Research Investigator Awards Program

​The DFCM Investigator Awards Criteria (PDF) document outlines the requirements for those holding awards. For those interested in applying for an Investigator Award position:

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 Clinician Investigators must be established researchers with at least a Master’s degree or equivalent who can provide:

• evidence of a meaningful collaborative relationship (e.g. as shown by grants and publications) with senior researchers in an established environment or team;
• evidence of research productivity in terms of: peer reviewed grants (as PI, Co-PI, or Co-Investigator); and first author publications in peer reviewed journals.

Those applying as New Investigators must be:

• within 5 years of receiving their highest academic degree (preference will be given to those with a research PhD or equivalent);
• interested in becoming Clinician Scientists;
• 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).

Those applying for a Graduate Research Studies Award must:

• hold an academic appointment or equivalent in the DFCM and be enrolled or accepted in a relevant research degree program.
• Preference will be given to those enrolled in a research PhD program.

All applications require a letter of support from a Unit Chief/Division Director, explained below, along with a completed application form, which can be downloaded below.

All applications must include a letter of support from a Unit Chief/Division Director 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.
• A description of available research associate support.
• 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.

All applications must also include:

• A completed “Clinician Scientist/Clinician Investigator/Research Scientist/New Investigator/Graduate Studies Application Form” available below.
• A current annotated CV with emphasis on research activities for the last 5 years that indicates their roles on grants and publications.
• A statement of their research plan (max 5 pages) for the next 5 years that includes:
  • A detailed 5-year description of their research objectives and research questions (maximum of 3 pages), including a 1-paragraph EDI statement.
  • A 2-page description of how their research aligns with the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network (UTOPIAN).
  • A description of their research setting and proposed collaborators (maximum of 1 page).
• 3 letters of reference (in addition to the letter mentioned above).
• 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 is not guaranteed but is contingent on an annual basis:

• 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 for Research Scientists).
• 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.
• Holding an academic appointment (or equivalent) in the DFCM.

Applicants may be required to appear for an interview.

Complete the form below and submit it with your application:

Download Application Form 

(fillable PDF - please ensure you save the file to your own computer)