CIHR – Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery

Deadlines

Academic Unit: Inquire within unit

Memorial Deadline: Friday 28th, April 2023

External Deadline: Wednesday 3rd, May 2023

Description

While Canada is a diverse country, academic data shows its science and medicine faculties are less diverse than the students and trainees in these programs.^1,2,3 In addition to the diversity gap, gaps in equity and inclusion in Canada’s academic and health system institutions continue to create barriers to the hiring, advancement, health, and livelihood of individuals from underrepresented^a groups.^4,5,6,7,8 Underrepresentation is especially evident using an intersectional lens.^b

The transition from trainee to faculty member is a major attrition point,^9,10,11 particularly for individuals from underrepresented groups in Canada,^{12,13,14,15,16,17} that perpetuates a lack of diversity in academic faculty and leadership. Academic career pathway simulation data shows that faculty diversity is increased as more postdoctoral candidates from underrepresented groups successfully transition to faculty positions.¹⁸ More diverse teams can offer more creative and productive scientific innovations than more homogeneous ones,^19,20,21,22 and racial diversity has been shown to have the strongest correlation with scientific impact.²³ Diversity also improves the performance of senior leadership teams.^24,25,26

The first launch of the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI; pronounced “ready”) Early Career Transition Award (2022) will facilitate the transition of promising researchers who self-identify as Black^c (any gender) or racialized^d women^e into independent research faculty positions in Canadian academic, health system and research institutions. Applicants may be post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, or research associates. Racialized women and Black people are among the most underrepresented in science and medicine faculties in Canadian academic institutions,^27,28,29 have the highest unemployment rates compared to non-racialized professors,³⁰ and encounter systemic barriers, discrimination, and inequity within academia.^{31,32,33,34,35}

The CIHR REDI Award Program aligns with Government of Canada and Tri-agency priorities to address systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination in Canadian institutions through an intersectional lens,^36,37,38 tackle systemic barriers that limit the full participation of all talented individuals,³⁹ and increase equitable and inclusive participation in the research system.⁴⁰ It also reflects the commitment of CIHR^41,42 and partners to foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive research funding system.

CIHR plans to relaunch this program in future years with each round of CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Awards open to specific underrepresented groups, recognizing existing inequitable systems produce different impacts and outcomes for different groups of people. Future competitions will benefit from the early learnings of the 2022 funding opportunity, community consultations, and the continued accrual of self-identification data from Canadian academic, health systems and research institutions.

Important Dates

For more information, please visit ResearchNet.

Funding Sources

Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)