Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligible applicants

• Applicants who hold a doctoral degree in research (Ph.D. or equivalent)

  Applicants holding a degree in a discipline not directly related to the health sciences (e.g. sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, etc.) are eligible provided that their research program focuses on health-related issues.

• Applicants who hold a professional degree in the health sciences at the doctoral level (MD, D.D.S., etc.), and have completed at least two continuous years of additional research training, with at least 75% of their time devoted to research.
• Canadian citizens or permanent residents (as defined in section 1.1 of the Common Rules and Regulations) domiciled in Québec at the time the award comes into effect.

Applicants may apply:

• A maximum of three times in the four years in which they are classified Junior 1 (0 to 3 years' experience).
• A maximum of twice in the four years in which they are classified Junior 2 (4 to 7 years' experience).
• A maximum of twice in the four years in which they are classified Senior (8 to 11 years' experience). See the Research experience section.

Not eligible:

• Directors or associate scientific directors of research centres funded by the FRSQ or senior managers in university-level teaching institutions (unless permission in writing has been obtained from the FRSQ)
• Applicants holding an award with more than 18 months remaining as of April 1, 2012.

Terms and conditions

• Must have permission from the director of the department or research director of an institution recognized by the FRSQ to conduct research activities (see Research location)
• Must have a commitment from the university that the applicant will be named to a university position as soon as the award comes into effect
• Must devote at least 75% of his or her working hours to research (full-time)

  Health-care professionals who hold a valid license to practice in Québec and spend at least 50% (half-time) on their working hours on research may apply for the following program:

  • Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

• Must demonstrate the capacity or potential to be a competitive researcher at the national and international levels
• Must have supervisory privileges, directing students engaged in a research training program
• Must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FRSQ the capacity or potential to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines
• Must comply with the provisions of the Québec Health Insurance Act (section XII, articles 95 to 104) regarding research scholarships, as the budget for Research Scholar programs comes from the Québec health insurance board. Specifically, all applicants must agree to comply with the provisions of the Act regarding the awarding of research scholarships (article 96):

  "No one shall be entitled to a research scholarship if, in the opinion of the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec established pursuant to the Act respecting the Ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la Research (chapter M-30.01),

  1. he is not domiciled in Québec;
  2. he does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec;
  3. he is not pursuing, for a university body or for an institution, research in connection with one of the health sciences."

Basic training in research ethics

Basic training in research ethics is compulsory for all FRSQ awardees when their research project involves human subjects.

The term "research project involving human subjects" applies when the research project involves:

• living human subjects
• cadavers, human remains, tissues, biological fluids, gametes, embryos or fetuses, cells or genetic materials
• personal information on file. Personal information is defined as information that enables a person to be identified.

This basic training consists of successful completion of Levels 1 and 3 of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux On-line Tutorial in Research Ethics.

Awardees must complete this basic training within a year of receipt of a positive response concerning the FRSQ award.

In addition, all career researchers must attend a Research Ethics Board (REB) meeting as observers. The REB must be affiliated with a university or with an institution within the health and social services network. Participation must occur within two years of receipt of a positive response concerning the FRSQ award.

RESEARCH AREAS

 

All applicants who hold a doctoral degree in research or a professional degree in the health sciences at the doctoral level are required to choose one of the following research areas:

Basic science

This includes the basic biological mechanisms of health at the molecular, cellular, tissue and integrative levels, including all research that uses intact animal organisms or their cellular components, cellular descendants, or human cells and tissues. Research that involves the participation of human subjects is included under this heading as long as it involves basic mechanisms.

Clinical and epidemiological science

In general, this includes all biological, medical and epidemiological research that involves the participation of human subjects.

Health and society

This includes research on individual, social and cultural factors and interactions among them that are linked to health status or behaviours. There are many social and cultural factors that are relevant to health: the organization and provision of health care, social and health-care policy, education, economics and employment, the media, ethical issues, the environment in which we live, and so on.

It is possible to combine two areas of research; for example, basic science and clinical and epidemiological science may intersect in research projects that involve human subjects.

After reviewing the Letters of Intent, the FRSQ may recommend that an applicant redirect his or her application to the research area in which the Review Committee possesses the most appropriate expertise for reviewing the file. When in doubt, applicants are invited to contact the FRSQ.

RESEARCH LOCATION

Choice of research location

• at an FRSQ group or centre, an institution administered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) or a Québec university

  Applicants may conduct their research outside the MSSS network or outside the FRSQ network of research centres if they belong to a team or laboratory working on health-care issues recognized by the FRSQ.

• in an industrial setting

  An agreement may be signed between the FRSQ, the host company and a university, depending on the applicant's particular case. Under such an agreement, the applicant will conduct an innovative research program and train graduate students.

Change of research location

The FRSQ presumes that the Research Scholar will work at the institution or university that approved his or her application throughout the award period.

Awardees wishing to change their research location must send the FRSQ a written request detailing the reasons for the change and describing how it could affect their research project.

University authorities must give the FRSQ written notice that they have approved the change.

