Research Scholars (CB) - 2025-2026

1. OBJECTIVES

This program is designed to facilitate the recruitment of qualified researchers seeking to begin or continue a career as independent researcher in human health. With this program, the FRQS intends to promote continuity in human health research in Québec and ensure that high-caliber scientists are available to meet the needs of universities, hospitals and industries.

Applicants must hold a doctorate in research or a professional degree in a health-related field at the doctoral level and work as full-time researchers (at least 75% of their working hours).

Note : 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.

This program is divided into four research areas and the applicants holding a doctoral degree or a professional degree in health sciences are required to choose one of the following areas:

a)     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.

b)     Clinical and epidemiological science

In general, this area includes all biological, medical and epidemiological research that involves the participation of human subjects.

c)      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..

d)     Health and technologies

The health and technologies research area focuses on research whose main objective is to create, develop or evaluate innovative technologies applicable to human health such as biomaterials, biomechanics, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, artificial intelligence, nanomedicine, nanotechnologies, regenerative medicine, electrophysiology, radiobiology, telemedicine and health information sciences, rehabilitation engineering, etc. Please note that projects using new technologies to meet other objectives should be submitted to the other research areas, according to the objectives and the corresponding methodologies.

NB : it is possible to combine two areas of research; for example, basic science and clinical and epidemiological science may intersect in research projects that involve human subjects..

After reviewing the pre-requests, 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. Applicants are invited to contact the FRQS for questions.

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligible applicants must :

• Hold a doctorate in research or a professional human health diploma.
• Devote at least 75% of their working hours to research (full-time)
• Meet one of the criteria relating to research status (see the Definitions section of the Common General Rules):
  • University researcher
  • University clinician researcher
• Be employed by a managing institution at the inception of the award. The managing institution must confirm that the person is employed continuously during the whole funding (including the validity of appropriate visas, if applicable).
• Have permission from the director of the department or research director of an institution recognized by the FRQS to conduct research activities
• Obtain the university approval required by the FRQS. This approval is done in the institutional portal at a date that is determined by the university, and which is before the FRQS deadline (see section on Funding)
• Must have a commitment from the university that the applicant will be appointed to a university position at the beginning of the award
• Must comply with the provisions of the Québec Health Insurance Act (section XII, articles 95 to 104) regarding research scholarships, particularly the article 96

« No one shall be entitled to a research scholarship if, in the opinion of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé under the Act respecting the Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation.” (chapter M-30.01):

•     he/she is not domiciled in Québec

•     he/she does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec

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

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.

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 if they:

• 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)
• have received an award with more than 12 months remaining as of October 1, 2024
• Hold the Canada Research Chair

3. FUNDING APPLICATION

The procedures for submitting the application are explained in the section 3.2 of the CGR.

The application process is comprised of two distinct and mandatory steps:

1. Submission of a pre-request
2. Submission of the full application

Before completing a pre-request or a funding application, the applicant must create an FRQnet user account on the Fonds website, if this has not already been done.

The only accepted font is Times New Roman, size 12.

Regarding the language of submitted forms and documents, please refer to section 3.6 of the CGR.

Applicants will not be contacted to provide the missing documents or information. No extension will be granted. After the deadline application, forms that are not already submitted will be automatically rejected.

Important : In order to get the university approval, the pre-request or the full 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, must be done before the FRQS submission deadline.

FIRST STEP : PRE-REQUEST
The pre-request allows the FRQS to establish applicant’s eligibility. It allows also to check the type of program and research area chosen by the applicant and assign the applicant to a preliminary category based on experience to recruit peer-review committees. Scientific reviews are not based on the pre-request.

Research experience

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, 2025) 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 consider 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 Toolbox.

The pre-application form will be available under “Available competitions” in the FRQnet E-portfolio. It must be submitted before 4 p.m. on August 22, 2024, by the institution.

Documents needed to be uploaded in the pre-request:

• Canadian Common CV Funding CV version for the FRQS – updated since June 2023
• Detailed contributions updated since June 2024 (attachment required through the FRQS electronic portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), see the Guidelines for the CV attachment available in the Toolbox
• 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 FRQS will confirm by e-mail whether or not applicants can submit a full application in September.

SECOND STEP: FUNDING APPLICATION
The funding application form will be available in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio under “Available competitions” in September on the date mentioned in the email. Only those applicants who have duly completed and submitted a pre-request form by the deadline will have access to this form.

Documents required with the form:

• Canadian Common CV (Funding CV version for the FRQS – updated since June 2023)
• Detailed contributions updated since June 2023 (attachment required through the FRQS electronic portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the Guidelines for the CV (insérer le lien) attachment available in the Toolbox
• Copies of award notices for scholarships and grants received in the last 4 years, with the exception of scholarships and grants obtained from the FRQS

Directors of university research centres or departments

• Electronic form 

Two respondents (for Junior 1 applicants only)

• 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.

