Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Sound policies and practices informed by EDI principles improve access to the largest pool of qualified candidates, enhance the integrity of application and selection processes, and promote excellence in research.
In alignment with the priorities of federal and provincial granting agencies, SRI has implemented EDI initiatives for institution-led proposals for funding. These are applications to funding programs where SRI must be selective in nominating candidates for institutional endorsement. Examples include the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Banting postdoctoral fellowships, Ontario government awards and tri-council funding grants.
Sunnybrook Research Institute is working with the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals to meet the CRC Program’s equity, diversity and inclusion public accountability and transparency requirements. It has adapted institutional practices for the recruitment and nomination of research chairs. Read more about that work, including guidelines for the selection and nomination of Canada Research Chairs at SRI, and the institute’s EDI action plan.
At SRI, the strategic research programs office is responsible for EDI initiatives related to institution-led research activities. This office has staff with expertise in the EDI requirements of federal and provincial research funding agencies. It ensures that principles of openness, transparency and equity are applied to all funding programs.
In the selection and endorsement of candidates for institution-led funding applications, SRI ensures the following:
- transparent and open selection processes
- unconscious bias training is undertaken by all people involved in the process
- diverse selection committees
- declaration and management of any conflict of interest involving members of selection committees
- equity data are collected (currently only for CRC selection and nominations)
- involvement of an SRI equity officer throughout the processes.
Sunnybrook Research Institute also promotes EDI in its communications. Visit the news and stories section to read stories with a focus on EDI in research.
For matters related to EDI in employment at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Sunnybrook Research Institute, contact Erin Miller, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Guidelines and procedures related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at Sunnybrook Research Institute are informed by EDI resources provided by the tri-council agencies: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Sunnybrook Research Institute is developing shared standards, practices and resources with the University of Toronto and partner hospitals in the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network.
The following is a list of recommended resources.
Granting agencies’ EDI requirements, resources and initiatives
- Best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion in research
- Canada Research Chairs Program EDI action plan
- NSERC framework on equity, diversity and inclusion
- CIHR’s equity strategy
- CIHR’s gender equity framework
- Dimensions: tri-council program on increasing EDI in the post-secondary sector
- Banting postdoctoral fellowships: EDI resources
- NSERC: EDI
- NSERC guide for applicants (PDF)
- New Frontiers in Research Fund: best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion
- Canada Foundation for Innovation mandate and EDI values
Unconscious bias
- Canada Research Chairs unconscious bias training module (Video)
- NSERC: Chair for Women in Science and Engineering handout (PDF)
- Reducing unconscious bias in the review process
Gender and sex considerations for applications and research design
- CIHR: How to integrate sex and gender into research
- Government of Canada: Gender-Based Analysis Plus
- Women’s College Hospital Women’s Xchange – The Health Researcher’s Toolkit: Why Sex & Gender Matter
- CIHR: Sex and gender champions
- Gendered innovations in science, health & medicine, engineering, and environment
Promoting EDI in selection processes, recruitment and hiring
- CRC: Best practices guide for recruitment, hiring and retention
- CRC: Guidelines for assessing the productivity of nominees
- U of T: Strategies for recruiting an excellent and diverse faculty complement
- Sunnybrook Research Institute guidelines for the recruitment and selection of Canada Research Chairs
- CRC: Guidelines and best practices for reference letter writers
- NIH: Scientific Workforce Diversity Toolkit
Team composition and training
- NSERC guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity, and inclusion in your application (PDF)
- U of T School of Graduate Studies: Creating equality and equity when working with students
Accommodation and accessibility
- Sunnybrook accessibility policy
Leaves
- Tri-Agencies: Maternity, parental, medical or family medical leave for grantees
- Tri-Agencies: Paid maternity and parental leave for students and postdoctoral fellows
- CRC: Leaves policy
- NSERC: Discovery & Discovery Development Grants – Pilot for primary caregivers who are eligible for but decline taking extended leave (PDF)