Doctoral Research Awards - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions

How to Apply

To make sure you have access and permissions to the research application tools you'll need to apply with, refer to
Before you begin.

To understand the general application process for DRA programs, refer to
General Application Process.

To list the components that make up a complete application that are specific to this program, refer to
A complete application consists the following.

To get ResearchNet-specific information on a task-by-task basis, refer to
Task Tips.

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following or click the links to register:

Note: You need your CIHR PIN to validate your Common CV for CIHR, however, your CIHR PIN cannot be used to logon to Common CV, which is an external site.

You need a Common CV account to prepare a CV to upload into ResearchNet during the e-Submission process. An Application Common CV (validated for CIHR) includes data required by all agencies (on the first screen of each section) and additional CIHR-specific data. If you have already registered with the Common CV, do not re-register. See Common CV for Applications to all CIHR Programs.

You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, do not register for a new account.

General Application Process

  1. In ResearchNet, complete all tasks listed for your funding opportunity following the on-screen instructions in one of the official languages.
  2. Determine what signatures are needed for each part of your application. See the funding opportunity, and the Meaning of Signatures in the Grants and Awards Guide.
  3. Print the Signature pages, found in ResearchNet, needed for the funding opportunity.
  4. Offline, obtain signatures for all signature pages, and for any other material needing signatures.
  5. Scan the signature pages.
  6. Upload the signed signature pages to ResearchNet as part of your submission before the application deadline date.
  7. Review the funding opportunity How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Additional Information required for this Funding Opportunity", and provide the additional information requested.
  8. Preview the Full Application Package version of your application in ResearchNet using the "Preview Application Materials" task to ensure that your application is complete.
    Note: What you see previewed is exactly how your application will look when submitted to CIHR electronically.
  9. Indicate that you have verified the application for completeness on ResearchNet.
  10. Submit the completed electronic application to CIHR through ResearchNet by completing the "Consent and Submit Application" task on ResearchNet.
    Note: CIHR cannot legally accept your application until you complete this task.
  11. For technical help, call 613-941-9080 or e-mail support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca, and for more information email info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

A complete application consists of the following 

  •  Additional Information as stated in the How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Additional Information required for this Funding Opportunity".

Task Tips

These Task Tips provide general instruction, but do not comprise a comprehensive list of information required to ensure completeness.

Task 1: Identify Participants/Supervisors

This task collects information on all participants involved in your research application, including your supervisors, and the institution or organization that receives funds if your application is successful. A Nominated Principal Applicant and Primary Supervisor must, as a minimum, be identified. In order to identify participants, a CIHR PIN is required (note that when you register for the PIN, it takes up to one full working day for processing). Consult the Funding Opportunity and the Individual Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR website for more information.

Task 2: Identify Sponsors

This task collects information on the 3 sponsors whose assessments accompany your research application. The sponsor report must be completed through ResearchNet by your most recent research supervisor and two other sponsors who have had an opportunity to assess your potential. Once an assessment is submitted, it will automatically attach itself to your application. You will not be able to view the sponsor form once submitted.

Note that it is the candidate's responsibility to follow up with the sponsors to ensure the assessments are submitted prior to the deadline date and therefore ensure the application completeness.

Task 3: Attach CVs and Supporting Documents

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments. Before preparing your proposal, please carefully review these instructions.

Candidates and supervisors are required to upload a Common CV validated for CIHR. All documents must be in PDF format. To create the CV:

  1. Log in to the Common CV system.
  2. Complete a current Common CV validated for CIHR.
  3. Click Finalize and Submit to generate your Common CV validated for CIHR in PDF format.
    Note: Draft CVs are not accepted by CIHR. Click Preview/Print to generate a Draft CV for review purposes only.
  4. Return to ResearchNet.

Uploading a CV

To upload a CV and related documents:

  1. Click Browse (to the right of the Curriculum Vitae field).
  2. Navigate to and select the appropriate CV file.
  3. Upload the Contributions Details attachments. Note, each of these attachments must be saved as individual PDF documents separate from the Common CV.
  4. Click Attach to upload the documents.

All documents must be in PDF format. The total size of the attached document(s) cannot exceed 30 MB.

Note: It is the Nominated Principal Applicant's responsibility to obtain a copy of the supervisor(s) Common CV and CV attachments and to upload these documents into his/her application, through his/her ResearchNet account.

