Student smiling at camera in university

Research Initiation Scholarship Program

Francophone Affairs’ Research Initiation Scholarship Program offers medicine, pharmacy and graduate diploma in education students the opportunity to discover research in French.
The program, with the support of the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) Ottawa section, aims to foster curiosity about the sciences and strengthen health-care research capacity in French.

About the program

Every year, we offer medicine, pharmacy and graduate diploma in education students the opportunity to discover research in French.

Under the supervision of Faculty of Medicine professors, participants acquire hands-on research skills, while contributing to projects dealing with the following topics:

  • Francophone minorities
  • Medical education
  • Pharmacy education
  • Health-care education

Program length: April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027 
Number of scholarships available: 8 scholarships of $6,000 each 
Partner: Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) Ottawa section

Program goals

  • To encourage French-language research on health care
  • To support training of the next generation of Francophones in science
  • To encourage professor-student collaboration on innovative projects

Professors and researchers

Group of physicians

Eligibility

  • Must be affiliated with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
  • Must submit proposal by January 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time)
  • One proposal and one supervised student per application

Responsibilities

  • Planning an achievable project to be completed in French
  • Guiding the student throughout the project
  • Collaborating with the manager, teaching and research, Francophone Affairs
  • Participating in project presentation days (e.g., Meredith Marks days)
  • Acknowledging Francophone Affairs’ or CNFS’ support in every project-related publication
Submit a proposal form (in French only)

Students

Above, healthcare and meeting by doctors on laptop for research, planning and innovation at hospital. Doctor, team and health experts brainstor

Eligibility

  • Be enrolled in an eligible program (medicine, pharmacy or graduate diploma in health education)
  • Be interested in research in French
  • Be available for the entire program (3.5 hrs/wk. for medicine, 2 hrs./wk. for pharmacy or graduate diploma)
  • Apply by February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

What you’ll learn about

  • Stages in the research process
  • Writing an ethics application (if necessary)
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Scholarly communication (resumés, oral presentations, articles)
  • Disseminating findings in French
  • Preparing end-of-project reports

Selection process

  1. Call for proposals — Professors submit their proposals
  2. Proposal selection — The selection committee determines the successful proposals
     
  3. Callout to students  — Proposals are posted and students must submit their CVs
  4. Matching — Professors choose their students with the assistance of Francophone Affairs

Selection committee

The committee will comprise:

  • Two Francophone Affairs members
  • One CNFS representative
  • One Faculty of Medicine student

The committee will be chaired by a representative of Francophone Affairs and apply EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) principles in its makeup and work.

Key dates

Research Initiation Scholarship Program Key Dates
StageDeadline
Call for professors’ proposalsOctober 31, 2025
Proposal submissionJanuary 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Announcement of successful proposalsJanuary 30, 2026
Student applicationsFebruary 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Matching resultsMarch 15, 2026
Program startsApril 1, 2026
Program endsMarch 31, 2027

Questions ?

For any questions, email Dr. Salomon Fotsing, manager, teaching and research, Francophone Affairs at [email protected].

Last updated: October 21, 2025