Faculty Research Positions

All applicants must have an academic appointment (or equivalent, in the case of those applying for the Graduate Studies Award) in the DFCM and must be active faculty members in an affiliated Family Medicine Teaching Unit.

Those applying as Clinician Scientists must be established researchers with a PhD degree or equivalent who can provide:

• Evidence of a meaningful collaborative relationship (e.g., as shown by grants and publications) with other senior researchers in an established research environment or team.
• Evidence of an independent research program where they have a leadership role and can demonstrate research productivity in terms of: peer-reviewed grants as principal investigator; peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals; and formal mentorship of junior researchers.

Those applying as New Investigators must be:

• Within five years of receiving their highest academic degree (preference will be given to those with a research PhD or equivalent).
• Able to provide evidence of a meaningful collaborative relationship (e.g., as shown by grants and publications) with senior researchers in an established environment or team.
• Able to provide evidence of research productivity (for stage of career) in terms of peer-reviewed grants (as PI, Co-PI, or Co-Investigator) and peer-reviewed publications (as first author or co-author).
• Preference will be given to those interested in becoming “Clinician Scientists” (i.e. >50% protected research time).

Those applying for Graduate Studies Awards must be:

• DFCM faculty members (or equivalent) who are active primary care clinicians who are enrolled in approved graduate degree research programs.
• All Graduate Research Studies award holders must have one or more formal research mentors.

All applications must include a letter of support from a unit Chief with:

• A clear statement of the amount of protected research time.
• Proportion of distribution of responsibilities (research, clinical, teaching, administration).
• Assurance of administrative support and research space, if any.
• A description of available research staff support, if any.
• A statement of enhanced matched funding (as appropriate for the amount of protected research time and position applied for) with the goal (if possible) of achieving equity with the median income in the practice.

*If matched funding will be coming from an external source, please also provide confirmation of funding in writing.

All applications must also include:

• A completed DFCM Investigator Awards (Clinician Scientist/New Investigator/Graduate Studies) Application Form available at this link: https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=M349YEY4YRNW987A
• A current CV with the following items included and highlighted, or in an appendix, for the last 5 years, if applicable. The CV should be no more than 5 pages and should follow the web CV format.
  • DFCM appointment category, academic rank, and date of appointment
  • Grants including award amounts and type (i.e., peer-reviewed, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Publications including number and type (i.e., peer-reviewed journal, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Presentations including number and type (i.e., peer-reviewed journal, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Research committees (e.g., CIHR Review Committee)
  • Other awards and recognitions (e.g., salary/training awards)
  • Other activities including any formal mentorship/supervision and other committees
• A description of your research plan for the next 5 years which includes:
  • a detailed description of your research objectives and questions, your research setting, and proposed collaborators (max 3 pages)
  • a description of how this award will enable you to achieve your research goals and objectives (max 1.5 pages)
  • and description of how your research aligns with the DFCM’s Strategic Plan and University of Toronto’s Practice- and Community-Based Learning and Research Network (UPLEARN) (max 1/2 page).

Note regarding format for research plan: Maximum 5 pages with 2 cm margins, Times New Roman 12 font, and page numbers only in the lower-right margin. Font size does not apply to images or tables.

• 3 letters of reference, in addition to the letter mentioned above (including one from the supervisor or proposed supervisor for Graduate Studies Award applicants)
• An acknowledgement that for projects housed at the DFCM or one or more of its family medicine units, cost recovery for administrative support (if allowed by the granting agency), biostatistical and/or methodological services, and office supplies and equipment is expected.
• An acknowledgement in publications and presentations that the investigator holds a DFCM Investigator Award.

NOTE: All DFCM Investigator Award recipients undergo yearly internal reviews with the Vice-Chair, Research Program and/or Associate Director, Research Program. Formal/external reviews are held every three to five years. Continued funding for all DFCM Investigator Awards are not guaranteed but is contingent on an annual basis on:

• Availability of funds from the DFCM.
• Availability of enhanced matched salary support from the site for the next annual term.
• Continued endorsement by the unit chief (or the director/chair of the organization responsible for guaranteeing the enhanced matched funding).
• Successful annual internal reviews by the Vice-Chair, Research Program and/or Associate Director, Research Program that includes meeting expectations related to research productivity and contributions to the DFCM (detailed annual review criteria are available for each type of DFCM Investigator Award).
• Successful formal external reviews, where applicable.
• Holding an academic appointment (or equivalent) in the DFCM.

Application Deadline: Monday December 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. EST
Decision Date: Thursday December 18, 2025
Start Date: January 1, 2026

Please submit applications and direct questions to Tara Jeyaram, Research Program Administrator, at dfcm.research@utoronto.ca.

Complete the form below and submit it with your application:

Application Form 

For these awards, community-based sites are defined as follows:

• Associate TAHSN affiliates (see this link; e.g., Humber River Health, Michael Garron Hospital, North York General Hospital, Scarborough Health Network, Trillium Health Partners), or
• Community hospital TAHSN affiliates (e.g., Georgian Bay General Hospital, Lakeridge Health, Oak Valley Health, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care), or
• Sites outside the TAHSN network (e.g., Barrie, Orillia), or
• Community-based physicians who do not practice in one of our core DFCM sites

Note: Faculty who already hold a Clinician Investigator, Clinician Scientist, or Early-Career Researcher award are ineligible.