Contributions Details - Attachments
Candidates and supervisors should include the following sections in your attachment files, as indicated below. These should be saved and uploaded as individual files.

1) Contributions Details - Most Significant Contributions

  • To be completed by the Supervisor only;
  • The applicant must leave this section blank;
  • Maximum of 1 page.

Identify a maximum of five (5) contributions, with a maximum length of one page, that best highlight your contribution or activities in the field of research, defining the impact and relevance of each. A contribution is understood to be a publication, literary or artistic work, conference, patent or intellectual property right, contract or creative activity, commission, etc. Your complete description may include the organization, position or activity type and description, from and to dates, and the basis on which this contribution is significant (i.e. relevance, target community and impact).

2) Contributions Details - Activities and Contributions

  • To be completed by the applicant and all supervisors;
  • Maximum of 1 page.

The activities and contributions defined in this section should include both academic and non-academic achievements, and their impacts.

Examples of entries follow. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is intended to provide guidance only.

  • Committee membership
  • For peer review committees, specify the year(s), the subject(s), and the funding organization
  • For thesis examination committees, indicate the author, title of thesis, and university
  • Consulting/contract activities
  • Research development
  • Research or technical reports
  • Supervisory experience (e.g. training of students)
  • Technology transfers (specify the nature of the activity and the target audience)
  • Involvement in public, private, or non-profit sector activities
  • Policy papers
  • Presentations as guest speaker (public or invited lectures)
  • Editorships (specify if editor-in-chief or member of the editorial team)
  • Evaluation of articles for scientific, literary or artistic journals (specify title of journal and the number of articles evaluated)
  • Knowledge translation/Dissemination activities
  • Trainees might also mention development of a graduate seminar program, journal club or similar activity

If some of these completed works do not seem to support the research theme of the team or centre to which you belong, provide the necessary explanations.

3) Contributions Details - Interruptions and Delays

  • To be completed by the applicant and all supervisors;
  • If there are none, leave this section blank;
  • Please clearly indicate the dates for each interruption/delay, as precisely as possible;
  • Maximum of 1 page.

Identify any administrative responsibilities, family or health reasons, or any other factors that might have delayed or interrupted any of the following: academia, career, scientific research, other research, dissemination of results, training, etc. Common examples of an interruption/delay might be a bereavement period following the death of a loved one, maternity/parental leave, or relocation of your research environment.

Descriptions might include the start and end dates, the impact areas, and the reason(s) or a brief explanation of the absence.

4) Contributions Details - Patents and Intellectual Property Rights

  • To be completed by the applicant and all supervisors;
  • If there are none, leave this section blank;
  • Maximum of 1 page.

This section should include details for patents and intellectual property rights for technology transfer, products, and services. Do not include publications in this section.

Descriptions might include the title, patents or intellectual property rights number and date, country(ies) of issue, the name of the inventors, as well as relevance or impact of the stated item.

5) Contributions Details - Publications List

  • To be completed by the applicant only. The supervisors must leave this section blank;
  • Candidates must, for each multi-authored publication, define their role in the publication and indicate their percent contribution to the team effort;
  • Candidates for training awards, with or without publications, are invited to comment on environmental factors that affected their capacity to publish;
  • No page limit.

Provide your most important publications and other research contributions as indicated, according to the categories below. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is only intended to provide guidance. Categories can be added as needed. Use only items pertinent to the application.

Categories

Use each applicable category as a different sub-title; maintain the same presentation order as shown below. In all instances, use the reference format for complete bibliographical notes of each original publication. Indicate the source of funding, if applicable.

  • Published refereed papers (original articles published in journals with editorial review)
  • Accepted or in press refereed papers (attach acceptance letters)
  • Submitted refereed papers
  • Published books and monographs (as author or editor)
  • Accepted or in press books and monographs
  • Submitted books and monographs
  • Published contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Accepted or in press contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Presentations as guest speaker (including conferences, presentations, demonstrations, workshops intended for a non-academic audience, according to the type of audience)
  • Published abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Accepted or in press abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Submitted abstracts (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Works including individual or collective literary or artistic works (e.g. novels, short stories, poetry, film, video, visual arts work, booklet, record, sound creation, book of artists, collection, exhibition catalogue, etc.)
  • Research reports or reports produced for the government
  • Articles in professional or cultural journals without review committee (including popularized texts)

NOTE: ResearchNet verifies the number of pages submitted for PDF attachments.

