CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program. General Guidelines

Transcription

1 CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program General Guidelines 1. Description 2. Eligibility 3. Initial Selection Process 4. Award Categories 5. Conditions of Awards 6. Applications to National Funding Organizations 7. Duration of Support 8. Career Award Progression 9. Salary Support 10. University Undertaking 11. Termination of Award 12. Sabbatical Leave 13. Leave of Absence 14. Transfers 15. Reporting Requirements 16. Renewal Process 1. Description The purpose of this program is to provide salary awards for investigators of outstanding ability carrying out research in the area of child and family health. It is intended for researchers in both the basic and clinical sciences who have developed a reputation for excellence in research. 2. Eligibility To be eligible to hold an Investigator Salary Award, a candidate must: Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status Hold a health professional or allied health professional degree, or a Ph.D. degree (or the equivalent) Have an academic appointment at a recognized university within the province of B.C. Be undertaking research in an area of child and family research relevant to the Child & Family Research Institute and the Children s & Women s Health Centre of BC Under normal conditions be geographically located at one of the institutions affiliated with the Child & Family Research Institute (B.C. Children s Hospital, B.C. Women s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children) Have shown promise of attaining competence as an independent investigator Not be registered for a higher degree or undertake such studies during the period of the award CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program - General Guidelines 1 of 5

2 3. Initial Selection Process Requests for applications will be announced from time to time depending on the availability of funds. New applications must be supported by the major research Programs/Themes of the Institute to support recruitments in line with their strategic priorities. Applications from Clinical Departments based at the Children s and Women s Health Campus must be sponsored by one or more of the Research Institute s main Programs/Themes, and fit within their strategic priorities. The Executive Director and Scientific Director of the Research Institute will review applications with input from the Scientific Steering Committee, the University Department Head and Hospital leadership. The following criteria will be used to assess candidates for Investigator Salary Awards: Potential to develop and sustain an independent research program that will be recognized as excellent nationally and internationally. Ability to compete for an external salary award. Fit within the strategic priorities of the main research Programs/Themes of the institute. 4. Award Categories Clinician Scientist: These awards are offered to clinician-scientists who hold an full time academic appointment, who have indicated a high level of potential and/or proven scientific productivity to carry out independent research activity. Scientist Level 1 (Scholar): These awards are for investigators who have recently obtained a full time academic appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor. Individuals must demonstrate an ability to initiate and conduct independent and collaborative research, as well as an interest in and ability, or potential ability, to train future investigators. Scientist Level 2 (Senior Scholar): These awards are for investigators with an excellent track record of independent research over several years, who play an active role in training future investigators. Individuals must hold a full time academic appointment at the rank of Associate Professor. Scientist Level 3 (Distinguished Scholar): This is the most senior career award offered to individuals who hold a full time academic appointment at the rank of Professor. Individuals must be established, internationally recognized scientific leaders in their fields of study. Their stature should be apparent by the quality of their publication records; the originality and vision of their research proposals; the quality and number of their trainees; the ability to attract and retain research grants and the leadership qualities they exhibit locally, nationally and internationally. 5. Conditions of Awards Awardees are expected to devote at least 70% of their time or at least 30 hours per week (for Clinician Scientists) to research. Awardees are expected to acknowledge the support of this program in publications and in public presentations made during or resulting from the tenure of the award. Award recipients are also expected to complete and update a researcher profile on the CFRI website. 6. Applications to National Funding Organizations CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program - General Guidelines 2 of 5