For those applying for a Waddington Early-Career Researcher Award:

• All applicants must have a primary academic appointment in the DFCM and be an active faculty member in an affiliated community-based site, as defined above, as of the start date. DFCM Division members are welcome.
• If an independent research program is already established (e.g., securing competitive research funding as principal investigator, first authorship of peer-reviewed publications, supervision and mentorship of graduate students/medical students/research staff in the context of the faculty member’s own research program), it is expected that the faculty member would be no more than 5 years into their independent research program.
• Applicants should demonstrate interest in becoming future Clinician Investigators (less than 50% time protected) or Clinician Scientists (50% or more time protected).
• Applicants should be able to provide evidence of research productivity, appropriate for stage of career and community-based context, in terms of peer reviewed grants (as PI, Co-PI, or Co-Investigator), peer-reviewed publications (as first author or co-author) and other relevant measures of productivity.
• A graduate degree (including a degree in progress) is an asset but not required.

For those applying for a Waddington Fellowship:

• All applicants must have a primary academic appointment in the DFCM and be an active faculty member in an affiliated community-based site, as defined above, as of the start date.
• Applicants should have not yet established an independent research program (e.g., securing competitive research funding as principal investigator, first authorship of peer-reviewed publications, supervision and mentorship of graduate students/medical students/research staff in the context of the faculty member’s own research program).
• Applicants should demonstrate strong interest in advancing their research skills and becoming future New Investigators.
• A formal supervisor who is a senior DFCM-affiliated researcher with whom an applicant will engage with during their fellowship must be identified. Applicants must also propose a research project that is approved by the formal DFCM supervisor. (DFCM will help to match each applicant with a senior DFCM-affiliated researcher if requested.)
• A graduate degree (including a degree in progress) is an asset but not required.

Expectations and Available Supports

• Participation in next available iteration of Ideas to Proposal (I2P) course.
• Formal mentorship from at least one senior DFCM-affiliated researcher (either new or pre-existing mentor) for Waddington Early-Career Researchers / formal supervision from a senior DFCM researcher for Waddington Fellows.
• Opportunities to engage with the University of Toronto’s Practice- and Community-Based Learning and Research Network (UPLEARN).
• Central DFCM research supports (e.g., consultation on research methodology, proposal development, budgeting, etc.).
• Community of practice with other Waddington Early-Career Researchers and Waddington Fellows.
• An acknowledgement in publications and presentations that the investigator holds a DFCM Waddington Award.

All applications must include a letter of support from Chief/Division Director/Director responsible for matched funding with:

• A clear statement of the amount of protected research time
• Proportion of distribution of responsibilities (research, clinical, teaching, administration)
• Assurance of administrative support and research space, if any
• A description of available research staff support, if any
• A statement of enhanced matched funding (as appropriate for the amount of protected research time and position applied for) with the goal (if possible) of achieving equity with the median income in the practice.

*If matched funding will be coming from an external source, please also provide confirmation of funding in writing.

**If applicant has no unit Chief, please provide a letter that details how the above criteria will be achieved.

All applications must also include:

• A completed Waddington Early-Career Research and Waddington Fellow Application Form available at this link:
  https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=ARE4FKW9MMXN8A4D
• A current CV with the following items included and highlighted, or in an appendix, for the last 5 years, if applicable. The CV should be no more than 5 pages and should follow the web CV format.
  • Grants including award amounts and type (i.e., peer-reviewed, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Publications including number and type (i.e., peer-reviewed journal, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Presentations including number and type (i.e., peer-reviewed journal, non-peer-reviewed)
  • Research committees (e.g., CIHR Review Committee)
  • Other awards and recognitions (e.g., salary/training awards)
  • Other activities including any formal mentorship/supervision and other committees
• A description of your research plan for the next 5 years which includes:
  • a detailed description of your research objectives and questions, your research setting, and proposed collaborators (max 3 pages)
  • a description of how this award will enable you to achieve your research goals and objectives (max 1.5 pages)
  • and description of how your research aligns with the DFCM’s Strategic Plan and University of Toronto’s Practice- and Community-Based Learning and Research Network (UPLEARN) (max 1/2 page).
    
    Note regarding format for research plan: Maximum 5 pages with 2 cm margins, Times New Roman 12 font, and page numbers only in the lower-right margin. Font size does not apply to images or tables.
• 2 letters of reference (in addition to the letter mentioned above), including one from the supervisor for Fellow applicants

Note: All Award recipients will undergo internal reviews with the Waddington Family Community Research Capacity Building Program Director. Continued funding for all DFCM Investigator Awards is not guaranteed but is contingent on an annual basis on:

• Availability of funds from the DFCM
• Availability of enhanced matched salary support from the site
• Continued endorsement by the unit chief (or the Director/Chair of the organization responsible for guaranteeing the enhanced matched funding).
• Successful internal reviews

Application Deadline: Monday December 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. EST
Decision Date: Thursday December 18, 2025
Start Date: January 1, 2026

Please submit applications and direct questions to Tara Jeyaram, Research Program Administrator, at dfcm.research@utoronto.ca.

Complete the form below and submit it with your application:

Application Form