individuals who hold faculty positions (fellows and new investigators) are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and/or parental leave benefits based on the salary received at the host center. Under these circumstances, ENRICH will not provide additional parental leave benefits on the ENRICH award amount.
The award paid from the ENRICH’s grant will be placed “on hold” for the duration of the leave, and will resume upon the return of the individual to the training environment. The term of the award will be extended by the length of the approved leave up to but not exceeding twelve months.
Medical or Family Caregiver Leave: Learners are eligible for medical or a family caregiver’s leave. The latter is to provide care or support to certain family members who have a serious medical condition. Awards will be placed “on hold” for the duration of the leave with supported documentation from the local institution. Awards will resume upon the return of the individual to the training environment.
Research Allowance: No research or travel allowance will be provided. However, the Award recipients and their supervisors will have their expenses paid to attend the ENRICH Annual National Symposia and relevant Regional Mini Symposia. A written commitment from the supervisor/mentor stating his/her agreement to attend National Symposia, for each year that the learner is in the program, is mandatory with the application.
Deadline to apply:
A letter of Intent will be due September 1st at 5pm EST for Clinician Researcher awards only. Candidates that make it to the next round will be notified via email.
A Full application will be due November 1st of each year at 5pm EST. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. If the application competition date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, applications will be due on the first business day following (i.e. If November 1st falls on a Saturday, applications will be due on Monday, November 3rd 5pm EST).
When you are ready to submit your application click on the “submit now” button on our website to complete the online form. You will be asked to upload each of the required documents below.
A complete full application that is due November 1st consists of:
Proof Indigenous Heritage: Indigenous scholars applying to the Indigenous doctoral scholars award must provide proof of an indigenous heritage by way of a letter from the band office or status card. Please name it "2 CandidateLastname _Indigenous ID".
The application: Name it "3 CandidateLastname _App".
Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Awards: A maximum 2 page letter signed by all supervisors and mentors (when applicable) is to be uploaded describing:a. The commitment of the supervisor and the advisory committee towards the candidate’s research training and endorsement of the candidate.
b. The space, facilities and personnel support for the candidate.
c. The interdisciplinary nature of the training.
d. The commitment of the learner to participate in the core curriculum.
e. The commitment of the supervisor and learner to participate in regional and national symposia of the ENRICH
f. The commitment of the supervisor and learner to participate in annual ENRICH evaluation, which includes in person consultations at the Annual Symposia.
g. Mentorship Plan: This portion of the letter should be a separate section within the letter that clearly outlines a mentorship plan. It should explain step by step what each supervisor and/or mentor will aid you in, how they will accomplish this, and how often this will take place. ENRICH strongly encourages each applicant to meet with your mentorship team to develop a clear strategy for your mentorship to ensure expectations of all parties are met.
h. This letter must be signed by all supervisors and mentors.
i. Kindly name this file “5 CandidateLastName_SuperLtr
New Investigator Awards: A maximum 2 page letter signed by all mentors is to be uploaded describing:a. The commitment of the research mentor and the advisory committee towards the candidate’s research training and endorsement of the candidate
b. The commitment of the candidate to participate in the core curriculum.
c. The commitment of the mentors and candidate to participate in regional and national symposia of the ENRICH.
d. The commitment of the mentors and learner to participate in annual ENRICH evaluation, which includes in person consultations at the Annual Symposia.
e. Mentorship Plan: This portion of the letter should be a separate section within the letter that clearly outlines a mentorship plan. It should explain step by step what each mentor will aid you in, how they will accomplish this, and how often this will take place. ENRICH strongly encourages each applicant to meet with your mentorship team to develop a clear strategy for your mentorship to ensure expectations of all parties are met.
f. This letter must be signed by all mentors.
g. Kindly name the file “5 CandidateLastName_MentorLtr”
Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Awards: A maximum 1-page letter from the host institution is to be uploaded describing:a.Expression of support of the candidate’s research training within the institution.
b. Commitment to 50% of protected research time for the applicant (clinician researcher awards only)
c. Kindly name it "6 CandidateLastName_HostLtr"
New Investigator Awards: All candidates must be nominated by their Institution. A letter of support is to be completed by the Head of the Department or Research Institute that includes:a. A statement of nomination with the candidate’s current academic appointment, the date the appointment took effect and a brief job description for the candidate.
b. The space, facilities, and personnel support for the candidate.
c. The interdisciplinary nature of the candidate’s research.
d. Commitment to 50% protected research time for the applicant.
e. Kindly name it "6 CandidateLastName_HostLtr".
