RSN Scholarship Supplements for Student and Postdoctoral Researchers

Program overview 

The Digital Health Research Network (RSN) is launching a call for applications for scholarship supplements supporting student and postdoctoral researchers in digital health. The program supports those whose research contributes to advancing knowledge in digital health and aligns with the RSN's strategic priorities. 

The program pursues three objectives: to support the next generation of researchers in pursuing their research activities; to foster their integration into the digital health research community; and to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration across the RSN's axes by valuing projects carried out under co-supervision between two axes. 

Amount and envelope 

• Master's: $4,000 

• Doctorate: $6,000 

• Postdoctoral fellowship: $8,000 

An envelope of $50,000 is reserved for this competition. The RSN reserves the right not to award the full envelope if the number of eligible applications of sufficient quality does not warrant it. The RSN ensures a balanced distribution of supplements across levels of study and postdoctoral fellowships. 

Eligibility criteria 

The scholarship supplement is intended for students and postdoctoral fellows who do not hold a scholarship awarded through a competition by a major granting agency. 

To be eligible, the applicant must: 

• be enrolled full time in a master's or doctoral program, or be carrying out a full-time postdoctoral fellowship, at a Quebec university, both when the application is submitted and when the supplement is paid; 

• be a member of the RSN and be supervised or co-supervised by a regular member of the RSN affiliated with a managing institution recognized by the FRQ; 

• carry out a research project with a digital health component, connected to the RSN's themes and strategic priorities; 

• not hold, at the time of application, a scholarship awarded through a competition by a major granting agency (for example the FRQ, CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC or a foreign government agency); 

• not have received an RSN scholarship supplement during the two preceding years, unless they have changed program of study or moved to a postdoctoral fellowship. (This condition does not apply to the RSN Travel Awards for Student Presentations in Digital Health competition.)

Pay from the research supervisor, an institutional or faculty scholarship, or a one-time conference, mobility or dissemination award does not prevent an application. Current scholarships and funding are declared on the application form, on the applicant's honour. 

Evaluation criteria 

Eligible applications are assessed against four criteria, each scored out of 5 points, for a total of 20 points.

• Research path and potential: quality of the applicant's path, achievements and research potential. 

• Scientific quality of the research project: relevance, rigour and expected contribution to advancing knowledge. 

• Strategic alignment and interdisciplinarity: the project's contribution to the RSN's priorities and work streams, and the interdisciplinary nature of the approach, in particular co-supervision between two RSN axes. 

• Contribution to the development of the next generation of researchers: potential of the supplement to support the applicant's progress and their integration into the digital health research ecosystem. 

Required documents 

Applications are submitted online using the RSN form and include: 

• the completed application form; 

• a summary of the research project (maximum 300 words); 

• a letter of motivation (maximum one page); 

• a letter of support from the research supervisor (maximum one page); 

• a declaration of current scholarships and funding; 

• proof of enrolment or a postdoctoral fellowship attestation at a Quebec university; 

• a curriculum vitae; 

• university transcripts (optional at the postdoctoral level). 

Applications may be submitted in French or in English. 

Timeline 

• Competition launch: September 30, 2026

• Submission deadline: November 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m (Eastern Time) 

• Evaluation of applications: from November 16, 2026 to January 24, 2027 

• Announcement of recipients: February 8, 2027 

• Commitment of the awards: by March 31, 2027 at the latest 

Evaluation process 

Applications are first checked for eligibility by the RSN coordination team. Eligible applications are then assessed by a multidisciplinary committee appointed by the RSN.

Evaluators declare any real, apparent or potential conflict of interest before the evaluation begins. An evaluator in a conflict of interest, in particular one who supervises or co-supervises an applicant or belongs to the same research team, takes part neither in the evaluation nor in the discussion of the application concerned. 

Supplements are awarded to the eligible applications with the highest scores, until the available envelope is exhausted. In the event of a tie, priority is given to applications with co-supervision between two RSN axes. 

The RSN treats all applications confidentially and applies the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the composition of the committee and in the assessment of applications. Applicants are invited to note in their letter of motivation any particular circumstance that may have affected their path, such as an interruption of studies, parental leave or a change of discipline; the committee takes this into account when assessing the applicant's path. Every applicant receives a decision notice. 

Payment and use of funds 

The supplement is paid in a single instalment. The funds are used in accordance with the rules of the Fonds de recherche du Québec. 

Recipient commitments 

By accepting the scholarship supplement, recipients undertake to: 

• acknowledge the RSN's support in their scientific communications, in the manner described below; 

• send the RSN any publication, presentation or other output arising from the supported work; 

• inform the RSN of the main achievements made possible by the supplement; 

• inform the RSN of the submission of their scholarship application to a major granting agency and of its outcome, where applicable; 

• use the funds in accordance with the rules of the Fonds de recherche du Québec; 

• inform the RSN without delay of any change in their situation, in particular a withdrawal from or interruption of studies, a change of program or of research supervisor, or the award of a scholarship from a major granting agency. 

Acknowledging the RSN's support 

One of the following three formulations must appear in publications, presentations or other scientific outputs: 

• “Réseau santé numérique (RSN), Fonds de recherche du Québec” 

• “RSN, FRQ, Québec, Canada” 

• “With the support of the Réseau santé numérique (FRQ)” 

The official RSN logo must appear on posters, presentations or other dissemination materials where appropriate. The logo and its usage guidelines are provided when the funding is awarded.