6) Contribution Details – Titles and Contributions

  • To be completed by the supervisor(s) only. The applicant must leave this section blank;
  • List the publication titles and research contributions over the past 5 years that will serve the candidate's application best. The supervisor(s) may use the categories above as sub-titles.
  • Maximum of 2 pages.
Proof of Citizenship or Permanent Residence

You MUST attach your proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident document.

The following are the acceptable forms of proof:

  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship;
  • Birth Certificate/ copy of an act issued by the proper provincial government authority;
  • Valid Passport;
  • Permanent Resident Card; 
  • Form IMM 1000;
  • Form IMM 5292;
  • Valid Indian Status Card.

Task 4: Enter Degree Information

This task collects information on any Degrees, Qualifications, Certificates and/or Licenses in progress as well as Degrees for which support is being requested.

Indicate if there is a degree in progress. You must specify at least one degree for which support is being requested to complete this task.

Task 5: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents

This task collects information related to your research project.

Project Title

Your Project Title is the way that CIHR identifies your research project. For this reason you cannot edit your Project Title after your application is submitted.

Lay Title

Provide a title for your project that is in a language clear to members of the general public. Lay titles are used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Lay Abstract

Describe your project in a way that is accessible to a lay audience. Be sure to indicate how your proposed research can improve personal health, the health of populations and/or the health delivery system. This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Institution Paid

Institution that will administer the funds for your project. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR website for more information.

Certification Requirements

If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with policies on ethical conduct of research. Relevant policies:

Note: Not all funding opportunities include or allow trials. The Clinical Trial and Randomized Controlled Trial questions below may or may not appear on your application - consult the funding opportunity for information regarding these questions.  For further information on the trials policy, refer to the TCPS 2-2nd edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Is this a clinical trial?
Indicate if this application includes a clinical trial. For more information regarding clinical trials, please refer to the policy on trials.

Does this Application Contain a Randomized Controlled Trial?
Indicate if this application includes a randomized controlled trial. Refer to the funding opportunity on specific requirements for randomized controlled trials for the program to which you are applying.

In order to carry out the proposed research in this application, is an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act required?  (Trainees are exempt and should answer No)
Indicate if your proposed research is such that an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) will be required. Consult the Department of Justice website for details regarding Section 56 of the CDSA and the Health Canada website for details regarding obtaining an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA.

Does this application propose research involving Aboriginal people? 
Indicate if your application proposes research involving Aboriginal people. This information will be used for statistical purposes only. Any questions or comments may be sent to the Aboriginal Ethics Guidelines mailbox at aeg-lda@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Are sex (biological) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if sex (biological) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Are gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if gender (socio-cultural) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Please describe how sex and/or gender considerations will be considered in your research proposal. If your study includes sex (biological) and/or gender (socio-cultural) considerations, then describe how they will be considered in your research proposal (limit of 2000 characters).

Aboriginal People

Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People, please consult Ethics of Health Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis People.

Percentage of Time Spent on Different Activities

Indicate the percentage of time to be spent on different activities. Awardees are expected to spend at least 75% of their time in research training (Research + Course work).

Project Descriptors

Provide keywords to describe your research project, the techniques and the methodologies it will employ, and the areas of interest.

Areas of Research

Select the areas of research that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Classification

Select the classifications that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Themes

Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of the grant application significantly overlaps more than one theme. Consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes on the CIHR website for more information.

Suggested Institutes

Select a primary CIHR Institute whose research mandate is related to this application's research area(s) and objective(s). Additional Institutes should only be selected if the substance of this grant application significantly overlaps with the research mandate of more than one Institute.

Attachments

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments.

Training Expectations

Provide an overview describing how the training you expect to acquire will contribute to your productivity and to the research goals you hope to achieve. Maximum 2 pages.

Research Proposal Summary

Include the specific hypothesis of the research and describe the candidate's role on the project. This summary should be written in general scientific language. The title and summary of the research project should be completed in collaboration with the proposed supervisor(s). Maximum 1 page including references (references can be written in a smaller font, however they must be legible).

