Clinician-Scientist Start-Up Stipend
The Department of Medicine (DoM) provides Clinician Scientist Start Up Funding to optimize the career success of newly recruited Clinician Scientists. The details of the support provided, along with eligibility criteria, are set out below. Please contact the Department of Medicine Research Administrator at dom.research@utoronto.ca should you have any questions.
Eligibility
Full time clinical faculty members in the academic position description of Clinician Scientist, recruited to the Department of Medicine as the result of an external search, at the rank of Assistant Professor are eligible. Any faculty member transitioning from a Clinician Investigator position to a Clinician Scientist position within the first five years of their initial appointment date will be eligible for Start Up funding only within the first five years of their original DoM appointment (ie. a faculty member transitioning from CI to CS at their three year CFAR would receive start up for the following two years only).
Newly appointed faculty that hold;
- an endowed- or limited-term chair or professorship,
- funding through an alternate physician funding arrangement, e.g. Medical Oncology APP,
- other peer- review salary awards valued at $40K/year or over,
are considered ineligible for Clinician Scientist Start Up funding.
Funding
Funding will consist of $40,000 CAD per year for five (5) years and will be paid through the individual faculty member’s practice plan. Please note that the amount and duration of funding is subject to change, based on the availability of departmental funding.
The award will continue throughout the first five years following recruitment, provided the faculty member maintains the above eligibility requirements. If the faculty member should receive external salary support at any point within the five-year period – including, but not exclusive to, an endowed chair (hospital or campus based), funding through an Alternate physician funding arrangement, e.g. Medical Oncology APP, or peer- review salary awards – the DoM Start Up funding will be stopped for the duration of the external salary support. If the external salary support is valued at $40,000 CAD per year or more, the DoM will provide a top-up payment of $10,000 CAD per year (pro-rated) for the duration of the external salary support (within the 5-year Start-Up term). If the external support is valued at less than $40,000 CAD per year please reach out to dom.research@utoronto.ca to discuss. If the external salary support ends within the 5-year Start-Up period, DoM funding will resume for the duration of the original 5-year period.
In recognition of the strength of our Clinician Scientists, and to position them for continued success, it is expected that Clinician Scientists apply for, or show evidence of, application for external salary awards within the first 3 - 5 years of their appointment. The Department will support the Clinician Scientist in these efforts.
Timing
Clinician Scientist Start Up funding commences on the faculty member’s primary appointment start date for a period of five years.
The Department of Medicine offers a competitive Salary Support program for Clinician Scientist faculty that are more than 5 years from their primary appointment start date. Funding awards typically run for 3 years, beginning July 1st. CS Start Up package recipients in their final year are eligible to apply, but please note that Salary Support program funding cannot be held concurrently with Start Up funding. If a faculty member is awarded Salary Support program funding for a July 1st start, the 5-year Start Up funding term will end early.
Leave of Absence
Those who are required to take a leave of absence during the five-year period of their CS award, e.g. for parental leave, will have the option to suspend support during the leave of absence with a resumption in support upon their return.
Payment
Department of Medicine Clinician Scientist Start Up Funding is paid directly to individual faculty members’ practice plans.
Revised September 2024