PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECOSYSTEM (PHARE) TRAINING PROGRAM Postdoctoral, Ph.D. and Master s Support

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1 PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECOSYSTEM (PHARE) TRAINING PROGRAM Postdoctoral, Ph.D. and Master s Support Introduction Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem General Description: This Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (CIHR- STIHR) funded graduate training program draw s skills from across Canada to respond to changing demographics and technology and address the health challenges facing persons living in rural Canada as they seek a healthy, safe and sustainable lifestyle. The health of rural people and the environment encompasses a wide range of disciplines. These may include, but not confined to epidemiology, hydrology, immunology and microbiology, molecular biology, agricultural sciences, engineering, occupational health and hygiene, toxicology, cellular biology, health policy, health law, political science, population health, and other related disciplines. Developing a critical mass of Canadian and international trained researchers with a strong training background in research, ethics, knowledge translation and the strengths of interdisciplinary research will assist in supporting the challenges ahead. The PHARE program provides scholarship support to graduate students at the Master s, PhD and postdoctoral level. It is a virtual program, accessible through any eligible Canadian University. Objective and Aims The overall objectives of the PHARE program include: 1. To significantly expand our knowledge base. 2. To increase research capacity 3. To expand knowledge translation and knowledge exchange This will be accomplished through the following interdependent aims: i) building community ii) building skills iii) building substantive knowledge; iv) facilitating research and research practices v) increasing the capacity/development of new mentors, scientists and educators in the Canadian and global health research community in areas related to public, agricultural, rural and ecosystem health vi) fostering a transdisciplinary approach to this work.

2 The Analytic Framework Holistic Approach to Health and Safety in Agriculture in Canada Workers Intensive Agriculture Production General Public Improved health for workers and general public Health Surveillance Accredited Health Programs Knowledge Translation Safer production methods Real World (In Vivo) Simulated World (In Vitro) Investigations: Knowledge Exchange Cross-sectional Shift change Exposure assessment Identification of mechanisms Basic and Applied Research Engineering Controls Protective Devices Vaccine Development Themes Applicants will devote their research activities to one or more of the following interrelated themes. THEME 1: What we breathe. Genetic and environmental determinants of lung dysfunction. The focus of this theme is to build for the future on our collective platform of effects, mechanisms, and control of exposures to agricultural workers as a result of intensive animal, grain and other production and exposures to the community at large to inhaled biological materials such as dusts, microbes, antigens and bacterial products such as endotoxin. THEME 2: What we eat and drink. Determinants of infections. The emphasis of this theme is on the risk to public health as a result of infections transmitted to people due to food safety issues and water contamination. It also explores the potential development of vaccines to reduce colonization in animals, and thus infections in humans. THEME 3: How we work. Occupational health issues. This theme seeks to build tomorrow s research and training programs involving determinants of health effects resulting from injury events, noise, vibration, crop protection and enhancement agents and other exposures related to the work environment. THEME 4: How we live. Health services and social issues. This theme seeks to build a line of integrated research with an emphasis on vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children and new workers. It covers the aspects of health services, including mental health, related to agricultural and rural communities. 2

3 PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECOSYSTEM (PHARE) TRAINING PROGRAM Guidelines: Postdoctoral Fellowship Support The CIHR-funded Strategic Training Program, Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE) and its supporting partners, invite applications for Postdoctoral Support. Eligibility Fellowship Support is available to applicants who are undertaking research at an eligible Canadian university, provided their program and project and the program of their supervisor is relevant to PHARE. A candidate must hold, or be completing a PhD, M.D., D.V.M or other similar level degree. For individuals that do not hold a health professional degree, the support will take effect only after the recipient has completed all requirements of the PhD program, including the oral examination. All applicants are highly encouraged to have their PhD thesis deposited before submitting an application to PHARE. Candidates with more than five years of post-phd research training by the competition deadline are not eligible to apply for this support. Any interruption in a candidate s post-phd research training will be taken into account in determining eligibility. Individuals wishing to undertake post-phd research training in the same research environment (e.g., same department, supervisor or co-supervisor) in which they received their PhD will be considered ineligible for this award. The yearly deadline for receipt of applications is May 31. Stipends Successful applicants will receive a maximum of $37,500 per annum plus a maximum yearly research allowance of $2,500, for a maximum of one year. Date of Appointment Awards may start on September 1 following PHARE s offer but must be taken up within nine months after the original award date. Termination of Appointment The support may be terminated at any time by the appointee, the institution, PHARE or CIHR. The onus is on the awardee to notify PHARE immediately of any change in status. 3

