Background:
Award Name: Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations DLSPH Graduate Award
Established by: Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations, Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH)
Applicable Students: Full-time Master’s and Doctoral Students at DLSPH
Award value (per recipient): Up to $15,000.00
Deadline for Project Application: Friday, May 8th, 2026 (5:00 pm)
Deadline for Reference Letters*: Friday, May 8th, 2026 (5:00 pm)
*Please note that all reference letters must be submitted online utilizing this program. References will be contacted via this system and will be required to upload reference letters by May 8th, 5:00 pm. Please complete the supervisor and reference sections to indicate who should be contacted at least 2 weeks before the deadline, so references have sufficient time to upload their reference letters.
The NHP’s Education and Training Program has established a world-class program that is training and preparing future health leaders. It provides many opportunities to gain and enhance students and trainee’s competencies in research and analytical skills, community engagement, co-design, knowledge translation and mobilization, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Awardees will also have the opportunity to share their research with a broader network of experts from the field, network and seek guidance and mentorship on career goals.
Applicant Eligibility:
- To be awarded to full-time Master’s, PhD or DrPH level graduate students who are currently enrolled in full-time, thesis-based graduate programs at DLSPH.
- Undertaking a thesis-based project that examines the risk, burden, and impact of cardiometabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, through innovative research approaches and, where relevant, community engagement activities.
- Projects must integrate a health equity lens to assess and address disparities in outcomes across sociodemographic groups or communities and align with the NHP’s mission to reduce inequities and improve population health.
- Students are supervised by School of Graduate studies faculty members, who are eligible to supervise graduate students and hold research funding at the University of Toronto. Faculty members and students will be invited to join NHP’s interdisciplinary network of renowned researchers dedicated to addressing the risk and burden of chronic diseases.
- Students who have applied for or received scholarship, fellowship or award funding from other agencies are required to report total funds.
- A maximum of 2 applications can be submitted where the supervisor has the role of the primary and/or co-supervisor.
Stipend and Duration:
- The value of the NHP Graduate Award is up to $15,000 commencing September 1, 2026, and will be paid in three installments (September 2026, January 2027, May 2027).
- Priority will be given to students who do not hold an existing award; however, all students are eligible.
- Final awards are subject to confirmation with the relevant graduate unit and in accordance with its applicable funding policies.
Award Holder Responsibilities:
- Students must be enrolled full time in a DLSPH graduate program in Public Health Sciences or The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
- Fulfill the academic requirements of their degree program and plan of study.
- Expected to participate in NHP programming and activities, when invited.
- Expected to present at least one NHP event such as webinars, seminars, or to NHP partners.
- Required to acknowledge the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations funding in publications, presentations, and communications resulting from their award.
- Must complete mid-year project progress reports and final reporting of deliverables, and an evaluation survey. The report templates will be provided to award holders.
Review Criteria:
Applications will be considered based on scientific merit of the research, its progress and supervision, interdisciplinarity, and relevance of the research to award objectives and NHP’s mission and goals. The following are the criteria that will be used to adjudicate awards:
Quality of the Applicant: 30%
- Academic record (transcripts)
- CV
- Reference letters and ratings
Quality of the Proposed Project: 30%
- Description of the research overview and objectives are clearly described.
- Project methods and approach are appropriate, robust, and feasible given stage in the program.
- Project timelines and deliverables are explained clearly and are feasible.
Impact of Proposed Project: 30%
- Project’s anticipated impact is aligned with the NHP mission and goals.
- Project has a population health and equity focus and aims to positively impact populations.
- Project demonstrates a clear understanding of the problem with the potential to address significant needs, gaps, barriers, or challenges.
4. Quality of Training Environment and Impact on Student’s Career: 10%
- Training environment is suitable to conduct the proposed research.
- Role of mentorship provided by the training environment is clearly outline.
Impact of the Network for Healthy Populations Trainee Award on the student’s career aspirations and goals are clearly described.
Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations DLSPH Graduate Award
Background:
Award Name: Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations DLSPH Graduate Award
Established by: Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations, Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH)
Applicable Students: Full-time Master’s and Doctoral Students at DLSPH
Award value (per recipient): Up to $15,000.00
Deadline for Project Application: Friday, May 8th, 2026 (5:00 pm)
Deadline for Reference Letters*: Friday, May 8th, 2026 (5:00 pm)
*Please note that all reference letters must be submitted online utilizing this program. References will be contacted via this system and will be required to upload reference letters by May 8th, 5:00 pm. Please complete the supervisor and reference sections to indicate who should be contacted at least 2 weeks before the deadline, so references have sufficient time to upload their reference letters.
The NHP’s Education and Training Program has established a world-class program that is training and preparing future health leaders. It provides many opportunities to gain and enhance students and trainee’s competencies in research and analytical skills, community engagement, co-design, knowledge translation and mobilization, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Awardees will also have the opportunity to share their research with a broader network of experts from the field, network and seek guidance and mentorship on career goals.
Applicant Eligibility:
- To be awarded to full-time Master’s, PhD or DrPH level graduate students who are currently enrolled in full-time, thesis-based graduate programs at DLSPH.
- Undertaking a thesis-based project that examines the risk, burden, and impact of cardiometabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, through innovative research approaches and, where relevant, community engagement activities.
- Projects must integrate a health equity lens to assess and address disparities in outcomes across sociodemographic groups or communities and align with the NHP’s mission to reduce inequities and improve population health.
- Students are supervised by School of Graduate studies faculty members, who are eligible to supervise graduate students and hold research funding at the University of Toronto. Faculty members and students will be invited to join NHP’s interdisciplinary network of renowned researchers dedicated to addressing the risk and burden of chronic diseases.
- Students who have applied for or received scholarship, fellowship or award funding from other agencies are required to report total funds.
- A maximum of 2 applications can be submitted where the supervisor has the role of the primary and/or co-supervisor.
Stipend and Duration:
- The value of the NHP Graduate Award is up to $15,000 commencing September 1, 2026, and will be paid in three installments (September 2026, January 2027, May 2027).
- Priority will be given to students who do not hold an existing award; however, all students are eligible.
- Final awards are subject to confirmation with the relevant graduate unit and in accordance with its applicable funding policies.
Award Holder Responsibilities:
- Students must be enrolled full time in a DLSPH graduate program in Public Health Sciences or The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
- Fulfill the academic requirements of their degree program and plan of study.
- Expected to participate in NHP programming and activities, when invited.
- Expected to present at least one NHP event such as webinars, seminars, or to NHP partners.
- Required to acknowledge the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations funding in publications, presentations, and communications resulting from their award.
- Must complete mid-year project progress reports and final reporting of deliverables, and an evaluation survey. The report templates will be provided to award holders.
Review Criteria:
Applications will be considered based on scientific merit of the research, its progress and supervision, interdisciplinarity, and relevance of the research to award objectives and NHP’s mission and goals. The following are the criteria that will be used to adjudicate awards:
Quality of the Applicant: 30%
- Academic record (transcripts)
- CV
- Reference letters and ratings
Quality of the Proposed Project: 30%
- Description of the research overview and objectives are clearly described.
- Project methods and approach are appropriate, robust, and feasible given stage in the program.
- Project timelines and deliverables are explained clearly and are feasible.
Impact of Proposed Project: 30%
- Project’s anticipated impact is aligned with the NHP mission and goals.
- Project has a population health and equity focus and aims to positively impact populations.
- Project demonstrates a clear understanding of the problem with the potential to address significant needs, gaps, barriers, or challenges.
4. Quality of Training Environment and Impact on Student’s Career: 10%
- Training environment is suitable to conduct the proposed research.
- Role of mentorship provided by the training environment is clearly outline.
Impact of the Network for Healthy Populations Trainee Award on the student’s career aspirations and goals are clearly described.