GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowships in Antimicrobial Resistance
The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) is pleased to partner with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to advance innovative research that addresses the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Established through a generous gift from GSK, the GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowship in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will support a postdoctoral fellow who is driving an AMR-focused project that bridges two research disciplines. The fellow is expected to engage faculty from at least two different departments and/or divisions, with formal co-supervision by each. By linking together expertise from different research areas, the GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellow in AMR will help strengthen the connectedness and interdisciplinarity of EPIC’s research community while advancing leading-edge research on AMR.
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.
The GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellow in AMR will be invited to participate at the EPIC annual symposium to highlight the cross-disciplinary research projects they are leading. They will receive full membership in EPIC and priority access to EPIC events, including networking and career development sessions. They will have opportunities to participate in the adjudication of future EPIC funding calls as well as EPIC strategic planning committees.
Eligibility
- Be engaged in an AMR-focused research project that integrates perspectives from diverse areas of study
- Be co-supervised (or formally advised by) by two faculty members from distinct departments or divisions
- Maintain full-time employment status on the research project duration of the fellowship
- Demonstrate an excellent research track record
- Supervisors must have a primary affiliation at one of EPIC’s partner institutions (Hospital for Sick Children, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Unity Health Toronto, University Health Network and University of Toronto)
Value and Duration
The GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellow in AMR will receive $120,000 over two years to support their salary, benefits and direct research supports.
We anticipate funding one fellowship in this competition launched April 10th, 2023.
Fellowship Responsibilities
The Fellow must continue as a full-time employee in their research project of study for the duration of the term of the fellowship. They are expected to take part in at least one EPIC funding review panel the year following their success in the Convergence PDF competition. The Fellow will be required to submit an annual progress report as well as a final comprehensive report on the project at the end of the funding term. The Fellow is also expected to acknowledge GSK and EPIC support in publications, presentations and communications resulting from their funded work.
Selection Criteria
Proposals submitted to the GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowship in AMR competition will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Benefits that the proposed multidisciplinary approach brings to the research question of antimicrobial resistance
- Clear integration of at least two research disciplines
- Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research activities
- Considerations given to address equity, diversity and inclusion in the research question and/or environment
Application materials
Please submit the application form and all supporting documents as a single, combined PDF via email to epic@utoronto.ca. PDF documents should follow the naming convention: GSK_Convergence_Last name_First name.
All materials should be easily legible, in a minimum of 11-point font with standard document margins (top/bottom: 2.5cm, left/right: 1.9cm)
For any questions or concerns, please email epic@utoronto.ca with “GSK Convergence PDF” in the subject line.
Please download and complete the PDF application form with information about yourself, your supervisors and your research project. The form also needs to be signed by 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, outcomes and impact. Highlight how a multidisciplinary approach will advance the project and what qualifies you to translate between the two research perspectives. The plain language summary may be posted on EPIC’s website and should be understandable by a general lay audience.
Project proposal (maximum 1000 words, not including references): Please describe your research project, including rationale, aims, methods, analysis, timelines and expected outcomes. The inclusion of one figure is permitted, but the figure legend will count towards total word count of the proposal. The proposal should also comment on the justification and benefits of the proposed collaborative approach. Please also include an impact statement on the significance of the work to the field of infectious disease research.
EDI statement (maximum 250 words): Please share your reflections on the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to your work. If relevant, please comment on how EDI considerations has been or will be factored into the project’s design and execution.
CV: Provide a Common Canadian CV for the applicant
Letters of support should comment on the applicant’s development of research skills throughout their research training, including their accomplishments to date, their ability to deliver impactful research findings and their leadership potential. Also reflect on how they are positioned to act as a cross-disciplinary research translator to increase connectivity between the research groups and promote collaborative, interdisciplinary aspects of the distinct fields of study that make up this project.
Please indicate in your letter if you are an early career investigator. See selection criteria for more information.
Supervisors and co-supervisors should email their letter of support in PDF format to epic@utoronto.ca with “GSK Convergence PDF” in the subject line. Please save the file using the following naming convention: GSK_Convergence_Last name_First name_LOS_Supervisor last name.
Demographic Survey
Applicants and supervisors 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.
Deadline
The GSK EPIC Convergence Postdoctoral Fellowship in AMR competition has closed. Please stay tuned for more information about the results and future competitions.