4 Immigration Foreign candidates coming to Canada to take up an award are personally responsible for obtaining an entry visa into Canada from a Canadian embassy. Foreign candidates coming to Canada also need to provide evidence of a recent TOEFL (or equivalent) exam and score. Applications Applicants are invited to use the application process outlined on the PHARE web page at: A complete application consists of the following: 1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) - PHARE CV Module and CV attachments [publications, abstracts and presentations, proofs of submissions to journals, acceptance for papers] 2. Application Form and the following appended documents: a. Letter of support from supervisor o A description of the support in terms of research, grant writing and publication o A description of the space, facilities and personnel support which will be available to the candidate o A description of the candidate s skills and abilities, research project relevancy to PHARE, and rational for applicant to receive a PHARE Scholarship b. CIHR CV from Supervisor and CV attachments [publications, significant contributions, contributions, activities, etc.] c. Other documents [TOEFL] 3. Three Review Assessments each consisting of a Rating Form and an Explanation of Ratings o each assessment should be in a sealed envelope with the reviewer s signature across the seal 4. Original Transcripts for all university study taken Items 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c please submit online. Items 3 and 4 please submit by mail to address below. Administrator, PHARE Program Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) P.O. Box 120, 103 Hospital Drive, RUH Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Canada 4

5 PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECOSYSTEM (PHARE) TRAINING PROGRAM Guidelines: Ph.D. and Master s Support The CIHR-funded Strategic Training Program, Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE) invites applications for Ph.D. and Master s students. Eligibility This PHARE Scholarship Support Program is available to students who are undertaking research at an eligible Canadian university and devoting minimally.75 time to their studies. The program and project of the student and the program of their supervisor must be relevant to PHARE. To be considered eligible to apply for Master s support, a candidate must be registered full-time in the second year of a Master s program. [Students from the province of Quebec will be considered eligible in the first year of a Master s Program in which research is a major component.] To be considered eligible to apply for Ph.D. support, a candidate must be registered full-time in a program. Priority for funding is given to students in the first three years of their PhD program. The yearly deadline for receipt of applications is May 31. Stipends Successful Ph.D. applicants will receive a maximum of $21,000 per annum for a maximum of two years. Successful Master s students will receive a maximum of $18,000 per annum for a maximum of one year. Date of Appointment Awards may start September 1 following PHARE s offer and must be taken up within six to nine months after the original award date. Termination of Appointment The support may be terminated at any time by the appointee, the institution, PHARE or CIHR. The onus is on the awardee to notify PHARE immediately of any change in status. 5

6 Immigration Foreign candidates coming to Canada to take up an award are personally responsible for obtaining an entry visa into Canada from a Canadian embassy. Foreign candidates coming to Canada also need to provide evidence of a recent TOEFL (or equivalent) exam and score. Applications Applicants are invited to use the application process outlined on the PHARE web page at: A complete application consists of the following: 1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) PHARE CV Module and CV attachments [publications, abstracts and presentations, proofs of submissions to journals or acceptance for papers, etc.] 2. Application Form and the following appended documents: a. Letter of support from supervisor o A description of the support in terms of research, grant writing and publication o A description of the space, facilities and personnel support which will be available to the candidate o A description of the candidate s skills and abilities, research project relevancy to PHARE, and rational for applicant to receive a PHARE Scholarship. b. CIHR CV from Supervisor and CV attachments [publications, significant contributions, contributions, activities, etc.] c. Other documents [letter of admission to a graduate college, TOEFL] 3. Three Review Assessments each consisting of a Rating Form and an Explanation of Ratings o each assessment should be in a sealed envelope with the reviewer s signature across the seal 4. Original Transcripts for all university study taken Items 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c please submit online. Items 3 and 4 please submit by mail to the address below: Administrator, PHARE Program Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) P.O. Box 120, 103 Hospital Drive, RUH Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Canada 6

7 PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL ECOSYSTEM (PHARE) TRAINING PROGRAM Guidelines: All Supported Trainees If funded as a trainee of the PHARE Training program you will be generally known as a CIHR Strategic Training Fellow in PHARE. Recipients of the PHARE graduate training scholarship are required: (1) to acknowledge PHARE, CIHR, Institutes and Partners in written communication of research results produced from your project. (2) to participate actively in a web based interdisciplinary seminar (September to April) which will be offered monthly during the period of your PHARE scholarship; (3) to take the 3 credit unit PHARE online class, AGMED offered annually each January to April, based out of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA), University of Saskatchewan; (4) to make a presentation at the Annual PHARE conference each year of your funding. Registration, airfare, meals and accommodation will be covered by the PHARE program. (5) to provide a written annual report to PHARE each May which will be included in the annual report to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). (6) to show evidence of the application for other funding in your annual report. (7) to follow the curriculum as outlined by your host institution s departmental guidelines. Upon completion of the PHARE Graduate Training Program (PHARE class, a pass grade at the end of each year of seminar, written annual report, and abstract submission/attendance at the annual conference) and your departmental requirements, you will be provided with a certificate of training in Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem. It is your responsibility to supply PHARE with proof of your graduation from your program to receive this certificate. 7