The vision of the Artificial Intelligence for Public Health (AI4PH) Health Research Training Platform (HRTP) is to enable skill development and capacity for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)innovations in public health research and practice that have a critical focus on equity and disease prevention. We aim to support training for AI applications that will address health inequities and support learners in developing a critical understanding of AI technologies’ impact on health inequities.

The Artificial Intelligence for Public Health and Health Equity Trainee Scholarship Program is intended to support trainee projects aligned to the goals of the AI4PH HRTP and provide supervision of Masters, PhD, DrPH, and postdoctoral fellows by our named mentors who span disciplinary areas of  public health, computer science, biostatistics, equity, policy, and ethics. We aim to empower trainees in both research and applied public health settings with the knowledge to understand the role of AI and the skills to apply AI methods to real public health issues in different contexts.

Applications will accepted in until 11:59 PM PT  30 June 2026..

APPLY THROUGH THIS LINK https://airtable.com/app4uBLt1DLQmqv8a/pag4HVRX2iyNlUUIS/form 

Watch this information session for more details, to view: click this link.

Scholarship Application Guidance Documents: 

• General Application Guidance
• EDI, Sex and Gender-Based Analysis, and Community Engagement Resources
• Structured Reference Form Hardcopy

Should you have difficulty opening any of the links, please try an alternative browser.

Two references will be requested when you apply in the application form. We recommend reaching out to your referees as early as possible. Without reference letters, your appliction will not be considered.

If you would prefer to review this entire page and application form in French, please email ai4ph.dlsph@utoronto.ca.

AI4PH is strongly committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from racialized persons, persons of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of scholarship in the area of AI and public health.

Academic Status:
Candidates must be going into their first, second, or third year (if applicable) of their program/ fellowship at the time of submission. Applicants cannot hold the award in their fourth year of their program. 

• PhD, DrPH or MSc candidates must be registered at a Canadian institution in a full-time graduate program for the duration of the scholarship (September, 2026 to May, 2027).  
• Postdoctoral candidates must have completed all PhD degree requirements and registered as a postdoctoral trainee by September, 2026.
  

Research:
Candidates must have a strong record of research and academic excellence commensurate with career stage.
The candidate’s proposed project should clearly demonstrate: 

• Scientific rigour and clearly articulated research skills and assets
• Alignment with the mission of the AI4PH Training Platform, including Relevance to public health systems/public health system partners and strong equity considerations

EDI and Community Engagement:
After consultation with our Community Advisory Board, questions have been added to the application to capture engagement with people with lived or living experience (PWLE). Applicants need to:

• Describe their commitment to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion in their academic or research work.
• Articulate potential challenges in engaging people with lived experience in their research (e.g. design, data collection, dissemination, etc.).
• Describe the actions planned to overcome these challenges.
• Resources to help answer these questions can be found on our website ai4ph-hrtp.ca under traineeships

Supervision:
Candidates must be supervised or co-supervised by an AI4PH mentor. We encourage co-supervision or committee members from a complementary discipline covering AI, public health, equity and ethics.
The Supervisor(s) should:

• Have an area of expertise that aligns with the trainee’s proposed research and the goals of the AI4PH HRTP.
• Have a clear plan to integrate the trainee into their existing professional and academic networks
• Be based and can hold funds at a Canadian academic institution and permitted to supervise a trainee.

Renewal: in 2026 awards are limited to one year.

The AI4PH review committee will adjudicate applicants on an annual cycle. Each year they will offer scholarship support at the Masters’s, doctoral and postdoctoral level. There are two possible funding levels for Master’s and Doctoral students, as indicated below. The full stipend is for those who do not currently hold a major tri-council (i.e. NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) graduate award. For successful applicants that hold a major award, a top-up stipend will be awarded instead of the full amount. The postdoctoral award is a top-up only stipend awarded at one level. For doctoral and postdoctoral awardees, there is an opportunity to apply to renew funding for 1 additional year.

Funding period: 1 year starting in the Fall. 

Amount:
Postdoctoral top-up stipend: 20,000 CAD
Doctoral (PhD and DrPH): 20,000 CAD (full) or 9,000 CAD (top-up)
Masters (MSc or MPH): 15,000 CAD (full) or 6,000 CAD (top-up)

• Engaging with faculty members and other trainees through AI4PH events
• Invitation to present at the annual capacity-building workshop and webinars offered throughout the year
• Join and participate in the AI4PH Slack channel

Acknowledge AI4PH-HRTP and CIHR funding in all related publications and presentations

Submit a final report summarizing trainee research and provide metrics on products that were created during the scholarship funding period (e.g., publications, presentations, etc.)

Commit to becoming an AI4PH alum and engage in alumni activities, including mentorship and networking with future funded trainees

⇒Quality of the research proposal and public health impact

⇒Alignment with the AI4PH HRTP goals

⇒Quality of the training environment

⇒Commitment to equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion

⇒Perspectives on engaging people with lived or living experience

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS