APPLY NOW to join the 2025-2026 COHTPEZ trainee cohort and contribute as part of a diverse, interdisciplinary community working to strengthen Canada’s One Health capacity in emerging zoonotic disease prevention and response.
The Canadian One Health Training Program on Emerging Zoonoses (COHTPEZ) is pleased to announce the second call for applications from trainees at the Master, Doctoral, or Post-Doctoral level, Clinical Interns or Residents, as well as from Early Career Researchers (researchers or professionals who obtained their last degree within the last 5 years).
The goal of COHTPEZ is to develop highly skilled researchers and professionals in various disciplines, shaping an emerging community of practice and a new generation of One Health advocates across Canada. These individuals will collaborate and innovate to accelerate the implementation of One Health in Canada to better prevent and respond to current and future threats caused by emerging zoonotic pathogens.
COHTPEZ aims to support trainees in completing their research project and/or a complementary internship (distinct from their current research focus and in a different institution/organisation/discipline) that will enhance Canada’s ability to prevent, prepare for, or respond to emerging zoonotic diseases using a One Health approach. As part of the program, trainees will be able to participate in targeted learning opportunities to strengthen their understanding and application of core One Health competencies and to deepen their engagement with Indigenous perspectives and other knowledge systems. Trainees will also have the opportunity to build meaningful connections with peers, mentors, and professionals across disciplines, sectors, and regions, contributing to a growing national community of practice in One Health and emerging zoonoses.
We welcome applicants from all disciplinary backgrounds, including but not limited to the natural and health sciences, public health, social sciences, policy, Indigenous knowledge systems, humanities, and the arts. We recognize that preventing and responding to zoonotic diseases requires many perspectives, and we place a high value on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and different ways of knowing.
Applications will be reviewed using an evaluation rubric for research scholarships and internships (evaluation rubric for research scholarships can be found below). Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations are an integral part of the selection process, and applicants are invited to complete a short EDI questionnaire to help ensure a fair and inclusive review.
Interested trainees can apply for funding and to join the platform through two different streams:
1) Research scholarship: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW OPEN
2) Internship support: The call for applications will be opened in two phases: Fall 2025 and Winter 2026.
Subject to eligibility requirements, trainees may apply to both streams in the same year.
AVAILABLE FUNDING
Research scholarship
- COHTPEZ will offer a scholarship of 5,000$ to each successful applicant interested in One Health and whose research relates to the prevention, preparedness for, or response to emerging zoonotic diseases.
Internship support
- COHTPEZ will offer up to 10,000$ to each successful applicant to support short-term internships/placements in institutions involved in the prevention, preparedness for, and response to emerging zoonotic diseases.
- This funding is intended to support experiential learning outside of your current institution/organisation and in a different discipline to your current work.
- The funding can be used to support travel, accommodation, living expenses, tuition or other (up to 3 months).
EXPECTATIONS
RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP
INTERNSHIP SUPPORT
All COHTPEZ research scholars are expected to actively participate in the COHTPEZ training program, including:
- in-person participation at two symposium-workshops (approx. 5 days each, planned for 25-29 August 2025, Montreal and August 2026, location to be determined), with additional travel support provided;
- 5-10 hours per month of unstructured and structured activities, including monthly 2-hour virtual meetings (one of which you will be asked to co-design), coffee meetings, completion of a personal learning plan, reflective journalling activities, and private reading; and
- a 20-hr ‘Indigenous Canada’ MOOC course, offered by the University of Alberta through Coursera, to be completed by the August 2025 symposium-workshop (alternative training/experiences may be considered equivalent, to be determined on a case-by-case basis). COHTPEZ will reimburse the fee for obtaining a certificate on demonstration of completion for successful applicants only. Applicants are advised not to start the MOOC until they receive notice of acceptance to COHTPEZ.
The scholarship is intended to be used as a stipend to support trainees and cannot be used to purchase laboratory supplies or equipment.
All COHTPEZ interns are expected to actively participate in the COHTPEZ training program, including:
- in-person participation and presentation of their internship experience at the second symposium-workshop of the year (approx. 5 days, planned for August 2026, location to be determined), with additional travel support provided;
- occasional virtual networking meetings;
- a 20-hr ‘Indigenous Canada’ MOOC course, offered by the University of Alberta through Coursera, to be completed by the August 2025 symposia/workshop (alternative training/experiences may be considered equivalent, to be determined on a case-by-case basis). COHTPEZ will reimburse the fee for obtaining a certificate on demonstration of completion for successful applicants only. Applicants are advised not to start the MOOC until they receive notice of acceptance to COHTPEZ; and
- completion of a personal learning plan, reflective journalling activities, and private reading (approx. 3-6h/month combined).
