Research Scholars - Junior 1, Junior 2, Senior / 2021-2022

Eligible applicants

• Be employed by a managing institution at the inception of the award. The managing institution must confirm, each award year, that the person is employed continuously (including the validity of appropriate visas, if applicable).
• Meet one of the criteria relating to research status (see the Definitions section of the Common General Rules):
  • University researcher
  • University clinician researcher
• Devote at least 75% of their working hours to research (full-time)

Health-care professionals who, hold a valid license to practice in Québec and spend at least 50% (part-time) of their working hours in research, may apply for the following award programs: Clinical Research Scholar, Junior 1, Junior 2 and Senior.

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

Candidates may apply:

• A maximum of three times within the four years during which they are classified as Junior 1 (0 to 3 years’ experience).
• A maximum of two times within the four years during which they are classified as Junior 2 (4 to 7 years’ experience).
• A maximum of two times within the four years during which they are classified as Senior (8 to 11 years of experience) (See the Research experience section)

The following individuals are not eligible to apply:

• Individuals who hold a position of director or associate scientific director of a research centre funded by the FRQS or senior managers in university-level teaching institutions (unless permission in writing has been obtained from the FRQS)

•  Individuals who already have received an award with more than 12 months remaining as of October 1, 2020.

Terms and conditions

• Must have permission from the director of the department or research director of an institution recognized by the FRQS to conduct research activities (see the Research location section)

• Obtain the university approval required by the FRQS.

University approval  is done in the Institutions portal at a date that is determined by the university and which is before the FRQS deadline (see section on Required Documents)

• Must have a commitment from the university that the applicant will be appointed to a university position at the inception of the award
• Must comply with the provisions of the Québec Health Insurance Act (section XII, articles 95 to 104) regarding research scholarships. Specifically, all applicants must agree to comply with the provisions of the Act regarding the awarding of research scholarships (article 96):

1. he/she is not domiciled in Québec;

2. he/she does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec;

3. he/she is not pursuing, for a university body or for an institution, research in connection with one of the health sciences.”

Basic research ethics training

Basic research ethics training is mandatory for all recipients of an FRQS career award when their research projects or programs involve human beings.

Research on human beings involves:

• Participation of human beings
• Use of human biological materials (parts, products, tissue, cells, genetic materials, derived from a living or dead individual)
• Assisted procreation activities or the use of human embryos derived therefrom, within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities relating to assisted procreation (CQLR c. A-5.01)
• The use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data from human participants

Awardees must therefore successfully complete levels 1 and 3 of the Online Tutorial in Research Ethics developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

This training must be completed within one year of the date following confirmation by the FRQS that the award was granted.

In addition, all career award recipients 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 FRQS award.

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

Basic science

This area 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, cell lines, 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 area includes all biological, medical and epidemiological research that involves the participation of human subjects.

Health and society

This area includes research on individual, social and cultural factors and interactions among them that are linked to health status or behaviors. 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.

After reviewing the Notices of Intent, the FRQS may ask the applicant to redirect his or her application to the research area in which the Review Committee has the most appropriate expertise for reviewing the file. In doubt, applicants are invited to contact the FRQS.

Documents sent via mail or e-mail will not be accepted.

Transmission via the FRQS electronic portfolio only.

IMPORTANT :

1. In order to allow for university approval, the Notice of intent should be submitted before the institutional (university) deadline, which is before the FRQS submission deadline (details are provided in the electronic form). University approval, which automatically activates submission of the form to the FRQS, has to be done before the FRQS submission deadline.
2. Once the application is submitted, it will no longer be possible to modify it.

• Canadian Common CV , Funding CV version, for the FRQS (updated since June 2019);

• Detailed contributions updated since June 2019 (attachment required through the FRQS electronic portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the Guidelines for the CV attachment available in the toolbox

• Electronic form Notice of intent Chercheurs-boursiers including:
  PDF version – for information

• PDF copy of the degree(s) establishing the applicant’s eligibility for the program (Ph.D., MD, D.D.S., etc.), except for applicants who are already FRQS research scholars or clinical research scholars.

