Become an ICES Faculty Scholar

No. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria may apply for an ICES Scientist appointment. The Faculty Scholars Program is one pathway to gain experience with ICES data and is designed to support researchers in learning how to conduct administrative data research.

Enrolment is offered on a rolling basis. To enrol, you will submit a one-page project proposal, confirm that a full-status ICES Scientist is willing to serve as your Responsible ICES Scientist (RIS), and confirm that you have sufficient funding for your project and the program administration fee. Once reviewed, you’ll be invited to apply for ICES Fellow status before starting the program.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected].

Your project must include a full-status ICES Scientist (RIS) who ensures compliance with ICES policies. You can find eligible RIS candidates by browsing the ICES Scientists Directory. Look for profiles marked “Full Status” and use the contact form provided on each profile page to reach out to prospective RIS candidates. Reviewing past ICES publications may also help identify researchers aligned with your area of interest.

Participants should secure approximately $35,000 for a limited-scope research project (based on standard ICES rates), plus a $5,000 program administration fee (FY2025/2026).

Funding may come from research grants, institutional support, or personal funds. Since the fee is billed as personnel time, it can be included as a contracted service in grant applications.

The program runs for 18 months, during which you will complete one ICES research project.

Scholars should dedicate a minimum of 15 hours per month. Time demands may be higher in the early stages, particularly during analytic plan development and meetings with ICES research staff.

The Faculty Scholars Program is designed for individuals with graduate-level training in quantitative methods (e.g., epidemiology, biostatistics). However, applicants with other types of graduate training may still be considered if they can demonstrate sufficient methodological knowledge to undertake an ICES project. Final eligibility for the program ─ and for ICES Fellow status ─ is determined by the ICES Science Office. If you’re unsure whether your academic background qualifies, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] for guidance before applying.

An ICES Fellow is a junior researcher or clinician-researcher seeking an ICES Scientist appointment but lacking prior ICES project experience. The Faculty Scholars Program is a structured training opportunity that supports Fellows in completing one ICES project. All Scholars must first apply for ICES Fellow status to access ICES resources and mentorship.

Yes, but you must submit a Conflict of Interest (COI) declaration with your ICES Fellow application, covering the current and previous three fiscal years. The ICES COI Committee will review your submission to assess any potential or actual conflicts. You may be asked to provide supporting documentation.

Refer to the ICES COI Policy for details or contact [email protected] for guidance.

Projects should be feasible within the 18-month timeframe and leverage ICES data holdings. They must be investigator-initiated, methodologically sound, and ethically appropriate. If you’re unsure whether your project idea is a good fit, we recommend discussing it with a potential Responsible ICES Scientist or contacting us at [email protected] for guidance.

No. ICES research staff will perform the analyses once your analytic plan is finalized. However, you will be actively involved in reviewing interim results and refining the analytic plan as needed.

Currently, the program is open to researchers affiliated with institutions in Ontario. Access to ICES data is restricted to approved users working within Ontario due to data privacy regulations.

We understand that circumstances may change. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the ICES Western Site Director. Scholars are encouraged to communicate any anticipated delays as early as possible.