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

Under no circumstances an applicant should create an account in the name of another person (respondent, supervisor, etc.) to submit the documents. If they do, his or her application will be considered ineligible.

Mentor (for Junior 1 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.

Resubmission

If the application is a resubmission in the same category, the candidate must indicate it in the form and include the answers of the previous reviewers. The application will be rejected if it is not mentioned.

Applicants will be notified by e-mail, no later than November, whether or not their application has been accepted for peer review.

4. EVALUATION

Process

All applications are reviewed 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 appoint 8 review committees for this program:

• Committee 1: Junior 1, basic science
• Committee 2: Junior 2, basic science
• Committee 3: Senior, basic science
• Committee 4: Junior 1, clinical and epidemiological
• Committee 5: Junior 2 et Senior, clinical and epidemiological
• Committee 6: Junior 1, health and society
• Committee 7: Junior 2 et Senior, health and society
• Committee 8: Junior 1, Junior 2 et Senior, health and technology

Criteria

In addition to the specific evaluation criteria, the candidate must demonstrate the ability or potential:

• to be a competitive researcher at the national and international levels
• to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines to the satisfaction of the FRQS

Different criteria are used based on the area of research; its relative importance in the overall review by the peer-review committees may vary depending on the classification level – Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior:

• the review of the applicant’s research training and proposed research project is of greater relative importance at the Junior 1 level
• the review of the applicant’s outreach and productivity in terms of training students and obtaining grants assumes increasing importance at the Junior 2 and Senior levels

The evaluation criteria for each level (Junior 1, Junior 2 and Senior) are detailed in the Evaluation grids (see Toolbox).

5. FUNDING AND CONDITIONS

Effective starting date : between July 1^st and October 1^st, 2025

The pay scale for Research Scholars is set by the government of Québec and appears in the article 52 of the section XVI of the Bylaws to the Québec Health Insurance Act. From 30 005 $ à 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.

Junior 1:  4 years for all the applicants

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.

Junior 2:  4 years or less, depending on the years of experience

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.

Senior:    4 years or less, depending on the years of experience

For the Senior category, the FRQS pays the award recipient in decreasing amounts. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the host institution commits to supplement the award amount and to integrate the applicant for a full-time permanent position.

8 years of experience 100 %
9 years of experience 100 %
10 years of experience 75 %
11 years of experience 50 %

The conditions regarding the announcement and management of funding are set out in the CGR (parental leave, sick leave, other sources of funding, reports : section 5 to section 8).

Sabbatical leave

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, Junior 2 – 4 years and Junior 2 – 5 years 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

Starting grant Junior 1

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. 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.

Restrictions

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. However, when the Junior 1 FRQS scholarship is awarded, candidates who hold these following FRQSC and FRQNT grants will have their grant cancelled by the appropriate Fonds:

• FRQSC – Research Support for New Academics
• FRQSC – Research-Creation Support for New Academics
• FRQNT – Research Support for New Academics

Grant holders and the individuals who manage the grants are jointly responsible for advising the FRQS that two grants were awarded.

Eligible expenses

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

Non-eligible expenses

• 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 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. Any balance remaining after the last year of funding or after the approved extension must be returned to the FRQS.

University authorities’ agreement

Approval

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 Required Documents section).

Salary supplement

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.

Confirmation of position – Senior Research Scholars

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).

Benefits and laboratory or research premises

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.

Protected time for research

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 75% of his/her professional activities to research.

The FRQS encourages awardees to conduct and participate in knowledge mobilization activities (transfer, sharing, development, enhancement and dissemination) with practice settings and the public, when such activities are relevant. To learn more, please click on the following link: Mobilization of Knowledge.

6. EFFECTIVE DATE

These rules apply to the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

7. OTHER INFORMATION

Research location

Choice of research location

• FRQS funded centre, an institution administered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) or a Quebec 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.

Change of research location

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).

As stated in section 6.5 of the Common General Rules, any change in an award holder’s status must be reported in the Manage My Funding module of the ePortfolio.

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.

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:

• the participation of human beings.
• the use of human biological material (parts, products, tissues, cells, genetic material from the human body, from a living or deceased person).
• assisted procreation activities or the use of embryos derived therefrom, within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities related to assisted procreation (RLRQ chapter A-5.01).
• the use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data from human beings.

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.

SUSTAINABLE HEALTH (in French only)

8. IMPORTANT CHANGES SINCE THE LAST COMPETITION

• Starting with this contest, the format of the program rules has been modified.
• The Sustainable health section added to additional information

9. AWARDS IN PARTNERSHIP

The FRQS offers several 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 though a three-step process:

• The applicant selects, in the partnership section of the application form, one or more partners whose targeted research areas correspond to the aim of their application.
• 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.
• After evaluation of the applications by a committee of experts or peers, those who have 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 obtaining it, you agree that the partner communicates with you for activities related to the award.