Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is pleased to announce the call for expressions of interest to the Fall 2021 Reviewer in Training (RiT) program.

The RiT program offers Early Career Researchers (ECRs) a learning opportunity to gain a better understanding of the elements of high quality review and the peer review process through direct participation in the Project Grant competition with the support of a Mentor. RiT participants will be assigned three applications to conduct practice reviews, attend the peer review meeting, present one of their reviews, and participate in the meeting. Following completion of the RiT program, participants will be promoted within CIHR’s Reviewer Pathway and are expected to participate in peer review when requested and available to do so.

The application period opens on July 26, 2021 and closes on August 20, 2021. 

The peer review process for the Fall 2021 Project Grant competition will be delivered via video conferencing that best mimics the in-person face-to face process.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the RiT program, individuals must meet CIHR's definition of an ECR and be working at a Canadian institution as of the application deadline of the Project Grant competition, September 15, 2021. Please note that CIHR has further extended ECR eligibility (from 0-72 months to 0-84 months) as the earlier "pause the clock" is due to end but the conditions that led to its implementation have not.

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 but will not be selected for a committee to which they have submitted an application to or the committee that is adjudicating their submission.

ECRs who have previously participated in the RiT program, reviewed for the Project Grant competition, or are full members of the College of Reviewers are not eligible to apply.

How to Apply

Step 1: Note, before completing the application you will need the following:

• your CIHR PIN
• a PDF of your biosketch Common CV (draft CCVs are not accepted)
• a letter from your institution attesting that you meet the criteria to be considered as an Early Career Researcher
• the names of two peer review committees – in order of preference – that you would like to participate on for which you have the appropriate expertise to review

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

Step 2: ECRs expressing interest will be required to complete their Reviewer Profile within two weeks of receiving their acknowledgement email.

WEBSITE

If you have any questions, please contact college@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.