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Saskatchewan Research Chairs

Purpose

The Saskatchewan Research Chairs Program aims to attract, support and retain top-quality research leaders who are working in a provincial priority area and who contribute to capacity building and knowledge sharing in those areas.

Scope

Research supported must be in a field of human health research. This is broadly defined as encompassing biomedical science, clinical research, health services and systems research, and research on the cultural, and social and environmental determinants of population health. Proposed research must align with the research priority areas and themes of the provincial Health Research Strategy.

Focus Area and Available Chairs

For each Chair opportunity, SHRF works with one or more partner agencies to develop the focus of the Chair and any additional requirements. These are defined in a formal partnership agreement and summarized in a Saskatchewan Research Chair Synopsis promoting each opportunity. SHRF will notify Saskatchewan institutions when a Chair opportunity comes available.

Important Dates

Letter of Intent:
4:30 p.m., March 15 or October 1(defined in the relevant Chair synopsis)
Nomination Submission:
4:30 p.m., normally March 15 or October 1(defined in LOI decision letter)
Funding Decision:
Normally within three months of the Nomination Submission Deadline
Funding Start Date:
Normally 6-12 months after the Funding Decision

Funding

For each available Chair opportunity, the award will:

• normally provide $200,000 per year for up to five years, with up to $100,000 per year from SHRF and the remainder from partner agencies (value may be higher for clinical researchers);
• renewable once for 5 years, subject to funding availability, with the renewal submission due in the last year of the first term; and
• provide a contribution to the award holder’s salary, funds to carry out research, and support for trainees working with the Chair holder.

Allowable Expenses

• salary for the award holder
• salaries for research technicians and assistants
• stipends for graduate students and other trainees
• materials, supplies and services
• field travel
• costs of linkage and exchange with relevant communities of practice to enhance knowledge creation, sharing and application

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates must:

• hold a faculty appointment at a Saskatchewan institution when the award commences;
• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident when the award commences;
• hold (or have held within the previous year) a major national multi-year and competitively peer-reviewed health research operating grant as the principal investigator at the time of application;
• commit at least 75 percent of their time to the proposed research;
• be, or plan to be, part of an active, productive research group or unit in Saskatchewan;
• demonstrate the ability to lead and be innovative while also working collaboratively with other researchers, community partners, and research trainees;
• have written support and commitment from the appropriate Dean, Department Head and/or Director at the employing institution(s) for the required time and the infrastructure (e.g., space, furniture, office equipment and administrative support) to support the activities outlined in the proposal; and
• not hold any other major salary award simultaneously.

Review

Letters of Intent will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• the degree to which the research environment at the institution can provide the necessary support for the Chair in terms of infrastructure, personnel, and key health service, community, and/or industry linkages;
• the strategic importance of the topic area to the institution; and
• the potential to build capacity in the focus area, both at the institution and in Saskatchewan, beyond what currently exists.

Nominations will be evaluated based on excellence and relevance, and considering the following criteria:

• strength and potential of the candidate, looking at: leadership potential, competitive funding success, publishing record, mentorship record, and linkages with relevant communities;
• quality and feasibility of the proposed research program looking at importance and originality, and clarity of goals and objectives;
• fit with the focus of the Chair and any additional requirements stated in the relevant Saskatchewan Research Chair Synopsis;
• potential for knowledge translation – e.g., sharing and using research knowledge to generate improvements in health and health-care;
• potential to build capacity in the focus area, looking at: ability to attract additional research funding, opportunities to attract top-quality students and trainees, work with relevant partners, and collaborate with other researchers from various disciplines.

Application

SHRF will not accept applications directly from individual researchers. Please see the selection process outlined below.  Be sure to check SHRF’s website for the latest information on available Chairs and related institutional contact information.

There are three stages to the selection process:

1. Letter of intent (LOI) stage: Saskatchewan institutions wishing to host a particular Saskatchewan Research Chair submit letters of intent (maximum 5 pages) to SHRF in which they describe:

• how the research environment at the institution will support the Chair in terms of infrastructure and personnel;
• strategic importance of the topic area to the institution;
• expected health service/community/industry linkages as they relate to the Chair’s focus area;
• how the Chair will build capacity for health research at the institution and in Saskatchewan beyond what currently exists; and
• expected process and timelines for recruiting potential candidates.

2. Nomination stage: Institutions that are successful at the letter of intent stage will recruit candidates and nominate their top candidate for the Chair Award. Working with the candidate, the institution will submit a nomination package (see our website for the nomination form) to SHRF that includes:

• the curriculum vitae (CV) of the candidate;
• a description of the candidate’s proposed research program to be undertaken with the support from the Chair award; and
• an institutional letter recommending the candidate for the Chair award. 

3. Results stage: If the candidate achieves a score of 3.5 or higher, the review committee will recommend the candidate for funding. Upon SHRF Board approval, the institution and the nominee will be notified of their success, and the institution will complete the recruitment and hiring process. SHRF will release award funding once the institution notifies SHRF that all requirements have been met and the candidate has taken up the position. If the candidate scores below 3.5, the institution will have 6 months to resubmit a nomination with the same candidate or another of their choosing.