• a copy of the applicant’s highest specialist license (CSPQ, FRCPC, etc.) or second degree (M.Sc.), if applicable.

The Notice of Intent allows the FRQS to:

• establish applicant’s eligibility

• verify the type of program and area of research chosen by the applicant (see Research areas) and assign the applicant to a preliminary category based on experience (see Research experience) in order to recruit peer-review committees. Scientific reviews are not based on the Notice of Intent.

•  obtain the university approval

The FRQS will confirm applicant’s eligibility by e-mail by mid-September.

Only applicants who are deemed to be eligible and have been approved by their university may submit a complete application.

Transmission via the FRQS electronic portfolio only

IMPORTANT :

1. In order to allow for university approval, the complete application should be submitted before the institutional (university) deadline, which is before the FRQS submission deadline (details are provided in the electronic form). University approval, which automatically activates submission of the form to the FRQS, has to be done before the FRQS submission deadline.

2. Once the application is submitted, it will no longer be possible to modify it.

• Canadian Common CV , Funding CV version, for the FRQS (updated since June 2019);

• Detailed contributions updated since June 2019 (attachment required through the FRQS electronic portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page) , consult the Guidelines for the CV attachment available in the toolbox

• Electronic form Funding application Chercheurs-boursiers including:
  PDF version – for information

  • copies of the notices of awards and grants received since October 1, 2016 (other than those attributed by the FRQS)

E-mail transmission (PDF documents only) to the program officer

The e-mail transmission date will attest to the date on which the documents were submitted.

• Applicants who are registered in a M.Sc. or Ph.D. program must submit a proof attesting that they will have fulfilled the program requirements to obtain their degree by June 30, 2021.

• Proof of membership to a professional corporation (if applicable) certifying that the applicant will be entitled to practice in Québec by June 30, 2021.

If the license is to be delivered after June 30, 2021, the applicant must advise the FRQS in writing prior to the deadline.

• Electronic form
  PDF version – for information
  

• Electronic form to be completed by each respondent including a letter of recommendation. The respondents must be familiar with the applicant’s works. One of them must have been involved in the applicant’s most recent research training.
  PDF version – for information

The application will be rejected if one of the two respondents is missing.

For Junior 1 applicants only

• Electronic form including the applicant’s mentorship plan, which must describe the arrangement for the first year of the grant and a four-year outlook (max. 2 pages). The letter must detail the support provided by an experienced researcher in terms of preparing applications, planning and carrying out the research program and ensuring support for other aspects of the applicant’s career.
  PDF version – for information

IMPORTANT : All forms (applicants and supervisors as well as respondents and mentors if applicable) should be submitted before the institutional (university) deadline, which precedes the FRQS submission deadline. Specific instructions are provided in each form.

Applicants may update their award notices and publication lists until January 5, 2021. Please include grant confirmations and acknowledgements from editors for articles that are accepted for publication and submitted (do not include copies of the articles). All documents must be sent to the program officer in a PDF file. The file name must include the applicant’s name, application number and research topic. No other documents will be accepted.

After January 5, applicants may only submit the results of funding competitions in PDF format. These documents will be forwarded to the evaluation committee if it has not been held yet.

Applicants will be notified by email regarding the eligibility or ineligibility of their applications in November.

• FRQS funded 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 FRQS network of research centres if they belong to a team or laboratory working on health-care issues recognized by the FRQS.

• in an industrial setting

  An agreement may be signed between the FRQS, 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.

The FRQS expects that the award recipient 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 FRQS a written request detailing the reasons for the change and describing how it could affect their research project (Change of research location form – see Toolbox).

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

The director of the new research centre or university department must inform the FRQS in writing that they accept to host the award recipient and will provide conditions equivalent to those outlined in the form submitted by the director of the previous centre.

