INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL ASSOCIATION
28th ANNUAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM, RTP

Monday 12th – Thursday 15th October, 2026
TORONTO, CANADA

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: May 15th, 2026

We are pleased to announce the 2026 IPA Annual Research Training Program (RTP). The major aim of this well-established program is to support IPA candidates and members as well as researchers non related to IPA in conceptualizing and conducting studies in the broad field of contemporary psychoanalytic research. Therefore, the RTP program will focus on discussing the research of the attending fellows in consultations with an international faculty of IPA visiting professors in psychoanalytic research. The faculty includes Stephan Hau, Rogerio Lerner, Alexandra Harrison, Stephan Doering, Clara Schejtman, Erik Stänicke and Line Stänicke. The program will take place over four full days, from Monday October 12th to Thursday October 15th, 2026, and will be based at the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, 40 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 1M9.

As in previous years, the aims of this successful training program will be to provide attendees with opportunities for constructive consultation for their research projects at whatever phase of development (conception, design, data collection, or data analysis and write-up phase). Training is available in both empirical and conceptual approaches to psychoanalytic research across a number of areas, including psychotherapy, personality and psychopathology, attachment and parenting, social neuroscience, developmental processes, neurocognitive functioning, psychoanalytic process and outcome, and clinical/conceptual research. A central part of the experience for trainees will be the opportunity to present and discuss their own research projects and goals with faculty members and other participants. The curriculum will include an introduction to current research methods, as well as specific applications drawn from the research programs of faculty members.

Interested applicants may read more about the goals of the program and a review of its beginnings in a Guest Editorial in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 643-651 (1997). Descriptions and findings of IPA funded research projects can be found at the IPA website under “Research”. A rich overview of psychoanalytic process and outcome research can be found in the Open Door review here

The program will offer constructive and critical reviews of projects in a way that should facilitate grant writing and fundraising, thus providing additional opportunities for ongoing psychoanalytic research. We also anticipate that participants of the Research Training Program will benefit from networking with consultants and collaborators for their future work. They will join a network of research fellows within the IPA and will have opportunities for active exchanges by e-mail, list servers and conferences.

Each fellow will also be welcome to attend the: Joseph Sandler Research Conference – Theaters of the Mind: Dreams, Transference, Dissociation, and Trauma from Friday, October 16th to Sunday, October 18th, 2026. This conference is hosted by the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis.

Those interested in the RTP should apply through the new online application system here

You will be required to submit:

• Curriculum vitae summary: A brief overview of your CV, highlighting your experience in psychoanalysis and research.
• Statement of expectations: A short description of what you hope to gain from participating in the RTP.
• Research project overview: A brief literature review on your research topic, followed by your methodology, the current stage of your study, a discussion of findings (if applicable), and key bibliographic references.
• Main question for discussion at the RTP: Please briefly state the main question that you would like to discuss during RTP.

As in previous years, we emphasise that:

• The project can be part of a collaborative team or your own work, and it can be at the beginning phase or from an ongoing research project in which you are participating. In the case of projects carried out by teams, only one researcher will be admitted. If more than one team member applies, priority will be given to the less experienced fellow;
• The research topic cannot be changed after acceptance. If any reasons appear that the project cannot be presented, the only alternative is to withdraw;
• Once the selection results are publicly announced, selected fellows must confirm their participation;
• A short summary (one-sheeter) of the current state of the project, description of methodology and the main questions that should be discussed shall be handed in a week prior to the RTP. Guidelines for preparing PowerPoint presentations for the RTP will be provided in due course.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: May 15th, 2026

Venue of the Research Training Program (RTP): Toronto Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, 40 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 1M9.

Venue of the Joseph Sandler Conference: Victoria College, University of Toronto. 73 Queen’s Park Cres E, Toronto, ON M5S 1K7.

The Research Training Program (RTP) is free of charge; however, please note that you have to pay yourself for travel costs and accommodation.

RTP fellows are welcome to attend the Sandler Conference (October 16-18, 2026), and would pay the reduced candidates' (or students') fee.

 

Please find more information about the Sandler Conference here