3 Award recipients are required to apply for and accept, upon offer, career/salary awards from major national/international peer-reviewed funding organizations. If the value of the national/international peer-reviewed career/salary award is less than that of a CFRI Investigator award, recipients are eligible for a top-up to a value equal to that of the CFRI award they held. If the value of the national/international peer-reviewed career/salary award is greater than that of the CFRI investigator award, then the CFRI will stop the clock on the Investigator award and will commit to funding the balance (the remaining number of years/months) of the CFRI award at the termination of the national funding. 7. Duration of Support Clinician Scientist Awards will be for a fixed term of 3 years with the possibility of an additional 2 years of support dependant upon successful internal review after the first 2 years. Scientist Awards will normally be for a period of five years. Shorter fixed terms of 2 or 3 years may be awarded at the discretion of the Institute Board. 8. Career Award Progression While the criteria for the awards are tied to the academic rank, individuals do not progress to the next level of award at the time of their academic promotion. Progression from one category of award to the next is determined by their academic rank at the time the award takes effect. The value is then fixed for the term of the award. 9. Salary Support Award recipients are not employees of the Child & Family Research Institute. Awards are a contribution to the overall salary negotiated and set by the host University Department, and will be subject to the approval of the Institute Board of Directors. The value of each award is fixed and is tied to the respective award category at the time of appointment or effective date of the renewal. In addition to the fixed rate contribution to the salary, a contribution to benefits costs at a rate of 13% of the award amount will be paid to the award recipient s institution. The host university will be advised of any changes to the contribution levels provided by the Institute. The Child & Family Research Institute is not responsible for any amounts in excess of the award amount. CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program - General Guidelines 3 of 5

4 The values per annum (before the contribution to benefits) are as follows: Clinician Scientist $115,000 Scientist Level 1 (Scholar) $ 80,000 Scientist Level 2 (Senior Scholar) $ 95,000 Scientist Level 3 (Distinguished) $115,000 The contribution provided by the CFRI may be supplemented at the discretion of the host University; however, awardees are not permitted to hold two major salary support awards at one time. Awardees must inform the Institute in writing of any other funding (source and amount) obtained to provide salary support. Consideration will be given to requests to retain a portion of the CFRI award. 10. University Undertaking The host university must undertake to provide adequate research facilities and mentorship to administer the award in accordance with the Institute s stipulations. 11. Termination of Award An award may be terminated at any time by the awardee, the University or the CFRI. In the event of an award termination on the part of CFRI resulting from an unsuccessful application for renewal or unsatisfactory mid term progress review, at least one year s notice will be provided. 12. Sabbatical Leave Recipients of Senior Clinician Scientist and Scientist Awards are eligible for sabbatical leave in accordance with the policies of the host university, to a maximum of 12 months leave for each six-year period as a member of faculty. If sabbatical leave is granted, the individual may be eligible for continuation of the Institute s contribution to salary support during the leave. Awardees wishing to take such leave should present to the Director of the Institute, suitable proposals outlining their plans for the period, the research benefits that might be derived from the leave, and the provisions made for the operation of their laboratories in their absence. The investigators must also submit evidence that their proposal meets with the approval of their host university. An application for sabbatical leave, in the form of letter to the Director of the CFRI, should be submitted at least six months before the leave is to be taken. Final approval for continued funding will be made by the Board of the Institute. 13. Leave of Absence The general policies of the institution relating to ordinary vacation, extended illness, maternity, family or other types of leave of absence shall be applied to recipients of a salary support award. The Dean of the faculty, or Head of the institution, is required to notify CFRI of any leave to be taken by awardees, apart from ordinary vacation leave, in order that adjustments can be made to the dates of tenure of the salary award. CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program - General Guidelines 4 of 5

5 14. Transfers CFRI Investigator Salary Awards are not transferable to institutions outside of B.C. 15. Reporting Requirements A mid-term progress report is required by the Institute following the end of year 2 of the award. This report must highlight research progress during the initial 2 years of the award. Details must also be provided on publications and grant support obtained during this period of time. 16. Renewal Process An application for renewal will be provided within 24 months of the termination date of their award. Three months will be provided for completion of these applications. Completed applications will be submitted to 3 external reviewers as well as to an internal review panel within six months. Recommendations concerning renewal will be submitted by the Internal Review Committee to the Board of the Child & Family Research Institute for consideration and final approval. If performance and progress is deemed unsatisfactory, investigators will be given notice funding will not renewed beyond the term awarded. CFRI Investigator Salary Award Program - General Guidelines 5 of 5