The FRQS will classify the applicant as a Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior Researcher and will notify them of their classification. On receiving such notice, applicants have 7 business days to request a review of their 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. As defined by the FRQS, this capacity is demonstrated or should have been demonstrated:

• At the time when an 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 FRQS for a project in which they are the principal investigator,

• Or no later than 6 years after applicants obtained their most recent university degree (PhD, MD, DDS., etc., or an M. Sc. as a second degree by June 30, 2021) 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 as Junior 2, and those with 8 to 11 years’ experience are classified as Senior. For the FRQS, each year of experience is calculated at the effective starting date of the award (July 1^st).

Once the counting of years of experience has started, there is no going back. However, during the calculation of the number of years of experience, the FRQS does take into account particular situations that may cause applicants to temporarily put their research on hold (e.g. parental leave, sick leaves, professional activities not involving research: clinical, care, management, etc.) and may subtract such years when counting years of experience.

For more information, please consult the document Calculation of research experience and particular situations, available in the tool box.

Between July 1^st and September 30, 2021

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 individuals with 7 years’ experience.

For the Senior category, the FRQS commits to paying the award recipient in decreasing amounts (see the section Amount of the Award).

In accordance to section 6.13 of the Common General Rules, the awardee may benefit from an award payment deferral during parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption). The award may be deferred for a maximum of two years.

The awardee must give the FRQS and the university’s authority a written notice, at least 6 months prior the leave, of his/her intention to take advantage of such deferral. A letter from the University and a medical certificate (delivery date) or any other document (birth or adoption certificate) will be required to confirm the date at which the parental leave starts and the date of return to work.

Award recipients 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 FRQS classification. In exceptional cases, individuals at the Junior 1 level may also benefit from a sabbatical leave.
• Send the FRQS a request for a sabbatical of up to 12 months, at least 3 months before the leave,  as well as the description of the complementary training program or of the activities that will help advance the awardees research project
  FRQS must give its written approval of the program at least 60 days before the starting date of the sabbatical.
• Send the FRQS 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 FRQS official notice that a laboratory has agreed to host the awardee.

The awardee may defer the award in case of illness or other reasons provided by the Loi sur les normes du travail as described in section 6.14 of the Common General Rules. The awardee has to inform by email the FRQS of his/her intention to take advantage of such deferral by attaching a document from his/her institution stating the authorized duration of the leave. Payments will be suspended during that period.

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

This amount must be used exclusively to pay the salary of the award recipients and cannot, under any circumstances, be converted into research funds.

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 section).

For the Senior category, the FRQS undertakes to pay the award recipient 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 award recipient’s salary and to integrate them into their workforce (see University authorities’ agreement section).

The list of institutions that can administer funding from the FRQ is limited to the managing institutions recognized by the FRQ, including universities, CIUSSS, CISSS, some institutions of the healthcare network and colleges.

The managing institution is generally the employing institution of the funding recipient (see section 6.2 of the Common General Rules).

This program does not benefit from the amount paid out by FRQS to cover indirect costs of research of the institutions.

A starting grant for new investigators is automatically given to individuals who receive a Junior 1 research scholar award. The starting grant for new investigators consists of $20,000 per year for four (4) years and is non-renewable

When an individual receives a starting grant for new investigators  from the FRQS and a  starting grant from another research institution, the FRQS will deduct the amount received from the other institution from the FRQS grant. Grant holders and the individuals who manage the grants are jointly responsible for advising the FRQS that two grants were awarded.

Expenses directly related to research activities:

• Purchase research material or carry out the research project

• Purchase or rent equipment (only for individuals who have not received a Leaders Opportunity Fund grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation)

• Pay out salaries to technical and clinical research staff

• Take part in conferences (presentations, posters), up to $ 15,000 for the term of the grant

• Rent or renovate premises or cover heating or electricity costs or any other indirect costs related to the research activities for a researcher working in an institution of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux or a Québec University

• Students and postdoctoral awards

• The starting grant associated with the research scholars program does not benefit from the amount paid out by FRQS to cover indirect costs of research of the institutions.

