Read all requirements and then submit a completed Application Form.
Candidates are responsible for selecting, contacting, and securing the commitment of a primary and two other mentors to jointly supervise them in a STAGE collaborative transdisciplinary research project.
The primary mentor must be willing to provide, in writing, their commitment to supervise and to guide the research work of the candidate on a STAGE-related project. Although candidates must secure the primary mentor’s commitment at the application stage, obtaining a primary mentor’s commitment does not guarantee admission to STAGE.
Only PDF files accepted, maximum size is 2MB per file.
Your mentorship panel must include three mentors from each of the program’s three main disciplines of genetic epidemiology research (see Mentors by Discipline), where at least one mentor belongs to subsections 1.1 and/or 2.1.
Only PDF files accepted, maximum size is 2MB per file.
Candidates must assemble all of the following documents and upload* them to the application form.
Only the primary mentor’s letter is to be completed and submitted online by the mentor. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their application is complete and submitted online by the competition deadline.
*Candidates do not need to send in hard copies of their supporting documents.
Length. one letter-size page. 2.54 cm (1 inch) margin around the page. 12-point Times New Roman, black font. Single-spaced. No condensed type or spacing. Single PDF file.
Content. Using the following headings, describe the proposed research in enough detail to allow informed assessment by the admissions committee members. This summary should be written in general scientific language.
Proposed research background. Present, concisely, your project’s general objective and its specific aims. Include the scientific background, significance, originality, and anticipated contribution to the knowledge of the project; in other words, state what is the research problem, why this is an important research question, and why you are undertaking this project to address it.
Methodology. Describe and justify, for each of your project’s specific aims, your choice of specific instruments, strategies, key activities, expected outcomes, and timelines, including, for example, methodological approaches and procedures for data collection. For a statistical research project, for example, provide an outline of the proposed theoretical and computational approaches and any specific techniques required to develop and evaluate proposed new analytic methods, including critical features in the design of simulation studies and in the application of the methods to available or anticipated study data. In other words, state why your proposed methodology is ideal to achieve each of your project’s specific aims.
Candidate. Describe your role in the project and how it will prepare you for career goals in the fields of genetic epidemiology or statistical genetics. Explain the relationship and relevance of the proposed research to your long-term research goals. Describe how the proposed project relates to experiences and insights gained from earlier research experience.
References. If you'd like to include references with your application, please add them as separate pages to the Proposed Research Project section. This won't count toward the one-page limit for that section.
Length: half letter-size page. 2.54 cm (1 inch) margin around the page. 12-point Times New Roman, black font. Single-spaced. No condensed type or spacing. Single PDF file.
Describe the Inter- and cross-disciplinary features of your proposed research project and/or STAGE training, i.e. how will your research program incorporate inter- and cross-disciplinary research in Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology, Statistical Genetics and Genomics, and Bio-Medical Genetics? Be as specific as possible.
Single PDF file.
To generate the required Biosketch CV you will need to register with the Common CV Network and request a CIHR PIN. PIN requests are processed during regular business hours (7:00 am to 5:00 pm) Monday to Friday. One working day is typically required to process PIN requests. However, longer processing times may be required during peak periods of operation. We strongly recommend if you are unfamiliar with the Canadian Common CV that you read the instructions posted here.
A brief letter from the candidate's Primary STAGE Mentor supporting the candidate's application and agreeing to supervise and to work with the candidate on the proposed research project. A link will be emailed to the Primary Mentor from the on-line application portal.
Electronic copies for all transcripts are acceptable. Single PDF file.
PhD Students
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Graduate transcripts.
Postdoctoral Fellows Only
Length: Up to one letter-size page. 2.54 cm (1 inch) margin around the page. 12-point Times New Roman, black font. Single-spaced. No condensed type or spacing. Single PDF file.
STAGE has a significant focus on quantitative skills, thus postdoctoral applicants from disciplines not listed in this table (see Item F.), or whose research or scholarship deviates from the program’s research themes, must submit, as part of their application, a compelling description of their capabilities, substantiated by experience, and documented by examples of their work.
Upon receipt of the application, an acknowledgment of receipt will be emailed to the applicant.
4 to 6 Weeks from Deadline
CANSSI Ontario STAGE admission committee evaluates and decides on applications.
6 to 8 Weeks from Deadline
Notice of decisions are emailed to applicants with cc to their corresponding primary supervisors.
8 to 12 Weeks from Deadline
The names and details of applicants who accept the offer of admission will be announced on the CANSSI Ontario STAGE and CANSSI Ontario websites and social media channels.
Applications will be evaluated by the STAGE admissions panel, which will then decide on admission to the program and whether research allowances or other types of support will be awarded.
The panel typically reviews applications within 3-4 weeks from the application deadline. Funding decisions will be disclosed to each candidate and their corresponding primary mentor by email. The names of successful candidates will be subsequently and publicly announced on the STAGE website.