STAGE Quebec offers an exceptional training environment in genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics, supported by mentors with internationally recognized expertise. Quebec has a longstanding strength in population genetics, particularly in studies of founder effects unique to the province. Its university network provides comprehensive programs in quantitative life sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, machine learning and AI, bioinformatics, genomics, population genetics, and human genetics.

Trainees also benefit from translational programs in clinical genetics, pharmacogenomics, precision medicine and genomic medicine. High-quality genetic and phenotypic data are available through Quebec-based cohorts such as CARTaGENE, the Montreal Heart Institute Biobank and numerous family cohorts, complemented by access to major national and international resources including CanPath, CLSA, UK Biobank and All of Us. This strong interdisciplinary and collaborative environment makes Quebec an ideal place for students to train in genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics.

• Clinical, Genetic, Molecular and Pharmaco Epidemiology
• Quantitative methods in Genetics and Genomics. E.g. Data Sciences, Statistical Genetics and Genomics, Computational Genetics and Genomics, Population Genetics.
• Biomedical Genetics. E.g. Clinical Genetics and Technology Platform Development.

• Bridging population genetics and clinical genomics.
• Methodologic opportunities and challenges in the genomic era: from studies of pedigrees to GWAS and beyond.
• Population and evolutionary genetics of common diseases.
• Characterization of genetic risk factors in complex traits and special populations.
• Evaluation and application of methods to assess genetic and environmental interactions in chronic diseases.
• Development of novel statistical methods for genetic analysis of individuals and/or families.
• Epigenetics and complex diseases.
• Incorporation of post-GWAS technologies into population health research: next generation sequencing.
• Development and implementation of population-based family designs.

It is the candidate's responsibility to secure at least two STAGE mentors to jointly supervise them in their project, one of whom will be referred to as your “Primary STAGE mentor” and will communicate with STAGE Québec. STAGE Québec emphasizes interdisciplinary representation among the mentors, so please ensure that your mentors have complementary research interests and expertise, and justify your choices in your one-page document on the inter- and cross-disciplinary aspects of your proposal.

• PhD Students: Two-years or until the completion of their PhD program, whichever comes first.
• Postdoctoral Fellows: Two-years.

STAGE will offer admission to successful applicants at the following stages of their education or career:

• Postdoctoral fellows from relevant disciplines (see Section D, below), and
• Full-time Ph.D. students enrolled in a doctoral program with a background in human genetics and strong computational and quantitative training.

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.

1. Summary of Proposed Research Project

• Length. Two letter-size pages. 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.

2. Inter- and cross-disciplinary nature of proposed research project

• 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.
• Please tell us how your proposed research and STAGE training will draw upon multiple disciplines. Specifically, describe how you will bring together approaches, insights, or techniques from your mentors or from key fields that feed into molecular epidemiology and statistical -omics. We encourage you to be as specific as possible—for example, will you be combining methods from public health, genetics, biostatistics, computational biology, or other areas?
• Highlight how this interdisciplinary approach will enrich your research and contribute to your professional growth. If possible, share how collaborating across disciplines has influenced your perspective so far, and explain how these experiences will benefit your future career in science and research.
• If there are unique opportunities, resources, or mentor expertise at STAGE that make your project particularly cross-disciplinary, please mention these as well.

3. PDF of up-to-date Canadian Common CV (CIHR Biosketch CV) or the newest Tri-agency CV.

• 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.

4. Letter from the Primary STAGE Mentor

• 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.

5. Graduate and/or undergraduate transcripts, as required

Electronic copies for all transcripts are acceptable. Single PDF file.

• PhD Students: Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• Postdoctoral Fellows: Graduate transcripts.

6. Supplementary Information

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 Section D of the Eligibility Table (see above), 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.

Esther Berzunza, Program Manager, CANSSI Ontario
Email: esther.berzunza@utoronto.ca