Task 6: Enter Space, Facilities and Personnel Support

This task describes the space, facilities and personnel support that is available to the candidate.

Task 7: Enter Foreign Training Environment Rationale (for DFSA applicants only)

This task provides the rationale for training outside of Canada.

Task 8: Attach Other Application Materials

Upload the following additional application materials, as listed below, with your application package. All documents must be in PDF format.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts of the candidate's complete academic record to date are required (this includes all undergraduate and graduate studies, and any studies that may be ongoing).

CIHR considers transcripts issued by the Registrar's Office to the student to be official transcripts. Opening the envelope to scan the transcript will not render it unofficial for CIHR's purposes. Transcripts printed from the candidate's personal university account are not considered to be official.

Certified true copies of official transcripts will only be accepted for studies undertaken at institutions outside of North America. A certified true copy is defined as a copy of the original document (or of the original translated document if official transcript is not in either English or French) that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a commissioner of oath such as a notary or lawyer. The copy must bear the original signature and stamp of the official authority.

The required official transcripts must be provided by scanning both sides of each page (ensuring that the transcript text is horizontal) and uploading them in order from least recent to most recent as a single .pdf document not to exceed 30 MB under " Transcripts" in the "Attach Other Application Materials" task.  After scanning and uploading your transcript(s), please retain the original, paper copy(ies) since you may be asked to provide these to CIHR for verification purposes at any point in the process.

An official letter or a certificate of registration from the institution (Registrar's office or equivalent) is required in the following instances:

  • an official transcript is not available for a degree that is in progress or that has been completed;
  • an official transcript is not the most up-to-date version available (i.e. does not demonstrate that the candidate is currently enrolled as a student or has obtained the degree);
  • an official transcript does not display all of the sessions in which the candidate was enrolled in graduate studies (i.e. the candidate undertook graduate work in a certain session, but the session does not show up on the transcripts).

Rx&D Partnerships

For applications in partnership with an Rx&D member company: a paragraph describing Relevance to the Translational Objectives of CIHR.

Task 9: Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools (if applicable)

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools on CIHR's core competitions offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates.

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools are listed on the CIHR website throughout the year together with CIHR's other current funding opportunities. For requirements on individual Priority Announcements/Funding Pools, verify the "How to Apply" section of each Priority Announcement/Funding Pool on the Funding Opportunities page. This section will indicate if relevance information is required at the application stage.

Identify Priority Announcements/Funding Pools and Relevant Research Areas

To apply for funding through a Priority Announcement/Funding Pool, select the Priority Announcement/Funding Pool title from the list and the Relevant Research Area(s) addressed by your proposal, then press save. If a relevance form is required, a text box should appear. Complete the text box and press save again.

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools for research related to an Institute's mandate are not listed here. Your application will automatically be entered into these competitions if you have selected the Institute as a primary (or, in some instances, secondary) Institute under "Suggested Institutes" on the Project Descriptors page.

Task 10: Print, Scan and Upload Signature Pages

  1. Print the signature page PDF file from ResearchNet.
  2. Obtain all required signatures.

    Verify the requirements for signatures by consulting the sections titled Required Signatures on Application Forms and Meaning of Signatures on Application Forms in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide.

    Doctoral Research Awards applications must include signatures from the candidate, proposed supervisors and the institution.

    • If you are proposing research in Canada, both the authorized official at the Institution Paid and the authorized official at the Research Institution signatures are required, even if both Institutions are the same. In all cases, the signatures of all supervisors are required.
    • If you are proposing research outside of Canada, the signatures of all supervisors and the authorized official at the Research Institution are required.

      Please note that electronically submitting an application via ResearchNet constitutes a signature from the applicant. Therefore, no signature from the applicant is required on the signature page.

    • Scan and upload the signed signature pages including the routing slip in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

    Task 11: Preview Application Materials

    Review your application and print a PDF copy. If a task is incomplete, you must provide the missing information to successfully submit your application.

    Task 12: Consent and Submit Application

    Submit Application

    You must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to submit your application.

    You must click Submit to send your application to CIHR. If you have performed this task correctly, you will be sent an email entitled "Successful Submission - CIHR Doctoral Research Award / Soumission acceptée – IRSC Bourse de recherche au doctorat des IRSC". No further confirmation is provided.