CIHR Fellowships
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's federal funding agency for health research. The CIHR Fellowship Program provides support for highly-qualified candidates at the postdoctoral (post-PhD) or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.
Refer to CIHR’s website for annual stipend values.
- The fellowship is a stipend that is awarded to the postdoctoral researcher.
- For fellowships taken up at the U of A, theannual stipend does not cover the cost of benefits for postdoctoral fellows.
- Applicants and their proposed supervisors should discuss the details of the fellowship appointment (any benefits offered to the postdoctoral researcher; any financial obligations associated with the appointment; availability of research and/or other support; rights and responsibilities), as well as any established research-related polices and protocols.
- Refer to the university’s PDF Collective Agreement and Benefits website for information on postdoctoral fellow appointments.
This is a direct application in which applicants submit their application to CIHR via their online portal ResearchNet. There is no university internal application/adjudication process, however as CIHR ResearchNet may require institutional approval (CIHR's eApproval Process), applicants may be required to submit their application through the U of A's Research Administrative Services (RAS) (formerly the Research Services Office) Internal Submission Deadlines for Proposal Request Institutional Approval process.
- Proposals must be received at RAS during core business hours at least 5 business days in advance of CIHR's ResearchNet deadline, for institutional approval. It's recommended that applicants provide their completed application to their supervisor at least 10 business days prior to the sponsor deadline.
- Applicants who receive a fellowship and plan to hold it at the U of A will be paid by Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Refer to the Acceptance section to accept the award at the U of A.
Proposals must be received at RAS during core business hours at least 5 business days in advance of CIHR's ResearchNet deadline, for institutional approval. It's recommended that applicants provide their completed application to their supervisor at least 10 business days prior to the sponsor deadline.
External Deadline: October 5. Refer to CIHR’s website for complete eligibility details.
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is the primary contact and administrator for the CIHR Fellowship and its regulations for the term of the researcher’s appointment.
Successful CIHR recipients should review the U of A’s Postdoctoral Fellows Policies and Procedures prior to accepting the fellowship. Note: the fellowship stipend does not cover the cost of annual benefits at the university (as per the Postdoctoral Fellows Collective Agreement). The postdoc’s supervisor or department are responsible for covering these costs each year the award is held. An estimate of costs can be viewed on Human Rescoure Services’ (HRS) Compensation Calculator application. For more information contact HRS Shared Services.
1) Recipients are to complete and submit the following to GPS Award Services (grad.awards@ualberta.ca) to start the fellowship at the U of A:
- CIHR Notice of Award (offer letter).
- Copy of the Confirmation of Commencement form (from ResearchNet)
- Copy of doctoral degree certificate. If the degree has not been conferred, a signed letter from the university Registrar or Faculty of Graduate Studies (or equivalent) confirming the degree requirements have been met, and the certificate is to be awarded. Fulfillment of degree requirements may vary by institution and degree type, but they normally include thesis defense corrections and thesis deposition.
- Up-to-date CV.
2) Once the recipient has accepted the fellowship, GPS Award Services will initiate the hire/payment process to proceed with a letter of offer for the postdoctoral appointment at the university.
- The postdoc’s supervisor or department will be required to provide GPS a speed code that benefits can be charged to.
- All degree requirements must be met before the start date of the Fellowship.
- CIHR recipients are responsible for informing GPS of any of the following changes after commencement of the fellowship/appointment: leave of absence (for reasons of maternity/parental, medical, or professional reasons), termination or discontinuation of full time research, or change from full time status to part time.
- Recipients are to refer to their Notice of Award, the Tri-agency Award Holder’s Guide, and their U of A appointment offer for complete details of all acceptance contingencies.