Official transcripts: For new applicants, official transcripts are required including the candidate's graduate and/or health professional training, along with proof of any degrees. Transcripts should be emailed directly to the platform manager from the institution at linda.pires@sickkids.ca. If this is not possible, transcripts should be snail-mailed in an original sealed envelope, directly from the Institution of origin. Mail transcripts to: Program Manager. ENRICH Platform. The Hospital for Sick Children. 555 University Avenue, Room 7291. Toronto, ON M5G 1X8. If this is a reapplication, copies are accepted. Kindly make note in your online application. Please submit a digital copy of your transcripts and name it "7 Candidate Lastname_transcripts".
French applications: Applications may be submitted in French. Please note, you are requested to advise the ENRICH National Office of your intent to submit in French a minimum 4 weeks prior to the application deadline. If you are successful in the written portion, all interviews are conducted in English. Interviews can be accommodated in French at the candidate’s request.
Issues/Questions? Email linda.pires@sickkids.ca ENRICH Program Manager
SOAR (Salary and Other Awards for Researchers)
TIMELINE AND PROCESS
Important Dates:
Event | November Competition |
Letter of Intent (Clinician-researcher applications only) | September 1st |
Deadline to apply | November 1st |
Conflict of Interest sent out, responses collected, and reviews assigned. | Mid-November |
Reviewers submit their written reviews and scores to Platform Manager | 1 week before the virtual meeting |
Selection telecom to review applicants | Mid-January |
Personal scorecard sent to Platform Manager | Immediately following the selection virtual meeting |
Final edits to written review forms emailed to Platform Manager | 1-week post virtual meeting |
Applicants receive written peer reviews | 2 weeks post virtual meeting |
Interviews for potential candidates | 5 weeks post virtual meeting |
Notice of funding to interviewed candidates | 6 weeks post virtual meeting (early February) |
Funding start date | April 1st |
Letter of Intent (clinician-researcher applications only):
Reviewer Assignment and Conflict of Interest:
Emails are sent to the reviewers to accept or decline and declare any conflict of interest. A new reviewer will be assigned if a reviewer declines or has a conflict. Reviewers who accept a review will also be required to join the Selection virtual meeting. The Platform Manager sends each reviewer the applications they will be reviewing with an evaluation form.
Reviews and Scoring:
Scientific Review: Reviewers will score the candidates based on (1) research proposal (clarity, feasibility, rationale) (2) research training environment (research team, resources, interdisciplinary nature) and (3) applicant qualifications (research experience, publications, productivity, honours, awards and sponsor assessments). The distribution of weight for each award will be as follows:
Award | Research Proposal | Training Environment | Applicant Qualification |
PhD | 25% | 50% | 25% |
25% | 25% | 50% | |
New Investigator | 50% | 25% | 25% |
Patient Partner Review: Reviewers will be asked to read through the lay summary and patient engagement section. The candidates will receive a pass, revision, or major revision rating based on the relevance and impact to perinatal and child health and well-being, communication in plain language, and the patient engagement plan.
EDI Review: An EDI champion will review the lay summary and EDI section of the application. The candidates will receive a pass, revision, or major revision rating based on the CIHR Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research guide.
Preparation for panel review (Selection Virtual Meeting):
Selection meeting and consensus scoring:
Should there be a copious number of applications, the boundary for streamlining applications may change to ensure that only 15 applications maximum are reviewed in full by reviewers. The scores reported to streamlined candidates will be the average score for each review category and will be identified as “Streamlined: score”. Candidates whose applications are not streamlined are identified with only a score in the feedback report.
Interview preparation:
Interview day and ranking:
Executive Committee Approval:
Notice of Award:
Grievances:
Coming Soon!
Learners in the Enrichment Program are required to be active undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, or new investigators, with a local supervisor/mentor, conducting research in the perinatal and/or child health and well-being sector. As an Enrichment learner participation in the following activities is mandated for graduation from our program.
Enrichment groups are dynamic networks, providing group-based mentorship for the duration of each award through online and in-person activities, and experiential learning opportunities. Each awardee will be assigned to at least one group based on their scope of research.
Care Innovation and Clinical Trials
Indigenous Child Health
Knowledge Translation (KT), Patient Engagement (PE), and Implementation Science (IS), & Policy.
Translational Medicine
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health and Social Innovation
Advanced Methods in Data Science
Undergraduate
YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO THE SICK KIDS FOUNDATION SITE TO COMPLETE THIS DONATION
After entering your credit card information include the statement: “Please designate this gift to the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program, Fund ID N0000CCH00″