Career Transition Awards
The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) is training the next generation of infectious disease research leaders that will help stop future pandemics in humans and reduce the societal burdens of infectious disease.
The 2025 EPIC Career Transition Awards will support senior postdoctoral trainees, clinical trainees and/or research associates who are ready to lead an independent project. Eligible applicants will hold a PhD with a minimum of 18-months of postdoctoral research experience or have completed MD residency training and be engaged in a fellowship and/or post-graduate training program (e.g., Master’s/PhD/postdoc).
The support will establish a discrete fund for the recipient to facilitate an achievable, small-scale project led entirely by the applicant, while being mentored by their supervisor and a dedicated mentor in the EPIC community. This work is intended to become a cornerstone of their independent program as they develop the next stages of their career.
EPIC is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/ persons of colour, women, Indigenous/ Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
EPIC Career Transition Award recipients will be invited to participate in EPIC’s knowledge translation events to highlight their independent work. They will become full members of EPIC and receive priority access to EPIC events, including networking and career development sessions. During the award term, academic career mentoring will be provided by an EPIC faculty member on a one-on-one basis.
Our 2025 Career Transition Award competition is open to all project proposals that focus on infectious disease challenges across the spectrum of fundamental biology, clinical sciences, population and global health studies, and translational science.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates will:
- Hold a PhD with a minimum of 18-months of postdoctoral research or have completed MD residency training and be engaged in a fellowship and/or post-graduate training program (e.g., Master’s/PhD/post-doc).
Note: MDs with a PhD are also eligible to apply
- Demonstrate an excellent research track record during post-graduate research training.
- Propose an innovative project focused on human infectious diseases or zoonotic pathogens with human pandemic potential.
- Display independence from the supervisor’s research program.
- Have a primary supervisor who must have a primary affiliation at the University of Toronto or one of EPIC’s partner hospitals (The Hospital for Sick Children, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Unity Health Toronto, and University Health Network).
If you are applying as an MD and have clinical duties, it is expected that at least 50% of the applicant’s time will be allocated to research during the funding term, however, EPIC recognizes that this may not be feasible at all institutions. In the cases where protected time falls below 50%, EPIC, with input from the review panel, will carefully evaluate the proposed key milestones & expected timelines to ensure alignment with the goals of this funding program.
Value and Duration
EPIC Career Transition Award recipients will receive $120,000 in research operational funding over a 2-year term. This award is non-renewable.
EPIC anticipates funding one award under the 2025 competition.
Awardee Responsibilities
EPIC Career Transition Award recipients will be invited to present their research findings at EPIC knowledge translation events during the award term. They will also enter the pool to serve as adjudicators for the following year’s award competitions. Recipients will be required to submit a short interim progress report and a financial report at the mid-point of the funding term as well as a final report within 90 days of the end of the term outlining major outcomes, budget reporting and planned future work. The templates for the same will be shared by EPIC.
Award recipients are also required to acknowledge EPIC support in publications and presentations resulting from the funded work.
Selection Criteria
Proposals submitted to the EPIC Career Transition Awards competition will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Strength of the research track record of the applicant
- Indication of independent research project management abilities
- Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research activities
- Potential to impact human health, societal resilience and/or pandemic readiness
- Probability that the project will form the basis for an independent research program
- Incorporation of values of equity, diversity and inclusivity in the research environment and the project implementation, where appropriate
Application materials
Please submit all supporting materials as a single, combined PDF via email to epic@utoronto.ca. PDF documents should follow the naming convention: CareerTrans_Last name_First name.
All materials should be easily legible, in a minimum of 11-point font with standard document margins (top/bottom: 2.5 cm, left/right: 1.9 cm)
For any questions or concerns, please email epic@utoronto.ca with “Career Transition” in the subject line.
Please download and complete the PDF application form with information about yourself, your supervisor and your research project. The form also needs to be signed by you, your supervisor and your institutional or departmental chair.
Plain language summary (maximum 250 words): Provide a summary in non-specialist language of the proposal, highlighting project objectives, expected outcomes and impact. The plain language summary may be posted on EPIC’s website and should be understandable by a general lay audience.
Project proposal (maximum 2000 words, references not included in word limit): Provide a description of the proposed research, including background, rationale, aims, methods, expected outcomes and timelines. Outline how this project aligns with EPIC’s mandate. The inclusion of up to two figures is permitted with figure legends counting towards the total word count of the proposal. Please also include how this research project links to your past work, and how it could be built into a larger independent research program, including an overview of future studies.
List of collaborators (if applicable): List collaborators involved in the table provided. Please provide their primary affiliation and contributions to the project.
Budget (maximum 1 page): Provide a breakdown and rationale of the total budget requested from EPIC for your project as aligned with the categories provided in the Tri-Agency Form 300. Note: large equipment purchases are not eligible expenditures.
EDI statement (maximum 250 words): Please share your reflections on the importance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the research environment and how it applies to your work. If relevant, please comment on how EDI considerations have been or will be factored into the project’s design and execution.
CV: Please provide your CV (Canadian Common CV style preferred).
Provide two reference letters (one typically provided by the current supervisor) from individuals who can attest to the scientific excellence as well as potential of the applicant to become an independent investigator. The referees should have a direct relationship with the applicant and be able to comment on the qualities, experiences and achievements that make them an excellent candidate for the EPIC Career Transition Award.
Referees should email their letter of support as a PDF to epic@utoronto.ca. Please save the PDF using the following naming convention: CareerTrans_applicant last name_applicant first name_LOS_Referee last name.
Demographic Survey
All investigators will be asked to complete our demographic survey. While this survey is required, there is an option to select “Prefer not to answer” for all questions.
Important Dates
Call for applications: 15 January, 2025
Deadline to submit all application forms and supporting materials (via email): 17 March 2025, 11:59 pm (EST)
Anticipated review period: April/May 2025
Anticipated Notice of Award: May/June 2025
Funding start date: Sept 2025