The internship award is intended to support your training at a different institution. It is not intended to be used to purchase laboratory supplies or equipment. The exact amount of the award will be determined after review of your proposed budget.
ALIGNMENT WITH ONE HEALTH AND COHTPEZ PRIORITIES
Trainees are invited to submit proposals explaining how their research/planned internship is aligned with at least one of the following three priorities:
Priority 1. Health, Sustainability, and Resilience: This priority focuses on the development and implementation of sustainable, resilient solutions, in coherence with the One Health approach. Proposals should demonstrate how the research/internship will contribute to practices, policies, or programs that promote human, animal, and ecosystem health at local, national, or international levels, and reduce the impacts of emerging zoonoses.
Priority 2. Disease Prevention: Proposals under this priority should focus on improving the understanding of infection dynamics in natural hosts and environments, pathogen ecology, anthropogenic drivers of disease emergence, and socio-demographic risk factors. The research/internship should enhance Canada’s ability to prevent zoonotic diseases through integrated surveillance, artificial intelligence and modelling, community engagement, or another method.
Priority 3. Disease Preparedness and Response: This priority seeks proposals that will help develop capacity in pathogen risk assessment, biocontainment, laboratory diagnostics, genomics, and the management of short- and long-term impacts of zoonotic diseases. Research/internships that focus on pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical countermeasures, biomanufacturing, and rapid response frameworks are highly encouraged to ensure Canada’s preparedness for future pandemics.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Research scholarship
Eligibility:
Student enrolled in a graduate program in Canada.
Research scholarship trainees are eligible to apply for internship training in the same year or in subsequent years.
Trainees who have already obtained a COHPTEZ research scholarship are not eligible for a second scholarship.
Each submission must include:
- A summary of your graduate research project (including objectives, proposed methods, expected results, and connection to emerging zoonoses[1]), a clear rationale for how it aligns with one of the three COHTPEZ priorities and a description of how a One Health approach is relevant to your training and research (500 words).
- A statement of motivation explaining why joining the COHTPEZ is relevant for you as a trainee (250 words).
- An indication of support from your proposed mentor to confirm their awareness and support of the trainee and their willingness to participate in COHTPEZ activities [2]. Your proposed mentor does not need to be your research supervisor; however, you will need to identify someone at your home academic institution who can receive and transfer the award to you.
- A CV (traditional or narrative CVs are welcome, maximum 4 pages).
- A completed EDI questionnaire.
- A plan for completing the ‘Indigenous Canada’ MOOC course by 25 August 2025.
Internship support
Eligibility:
Student enrolled in a graduate program or a post-doctoral fellow, clinical intern/resident, or early career researcher (researchers or professionals who obtained their last degree within the last 5 years) in Canada.
Trainees who have already received internship support from COHTPEZ are not eligible for a second internship. Graduate students who have completed an internship are eligible to apply for a research scholarship.
Applicants need to demonstrate their training in or experience with One Health or similar approaches (e.g. Planetary Health or EcoHealth).
Each submission must include:
- A detailed description of the proposed internship (including host institution, roles and responsibilities, deliverables and outcomes of the internship), a clear rationale for how it aligns with one of the three COHTPEZ priorities and with the needs of the host institution, and an explanation of the expected impact on public health, policy, or research related to emerging zoonotic diseases [1] (500 words).
- An explanation of how this experience is different from and complements your current training and experiences to date (250 words).
- A statement of motivation explaining why joining the COHTPEZ is relevant for you as a trainee (250 words).
- A detailed budget of how the requested funds will be used and for what purpose.
- An indication of support from (1) the host organization mentor and (2) the home institution or organisation mentor, to confirm their awareness of the application, willingness to co-supervise the trainee, and willingness to participate in COHTPEZ activities [2]. Your proposed mentors do not need to be your research supervisor(s); however, you will need to identify someone at your home academic institution who can receive and transfer the award to you.
- A CV (traditional or narrative CVs are welcome, maximum 4 pages)
- A completed EDI questionnaire.
- A plan for completing the ‘Indigenous Canada’ MOOC course by the start of enrollment, 2025.
[1] This includes methodologies/skillsets which may be relevant to emerging zoonoses broadly in the context of the three priority areas.
