to May 2
2025
Call for new MyRoad Mentoring Subcommittee members!
MyRoad is looking for new members to join the MyRoad Mentoring Subcommittee.
MyRoad (Maximize your Research on Obesity and Diabetes) is a Canada-wide Health Research and Training Program (HRTP) funded by CIHR that aims to help trainees and early career investigators (ECIs) develop into competent, interdisciplinary team members who can collectively address the complexity of obesity, diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.
The MyRoad platform’s overarching aims are: (1) to optimize access to individualized training trajectories, professional development, and experiential learning for a diverse population of trainees and ECIs, to effect favorable research career outcomes in the areas of interest; and (2) to harness the strengths of regional research teams to create Canada’s largest integrated, transdisciplinary training and mentoring asset in these fields.
Obesity, diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions are interconnected diseases that are best understood through complementary approaches ranging from basic sciences to public health, from molecules to communities. Providing future researchers with a perspective broader than their specific field of expertise will improve health outcomes, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and improve the lived experience of those affected across their lifespan.
The Mentoring Subcommittee
Purpose & Responsibilities
A key role of the Mentoring Subcommittee (MS) is to provide input to MyRoad leadership regarding mentorship needs for trainees and ECIs, as well as provide ongoing needs assessments to fine-tune MyRoad mentoring activities.
The MS will also provide strategic recommendations to meet these needs as requested by the Executive Committee, including but not limited to:
- Access to expert advice from senior leaders in group and one-on-one;
- Access to knowledge and expertise regarding technical research skills in each of the CIHR Pillars (e.g., Biomedical, Clinical, Health Systems Services, Population Health);
- Opportunities to gain first-hand insights into diverse leadership styles and practices;
- Opportunities to build professional relationships and access networks of skilled professionals;
- Opportunities to identify areas for career growth and development;
- Support to develop short, intermediate, and long-term career planning by event development, including webinars.
If you are interested in being part of the Mentoring Subcommittee, please submit the following information in an email intitled “Application Mentoring Subcommittee 2025” to MyRoad.Maroute@criucpq.ulaval.ca before Mai 2nd 2025:
- Full name;
- Name of your institution/organization;
- Level of education completed and current status;
- Program and main research field;
- Preferred language for communication.
Next steps: Interested candidates will be invited to a group information session to discuss the committee mandate, membership roles and expectations, and benefits for their training.
As we work to increase the diversity of our membership, we strongly encourage women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, people from ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and people from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to apply, but welcome applications from anyone interested in the committee’s mandate. Geographic, discipline/specialization and level of education will be considered to ensure adequate representation of the MyRoad community and populations served.
MyRoad Governance Structure and Overview of Subcommittees
Mentoring Subcommittee Terms of Reference
MS members will:
- Bring their own knowledge, expertise, and ideas in the areas under the MyRoad mandate and familiarize concepts/ideas that are adopted within their respective stakeholder groups;
- Actively contribute to the tasks, analysis and development of recommendations of the MyRoad MS;
- Attend subcommittee meetings.
The MS Co-Chairs, working with MyRoad staff, will:
- Plan and host regular meetings to share knowledge and monitor progress;
- Monitor and assign tasks;
- Manage allocated budget;
- Monitor and remain up-to-date on MS activities;
- Manage all MS meetings, including:
- Ensure meeting time and location are arranged;
- Prepare agenda and chair meetings;
- Ensure records of decisions of meetings are kept, distributed, submitted for approval, and archived;
- Participate in meetings with the Executive Committee, upon request.
Reporting
- The MS is a standing Committee of the Executive Committee;
- The Chair of the MS will report (formally) annually to the Scientific Committee; informal reporting will occur, as needed;
- Work product of the MS will be circulated to the EDI champion for input prior to dissemination and requests for approval from the Scientific Committee.
Composition
Members & Roles: The MS must include at least three (3) individuals who hold an academic or research appointment with an eligible Canadian educational or research institution (>5 years), plus at least seven (7) trainees (MSc, PhD, or MD), PDFs and ECIs (within the first 5 years of their first academic appointment). Members will be representative of the diversity of Canada, including geographic, cultural, and gender.
A call for nominations will be made yearly, with the support of recommendations from current members of the Mentoring Subcommittee and the Executive Committee.
Terms
- The target size of the MS is 10-15 members;
- Members of the Scientific and Executive Committees shall be guests as deemed necessary;
- MyRoad administrative staff shall provide administrative support.
Expertise
The expertise required includes, but is not limited to:
- The spectrum of obesity, cardiometabolic health and diabetes (e.g., adult and pediatric; T1D, T2D, gestational);
- Obesity, cardiometabolic health and diabetes research across all four CIHR pillars of health research.
Term of Office
The Co-Chair (1 individuals who hold an academic or research appointment with an eligible Canadian educational or research institution (>5 years) and 1 trainee or ECI) shall be approved by the Executive Committee (in consultation with the outgoing Co-Chair of the MS) for a 1-year term, with the option of re-appointment for an additional 1-year term. Committee members are appointed for a 2-year term and may be reappointed for additional terms.
Meetings
Frequency of Meetings
- Update meetings will be held quarterly to set direction and provide updates on mentorship activities in the context of the establishment of the MyRoad platform;
- Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chair, Executive Committee or MyRoad staff support, as required, to fulfill the responsibilities of the MS and respond, when required, to urgent issues;
- Meetings will be held virtually.
Quorum
- All members of the MS are voting;
- Quorum will be 50% plus one of the MS members present.
Terms of Reference
The MS shall review the Terms of Reference as members deem necessary, but no less than once per year. Changes to the Terms of Reference shall be endorsed by the MS, for approval by the Executive Committee.