Call for Applications to the Fall 2025 Reviewer in Training Program
The CIHR Reviewer in Training (RiT) Program runs twice a year during the Spring and Fall Project Grant Competitions. It 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. RiT applicants have the choice of selecting between the role of Mentee or ECR Reviewer when they apply:
- ECRs that want to gain exposure to CIHR's peer review process with the guidance of a Mentor can apply to the Mentee role. In a supported way, Mentees will learn about CIHR's peer review process by completing practice reviews and having the opportunity to participate in discussions during the committee meeting. See the Apply as a Mentee section for information and how to apply.
- ECRs that hold at least one recent federally funded (or equivalent) peer reviewed grant as a Principal Investigator may choose to participate in the role of Mentee as above, or in the role of ECR Reviewer. Like regular reviewers, ECR Reviewers will be able to contribute to scoring and funding decisions, however they ease into CIHR's peer review process by having a reduced number of grants to review and an opportunity to present their reviews later in the meeting. See the Apply as an ECR Reviewer section for information and how to apply.
Note: RiT Mentee and ECR Reviewer applicants are free to take on other CIHR peer review activities that are outside of the CIHR Project Grant competition. Should you accept both RiT and another peer review committee invitation, you will be responsible for managing both commitments accordingly. Please note that CIHR will continue the use of virtual peer review, via Microsoft Teams, in this Project Grant competition.
Apply as a Mentee
Mentees participate in the Project Grant competition with the support of a Mentor. They conduct practice reviews on up to three applications, attend the peer review meeting in full, present one review, and participate in the committee discussions. To learn more, refer to the RiT Program webpage.
Approximately 120 Mentees spots are available to be selected by lottery, which represents up to two opportunities per Project Grant Program committee. Unselected applicants may be contacted with an opportunity to participate in the subsequent RiT program (e.g. Spring 2026) should there be an available spot in one of their preferred committees during the next round.
Important dates
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| August 6, 2025 | Application deadline to the Fall 2025 RiT Program |
| September 10, 2025 | Application deadline for the Fall 2025 Project Grant Competition |
| September 25, 2025 | Results deadline for the Fall 2025 RiT Program |
| November 12 – December 12, 2025 | Project Grant committee meetings (individual committee meeting dates to be confirmed with each participant, typically held between 10am-5pm). |
Eligibility
- Must meet CIHR's definition of an ECR on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (September 10, 2025);
- Must hold an independent research-related appointment at a CIHR eligible institution on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (September 10, 2025);
- Must not have previously participated in the RiT Program; and
- Must not have previously participated as a reviewer in CIHR's Project Grant competition.
Note: 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, however, they will not be selected for a committee that is adjudicating their submission.
How to apply
To express your interest in participating as a Mentee in this RiT Program, please click "Apply Online" below to fill out an application by August 6, 2025, 23:59 Eastern time.
Step 1
Collect the following before completing the application:
- Your CIHR PIN (if known);
- A PDF of your CIHR Biosketch CV to be completed using the Canadian Common CV interface (draft CCVs are not accepted);
- A letter from a CIHR eligible institution attesting:
- that you meet CIHR's definition of Early Career Researcher;
- that you hold an independent research-related appointment at the institution (letter must include institution name, your position title and start date); and
- A ranked list of up to two peer review committees – for which you have the appropriate expertise to review and in which you would be comfortable participating.
Letters of support must be recent, and repurposed letters such as job offer letters are not accepted.
Note: Eligibility for the Indigenous Health Research (IHR) committee is limited to Indigenous Researchers and/or those with experience in Indigenous Health Research.
Step 2
All submissions will receive an acknowledgement email within 5 business days confirming receipt of the application.
Step 3
Complete your Reviewer Profile along with the new Self-identification Questionnaire in ResearchNet within 5 business days of receiving the acknowledgement email. If you do not already have access to the Reviewer Profile, it will automatically be provided to you within 2 business days. Your application may not be considered without a completed Reviewer Profile. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that their application is complete.