The carry over of an unspent amount is allowed according to the terms and conditions described in section 6.10 of the Common General Rules. In addition, any unspent balance at the end of the fiscal year may be carried over to the following year provided that it is less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total annual grant. Any balance exceeding 25% must be returned to the FRSQ.

A Canada Research Chair holder cannot concurrently hold the Chair and also receive a salary award from the FRQS or a starting grant for new investigators at the Junior 1 level.

Process   

All applications are reviewed by:

• by peer-review committee made up of members representing various health disciplines and research methodologies.
• according to the research area (basic, clinical and epidemiological, health and society or health and technologies) and research experience (Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior).

The FRQS will recruit 8 review committees for the research scholars:

By accepting the research scholar award, the awardee commits to giving a final report at the end of his/her award by the deadline set by the FRQS.

For Start-up grant for new investigator :

By accepting the starting grant for new investigators, the awardee and the managing institution commit to giving an annual financial report by the deadline set by the FRQS.

The university approves applications and assumes the responsibilities listed below jointly with the head of the department with which the applicant is affiliated and the research centre where the research will be conducted (if applicable).

This approval is done in the Institutions portal at a date that is determined by the university and which is before the FRQS deadline (see section on Required Documents)

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 individual would receive from the university as a full-time professor, to the satisfaction of the FRQS.

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 FRQS to cover this partnership.

For applications in the Senior Research Scholar competition:

• The university must agree to integrate the researcher 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).

The awardee 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 awardee requires for research purposes.

University and host institution administrators must jointly ensure that the awardee is released from his/her administrative, clinical and teaching duties so that he/she may fulfill the obligation to devote at least half (75%) of his/her professional activities to research.

The FRQS offers a number of awards in collaboration with partners. The share of funding from the FRQS and the partner may vary according to the agreements in effect.

Eligible applicants are selected through a three-step process:

1. The applicant select, in the Partnership [Partenariat] section of the application form, one or more partners whose targeted research areas correspond to the theme of their application.

2. The FRQS sends to the partners a list of candidates and useful information for them to assess the relevance of the request according to their research priorities and strategy.

3. After evaluation of the applications by a committee of experts or peers, applications having obtained the scientific excellence rating of 70 % and which have been deemed relevant by one or more partners, may receive a partnership award offer.

As with all the awards offered by FRQS, the awards granted in partnership are based on merit following a scientific evaluation by a committee of experts or peers.

Note that by choosing to be considered for an award in partnership, and that you obtain such an award, you agree that the partner communicates with you for activities related to the award.

Career awards in the Breast Cancer research field.

Career awards in the Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health research field.

Candidates must also submit an application to the CCHCSP. For research scholars, the applicant must be a clinician.

The Jacques de Champlain Award in Cardiovascular Health and Hypertension fields includes a research support supplement (maximum of $10,000 per year).

Candidates must also submit an application to the KRESCENT Program (Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training). Amount of the award: minimum of $ 70,000 per year.

Career Awards in the Parkinson’s Disease research field.

The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) in Quebec is to engage the various stakeholders involved, including patients, caregivers and the public, in the development and delivery of patient-oriented research projects (POR). The SPOR Support Unit in Quebec contributes to capacity building and professional development in POR of these stakeholders. The awards offered in partnership with the Unit allow award recipients to hone their skills and develop or consolidate valued expertise in POR, and to expand their network of collaborators and mentors in this area.

Priority themes: primary care, proximity care, integration of care and service trajectories.

(Junior 1 and Junior 2 only)

Career awards in the Diagnostic Radiology research field (including therapeutic and intervention components). Only radiologists (physicians) are eligible to apply.