The director of the new research centre or university department must give the FRSQ written notice that he/she agrees to host the applicant.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

The FRSQ will classify the applicant as a Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior Researcher and notify the applicant of his or her classification. On receiving such notice, the applicant has 10 business days to request a review of his or her classification, specifying the reasons for the claim.

Classification is based on a given reference year as of which applicants demonstrate their capacity for independent research. Within the meaning of the FRSQ, this capacity is demonstrated or should have been demonstrated:

• At the time when the application for the Junior 1 Research Scholars is filed,
• When applicants obtain a career award comparable to a Junior 1 Research Scholar award or a grant awarded by an organization recognized by the FRSQ for a project in which they were the principal investigator,
• Or no later than 6 years after applicants have obtained their most recent university degree (Ph.D., MD, D.D.S., etc., or an M. Sc. as a second degree by June 30, 2012) or since qualifying as a medical specialist (C.S.P.Q., FRCP).

When one of these conditions is met, applicants are classified Junior 1 with 0 years of experience, and, as of this point, the number of years of experience is updated annually. Applicants with 4 to 7 years' experience are classified Junior 2, and those with 8 to 11 years' experience are classified Senior. For the FRSQ, each year of experience is calculated from July 1 to June 30.

In calculating years of experience, the FRSQ may take into account particular situations that may cause applicants to temporarily put their research on hold (e.g. pregnancy, illness, professional activities not involving research: clinical, treatment, management, etc.) and may subtract such years when calculating years of experience.

DURATION OF AWARD

Effective starting date

Between July 1 and September 30, 2012

Duration

Junior 1: 4 years for all applicants

Junior 2: maximum 4 years

Senior: maximum 4 years

The duration of Junior 1 awards, regardless of the level of experience calculated at the time the award is received by the applicant, is 4 years. At the end of the 4 years of the Junior 1 award, awardees are promoted to Junior 2 status with 4 years' experience in research. The number of years of experience is updated annually as of this new reference year.

For the Junior 2 and Senior classification level, the duration of the award is a maximum of 4 years which decreases with the number of years of experience. For example, the duration of a Junior 2 award is 4 years if the number of years of experience is deemed to be 4, 3 years if there are 5 years of experience, 2 years for 6 years of experience, and 1 year for the Junior 2 level (with one year credited towards the Senior level) for awardees with 7 years' experience.

For the Senior category, the FRSQ undertakes to remunerate the applicant in decreasing amounts. (See Amount of Award)

Parental leave

Awardees are entitled to take parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption leave). The award may be deferred for a maximum of two years.

The awardee must give the FRSQ written notice of his/her intention to take parental leave.

Sabbatical leave

Research Scholars will receive their full stipend during a sabbatical year as long as they meet the following requirements:

• Be a Senior or Junior 2 Research Scholar with six years of experience based on the FRSQ classification
• Send the FRSQ a request for a sabbatical of up to 12 months
• Send the FRSQ a complementary training program or program of activities that will advance the research project

  The program must be accepted in writing by the FRSQ at least 60 days before the starting date of the sabbatical.

• Send the FRSQ a copy of the sabbatical approval signed by the university authorities or by the administrators of the institution where he/she works.
• If applicable, send the FRSQ official notice that the laboratory has agreed to host the Research Scholar.

Sick leave

The awardee may defer the award in case of serious illness (his or her own or the illness of a close family member) upon presentation of a medical certificate that includes the precise length of leave prescribed by the physician. Payments will be suspended during that period.

AMOUNT OF AWARD

Amount

From $30,005 to $88,469, including benefits of 12%, based on years of experience.

For awardees who hold a professional degree, the award will be calculated based on whether the degree comes with a valid license to practice in Québec.

For those who do not hold a valid license, the calculation will be based on the date on which the applicant earned his or her second degree, or the date on which the training period ends.

The pay scale for Research Scholars is set by the government of Québec and appears in article 52 of section XVI of the Bylaws to the Québec Health Insurance Act.

This amount must be supplemented by the university (see University authorities’ agreement)

University share

For the Senior category, the FRSQ undertakes to pay the applicant in decreasing amounts:

8 years of experience	100 %
9 years of experience	100 %
10 years of experience	75 %
11 years of experience	50 %

This policy is designed to ensure that the host institution agrees to supplement the applicant's salary and offer him or her a position (see University authorities’ agreement).

OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME

Concurrent funding

See Common Rules and Regulations, art. 6.13

A Canada Research Chair cannot be concurrently held with a salary award from the FRSQ or an establishment of young researcher – Junior 1 grant.

REVIEW

Process

All applications are reviewed by a peer-review committee made up of members representing various health disciplines and research methodologies.

In the interest of fairness, all applications are grouped and reviewed by program: Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior or Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior , based on the classification by research experience (Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior) and research area (basic, clinical and epidemiological, or health and society).