[2] Please see separate section for eligibility and expectations for mentors.
Eligibility and expectations for mentors of trainees undertaking research scholarships and internships
Eligibility:
Individuals working in the one of the following sectors, with a depth of experience in topics related to One Health and emerging zoonoses:
- Academia
- Government
- Industry
- Community or non-profit organisations
Expectations [3]:
- To meet with their trainee(s) monthly.
- Be willing to participate and provide their expertise/perspectives in occasional online training activities and in-person workshops, travel-permitting.
- To participate in communications/networking/activities with other mentors (e.g. book club, discussion forums).
- To complete a 20-hr ‘Indigenous Canada’ MOOC course, offered by the University of Alberta through Coursera (to be completed over the first year of your mentorship commitments and preferably before engaging in program activities). Alternative training/experiences may be considered equivalent, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
[3] With the exception of the MOOC, these activities are expected to total ~3 hours/month.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 June 2025 (11:59pm EST)
We expect decisions to be communicated by the end of June 2025.
TO APPLY FOR A RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP: CLICK HERE
APPLICATIONS FOR INTERNSHIPS WILL OPEN IN FALL 2025 AND WINTER 2026.
EVALUATION RUBRIC: COHTPEZ Research scholarships for 2025-2026
| Letter topic | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Outstanding |
| Summary of proposed thesis research | Provides minimal details on thesis OR Research design is not well defined and does link to objectives and impacts OR Project components are not feasible, supported or justified. | Provides general description of thesis research but lacks clarity and/or justification AND/OR Data and methods are not clearly described or justified AND/OR Project components have some feasibility concerns. | Provides a thorough description of thesis research AND Data and methods clearly described AND Project components are feasible and justified. |
| Link with COHTPEZ priority area | Fails to identify a COHTPEZ priority area and/or provides no or limited rationale for link. No or limited potential to impact selected COHTPEZ priority area. | Selects a COHTPEZ priority area but provides no or limited rationale for how research aligns with selection. Moderate potential to impact selected COHTPEZ priority area. | Selects a COHTPEZ priority area and provides strong rationale for how research aligns with selection. Strong potential to impact selected COHTPEZ priority area. |
| Alignment of thesis research with One Health | Fails to describe why One Health is relevant to their thesis Does not include any indication of how a One Health approach will be incorporated in any part of the thesis | Describes in general why the One Health approach is relevant to their thesis Includes one example of how a One Health approach will be integrated in the thesis | Describes specifically why the One Health approach is relevant to their thesis Includes several examples of how a One Health approach will be integrated in the thesis |
| Connection to EZ | Rationale and need in EZ research not provided and potential to impact EZ in selected priority area not provided. | Rationale and need in EZ research described but not justified with some potential to impact EZ in selected priority area. | Rational and need in EZ research well described and justified with good potential to impact EZ in selected priority area. |
| Description of motivation | Provides minimal to no evidence of interest or experience in One Health | Describes exposure to One Health concepts and rationale for interest/motivation | Shares interest in One Health with discussion of applicability to studies / career |
| Support | No declaration of support received by mentor. | Declaration of support received from mentor. | |
| CV | CV provides no or limited support of claims made in application and does not illustrate OH experience or curiosity | CV provides moderate support of claims made in motivation statement and outlines moderate experience and curiosity | CV strongly supports claims made in motivation statement and outlines relevant experience and curiosity |
| Plan to complete MOOC | Does not provide a plan for completing the MOOC and does not demonstrate equivalent training. | Provides a plan for completing the MOOC and/or describes equivalent training. | Provides a plan for completing the MOOC and/or describes equivalent training. |
| Overall | Fails to provide justification that their thesis is suitable for the program. | Illustrates potential for a One Health approach in their thesis and some motivation for learning. | Illustrates clear justification and plan for a One Health approach in their thesis and motivation for learning. |
EZ: Emerging zoonoses
MOOC: ‘Indigenous Canada’ Massive Open Online Course from the Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta.
Notes:
- Each application will be scored as unsatisfactory, satisfactory, using the above rubric. Applications scored as unsatisfactory will not be retained. The final selection of trainees will consider the application score as well as EDI responses and disciplinary area to ensure a diversity of high-quality trainees in the program.
- Some universities provide additional financial support to enable us to offer more scholarships to candidates from their university. We will fill those spaces first with the highest-ranking applicants from those institutions, to maximise the numbers of spots available across the country.