Please consult the FAQ for help in completing the Self-identification Questionnaire. Application information submitted for this opportunity will be retained and may be shared with other areas of CIHR for consideration in similar opportunities.
All individuals who express their interest will be informed of the results by September 25, 2025. Upon receiving the invitation, you will have 2 business days to accept. If a response is not received by this time, we will offer this opportunity to the next candidate. If you have any questions, please contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Apply as an ECR Reviewer
ECR Reviewers participate in the same capacity as regular reviewers and will have access to all of the supportive resources that CIHR provides to committee members. They will have a reduced number of applications to review (up to five) and be able to present their assigned applications later in the meeting. To learn more, refer to the RiT Program webpage.
At least one ECR Reviewer will be selected per committee based on the expertise and eligibility of the applicants. Unselected applicants may be contacted with an opportunity to participate in the subsequent RiT program (e.g. Spring 2026) should there be an available spot in one of their preferred committees during the next round.
Important dates
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| August 6, 2025 | Application deadline to the Fall 2025 RiT Program |
| September 10, 2025 | Application deadline for the Fall 2025 Project Grant Competition |
| September 25, 2025 | Results deadline for the Fall 2025 RiT Program |
| November 12 – December 12, 2025 | Project Grant committee meetings (individual committee meeting dates to be confirmed with each participant, typically held between 10am-5pm). |
Eligibility
- Must meet CIHR's definition of an ECR on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (September 10, 2025);
- Must hold an independent research-related appointment at a CIHR eligible institution on the application deadline for the Project Grant Competition (September 10, 2025);
- Must have at least one recent federally funded peer reviewed research grant (or equivalent) as a Principal Investigator;
- Must not have previously participated in the RiT Program as an ECR Reviewer; and
- Must not have previously participated as a reviewer in CIHR's Project Grant competition.
Applicants who have previously participated as a Mentee, and now meet these criteria, are eligible to participate as an ECR Reviewer.
Note: 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, however, they will not be selected for committees that are adjudicating their submission.
How to apply
To express your interest in participating as an ECR Reviewer in this RiT Program, please click "Apply Online" below to fill out an application by August 6, 2025, 23:59 Eastern time.
Step 1
Collect the following before completing the application:
- Your CIHR PIN (if known);
- A PDF of your CIHR Biosketch CV to be completed using the Canadian Common CV interface (draft CCVs are not accepted);
- Details of one recent federally funded (or equivalent) peer reviewed grant that you hold as a Principal Investigator will need to be provided in the application process;
- A letter from a CIHR eligible institution attesting:
- that you meet CIHR's definition of Early Career Researcher;
- that you hold an independent research-related appointment at the institution (letter must include institution name, your position title and start date); and
- A ranked list of up to two peer review committees for which you have the appropriate expertise to review and in which you would be comfortable participating.
Letters of support must be recent, and repurposed letters such as job offer letters are not accepted.
Note: Eligibility for the Indigenous Health Research (IHR) committee is limited to Indigenous Researchers and/or those with experience in Indigenous Health Research.
Step 2
All submissions will receive an acknowledgement email within 5 business days of receipt of the application.
Step 3
Complete your Reviewer Profile along with the new Self-identification Questionnaire in ResearchNet within 5 business days of receiving the acknowledgement email. If you do not already have access to the Reviewer Profile, it will automatically be provided to you within 2 business days.
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that their application is complete. Please consult the FAQ for help in completing the Self-identification Questionnaire. Application information submitted for this opportunity will be retained and may be shared with other areas of CIHR for consideration in similar opportunities.
All individuals who express their interest will be informed of the results by September 25, 2025. Upon receiving the invitation, you will have 2 business days to accept. If a response is not received by this time, we will offer this opportunity to the next candidate. If you have any questions, please contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
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