The FRSQ puts together six review committees:

Experience	Basic science	Clinical and epidemiological		Health and society
Junior 1	R + CR (Committee 1)	R (Committee 4)	CR (Committee 5)	R + CR (Committee 6)
Junior 2	R + CR (Committee 2)
Senior	R + CR (Committee 3)

R = Researchers (full time)
CR = Clinical researchers (half-time)

Criteria

Different criteria are used based on the area of research; its relative importance in the overall review by the peer-review committees may vary depending on the classification level - Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior:

• the review of the applicant's research training and proposed research project is of greater relative importance at the Junior 1 level
• the review of the applicant's outreach and productivity in terms of training students and obtaining grants assumes increasing importance at the Junior 2 and Senior levels

The evaluation criteria for each level are detailed in the following grids:

• Junior 1
• Junior 2
• Senior

AWARDEE'S AGREEMENT

 

In accepting this award, the awardee agrees to observe the Common Rules and Regulations, the Policy regarding open access to published research outputs as well as the terms and conditions stipulated in this program description.

The award will be revoked if the awardee fails to observe these rules.

The awardee must notify the FRSQ of his/her acceptance of the award within 30 days of receiving the offer.

Failure to give notice of acceptance will be regarded as refusal of the award.

UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES' AGREEMENT

Approval

Universities approve applications and assume the responsibilities listed below jointly with the heads of the department with which the applicant is affiliated and the research centre where the research will be conducted (if applicable).

Salary supplement

• University authorities supporting an application for a Research Scholar must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the applicant would receive from the university as a full-time professor, to the satisfaction of the FRSQ.
• Should the applicant have a mixed affiliation involving a company, the university and the partner must jointly endorse the Research Scholar's application.

Under such circumstances, the partners must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the applicant would receive from the university or from the partner as a full-time professor or employee. A protocol of agreement must be signed with the FRSQ to cover this partnership.

Confirmation of position – Senior Research Scholars

For applications in the Senior Research Scholar competition:

• The university must agree to make the researcher part of the team on completion of the award and offer the applicant a full-time permanent position or a contract position for at least five years after the end of the award (at a salary commensurate with the applicant's university rank).

Benefits and laboratory or research premises

The applicant must be eligible to join the pension plan and enjoy other benefits available to full-time staff working at the university. These obligations imply that the researcher's salary will be administered by the university even if he or she works at a research centre.

The host institution agrees to provide the functional laboratory or research premises and basic equipment the applicant requires for research purposes.

Protected time for research

The university and hospital authorities must jointly ensure that the applicant is released from his or her clinical duties in order to meet the obligation to spend 75% of his or her working hours on research.

IMPORTANT MODIFICATIONS SINCE LAST COMPETITION

 

• Required documents
• Interviews will no longer be conducted as part of the Junior 1 program
• Other sources of income – Concurrent funding
• Evaluation grids now available in the toolbox

SPECIFIC THEMES FUNDED BY PARTNERS

 

FRSQ offers a certain number of awards in collaboration with its partners. The portion of financing from the FRSQ and the partner respectively, as well as other funding features such as the duration of the award and renewal options, if any, may vary according to the agreement entered into with each partner.

There is a four-step process for selecting applicants eligible for partnership funding:

1. Applicants select a partner or partners from a list. The applicants must be involved in research in the fields targeted by the potential partner(s). See the Partenaires page of the form. To be considered for a partnership award, applicants must select a partner on the form.
2. The FRSQ transmits an anonymous list of applicants to the partner(s) for evaluation of how the proposed research fits in with the field(s) of research and the research priorities of the partner(s)
3. The FRSQ receives a list of the applicants approved by the partner(s)
4. Further to review by a peer committee or expert committee, the applicants who obtained the rank of excellence for scientific merit may be selected by the FRSQ for an offer of partnership funding

As with all FRSQ awards, partnership awards are granted by merit and applications are subject to scientific review by an expert committee or a peer committee and to the FRSQ's standards of excellence.

Adolescent mental illness
(Junior 1 only)

Mental Illness Foundation – Libermont Foundation

Jocelyne and Jean Monty Family-FRSQ-Mental Illness Foundation Award

Child Health
(Junior 1 only)

Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP)

(All applicants must submit an application to the CCHCSP)

Chiropractic
(Junior 1 and 2 only)

Fondation de recherche chiropratique du Québec

Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec

(Only applicants who hold a doctor of chiropractic are eligible.)

Emergency

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) - Programme de recherche sur la problématique des urgences

Hypertension
(Junior 1 and 2 only)

Société québécoise d'hypertension artérielle (SQHA) = Jacques de Champlain Award

(Includes a research support supplement)

Infectious diseases and AIDS

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) – Service de lutte contre les infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang (SLITSS)

Kidney health
(Junior 1 only)

The Kidney Foundation of Canada - KRESCENT Research Program
(Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training)

(The applicant must also submit an application to the KRESCENT Program.)

Canadian Society of Nephrology

Optimal drug use

Conseil du médicament

Radiology
(Junior 1 only)

Fondation de l'Association des radiologistes du Québec (FARQ)

(Only radiologists are eligible.)

Trauma

Consortium pour le développement de la recherche en traumatologie

• Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS)
• Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)
• Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
• Provincial Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR)
• Association québécoise d'établissements de santé et des services sociaux (AQESSS)
• Quebec Association of Rehabilitation Establishments for the Physically Impaired (AERDPQ)

Updated: 04-07-2011