Call for Applications to the Spring 2024 Reviewer in Training Program

Please note that the deadline to apply to the Spring 2024 Reviewer in Training Program has passed. Please consult the new, updated webpage for all details related to participating in the Reviewer in Training (RiT) Program.

The CIHR Reviewer in Training (RiT) Program runs twice a year during the Spring and Fall Project Grant Competitions. It offers ECRs a learning opportunity to gain a better understanding of the elements of high-quality review and the peer review process. RiT participants can do this by selecting one of two roles: Mentee or ECR Reviewer in their initial application.

For ECRs that want to learn more about CIHR’s peer review process with the help of a Mentor, please see the Apply as a Mentee section.

For ECRs with recent federal or equivalent grant funding that want to score applications and contribute to funding decisions, please see the Apply as an ECR Reviewer section.

Please review Updates for the Spring 2024 Project Grant competition and note that CIHR will continue the use of virtual peer review, via Microsoft Teams, in this Project Grant competition.

Apply as a Mentee

Mentees will participate in the Project Grant competition with the support of a Mentor. They will conduct practice reviews on up to three applications, attend the peer review meeting, present one review, and participate in the committee discussions. To learn more, refer to the RiT Program webpage. Approximately 120 Mentees will be selected by lottery, which represents two opportunities per Project Grant Program committee. Please review Application Pressures from past RiT competitions.

Important dates

Dates Events
January 31, 2024 Application deadline to the Spring 2024 RiT Program
March 6, 2024 Application deadline for the Project Grant Competition
March 13, 2024 Results deadline for the Spring 2024 RiT Program
May 14 – June 14, 2024 Project Grant committee meetings (individual committee meeting dates to be confirmed with each participant, typically held between 10am-5pm).

Eligibility

  • Must meet CIHR’s definition of an ECR on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (March 6, 2024).
  • Must be working at a Canadian institution on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (March 6, 2024).
  • Candidates who are submitting applications as a Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) or Principal Applicant (PA) in the current Project Grant competition are eligible for this opportunity. However, they will not be selected for a committee that is adjudicating their submission.
  • Must not have previously participated in the RiT Program.
  • Must not have previously reviewed for the Project Grant competition.
  • Must not be full College members.

How to apply

To express your interest in participating as a Mentee in this RiT Program, please click “Apply Online” below to fill out an application by January 31st, 2024, 23:59 Eastern time.

Step 1

Collect the following before completing the application:

Please note that eligibility for the Indigenous Health Research (IHR) committee is limited to Indigenous Researchers and those with experience in Indigenous Health Research.

Step 2

Apply online (This competition is now closed)

All submissions will receive an acknowledgement email within 5 business days confirming receipt of the application.

Step 3

Complete your Reviewer Profile along with the new Self-identification Questionnaire in ResearchNet within 5 business days of receiving the acknowledgement email. Your application may not be considered without a completed Reviewer Profile. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their application is complete.

Please consult the FAQ for help in completing the Self-identification Questionnaire. Application information submitted for this opportunity will be retained and may be shared with other areas of CIHR for consideration in similar opportunities.

All individuals who express their interest will be informed of the results by March 13, 2024. Upon receiving the invitation, you will have 2 business days to accept. If a response is not received by this time, we will offer this opportunity to the next candidate. If you have any questions, please contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Apply as an ECR Reviewer

ECR Reviewers participate in the same capacity as all reviewers and will have access to all of the supportive resources that CIHR provides to committee members. They will have a reduced number of applications to review (up to five) and be able to present their assigned applications later in the meeting. To learn more, refer to the RiT Program webpage. At least 1 ECR Reviewer will be selected per committee based on the expertise and eligibility of the applicants. Please review Application Pressures from past RiT competitions.

Important dates

Dates Events
January 31, 2024 Application deadline to the Spring 2024 RiT Program
March 6, 2024 Application deadline for the Project Grant Competition
March 13, 2024 Results deadline for the Spring 2024 RiT Program
May 14 – June 14, 2024 Project Grant committee meetings (individual committee meeting dates to be confirmed with each participant, typically run between 10am-5pm).

Eligibility

  • Must meet CIHR’s definition of an ECR on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (March 6, 2024).
  • Must be working at a Canadian institution on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (March 6, 2024).
  • Must have at least one recent federally funded (or equivalent) peer reviewed grant as a Principal Investigator.
  • Candidates who are submitting applications as a Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) or Principal Applicant (PA) in the current Project Grant competition are eligible for this opportunity. However, they will not be selected for committees that are adjudicating their submission.
  • Must not have previously participated in the RiT Program as an ECR Reviewer.
  • Must not have previously reviewed for the Project Grant competition.
  • Applicants who have previously participated as a Mentee, and now meet these criteria, are eligible to participate as an ECR Reviewer.

How to apply

To express your interest in participating as an ECR Reviewer in this RiT Program, please click “Apply Online” below to fill out an application by January 31st, 2024, 23:59 Eastern time.

Step 1

Collect the following before completing the application:

  • Your CIHR PIN (if known).
  • A PDF of your biosketch Common CV (draft CCVs are not accepted).
  • A recent letter from your institution attesting that you meet the criteria to be considered as an Early Career Researcher.
  • A ranked list of two peer review committees – for which you have the appropriate expertise to review – and in which you would like to participate.

Please note that eligibility for the Indigenous Health Research (IHR) committee is limited to Indigenous Researchers and those with experience in Indigenous Health Research.

Step 2

Apply online (This competition is now closed)

All submissions will receive an acknowledgement email within 5 business days of receipt of the application.

Step 3

Complete your Reviewer Profile along with the new Self-identification Questionnaire in ResearchNet within 5 business days of receiving the acknowledgement email.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their application is complete. Please consult the FAQ for help in completing the Self-identification Questionnaire. Application information submitted for this opportunity will be retained and may be shared with other areas of CIHR for consideration in similar opportunities.

All individuals who express their interest will be informed of the results by March 13, 2024. Upon receiving the invitation, you will have 2 business days to accept. If a response is not received by this time, we will offer this opportunity to the next candidate. If you have any questions, please contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Date modified: