Funding

What is the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants and is available to both Canadian and international applicants who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research‑based growth. This fellowship is valued at $70,000 per two years with only 70 available annually across Canada. 

The fellowship program is administered by Canada's three federal granting agencies:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) 
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

How are applicants considered?

Applicants must submit a Notice of Intent Application Package to FGPS@wlu.ca by Laurier's internal deadline of Wednesday, July 10, 2024. 

A complete Notice of Intent Application Package includes:

1. Canadian Common CV, using the Vanier-Banting academic template.
2. All postsecondary education transcripts (unofficial transcripts accepted at this stage).
3. Significance of Research Contributions (max 1 page).
4. Significance of Leadership Contributions (max 1 page).
5. Special Circumstances (if applies, max 1 page).
6. Research Proposal (max 4 pages).
7. Bibliography (max 4 pages).
8. Proposed Supervisor’s Statement that includes (for the purpose of our internal competition) only the following 3 components of the Supervisor’s Statement as noted in the Banting Application Guide (max 3 pages; email to FGPS@wlu.ca):
   • Supervisor’s Biography
   • Appropriateness of the supervisor
   • Research environment
9. One reference letter that includes the following (must be submitted by someone other than the proposed supervisor and does not have to be from an arm's length referee at this stage; max 3 pages; email to FGPS@wlu.ca):
   • An assessment of the applicant’s research excellence and demonstrated leadership.
   • An assessment of the merit of the proposed research.
   • Comment on the suitability of the proposed research environment. 

Note: Laurier's Banting Notice of Intent (NOI) Application Package is for internal pre-endorsement purposes. The NOI package does not require all components of an official Banting application as required for the national Banting competition. Applicants who are selected to be endorsed by Laurier via our internal NOI application competition will be required to complete a full Banting application.

Results of Laurier's internal pre-endorsement NOI competition will be communicated to applicants approximately two weeks after the internal application deadline.

What is the CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program?

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Postdoctoral Fellowships support highly qualified applicants in the areas of health research to add to a recipient’s experience by engaging in health research in Canada or abroad. The value of this fellowship is $70,000 per year (taxable); non-renewable tenable for up to five years. See CIHR Fellowship website for more details. 

How are applicants considered?

Applicants must submit their applications to ResearchNet by Laurier’s set deadline (which will appear when you identify Laurier as the host institution (“Institution Paid”). A complete list of eligibility guidelines as well as applications instructions can be found on the  CIHR Fellowship website and ResearchNet.

What is the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship Program? 

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships support the most promising new Canadian scholars in natural sciences and engineering, and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers. The value of this fellowship is $70,000 non-renewable for up to two years.

How are applicants considered?

Applicants must submit their applications to the NSERC online system by the advertised agency deadline. A complete list of eligibility guidelines as well as applications instructions can be found on NSERC’s website.

NSERC Resources Playlist - Scholarships & Fellowships program application tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ox0GB7vXYlhaAY7mEqwmMqYK9TGCp1E

What is the OWHS Award?

The Ontario Women's Health Scholars (OWHS) Award recognizes postdoctoral fellows (as well as master’s and doctoral students) whose research will potentially contribute to the advancement of knowledge about women’s health. Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, scholars will excel in the creation of new knowledge about women’s health and its translation into improved health for women, more effective health services and products for women, and a strengthened health care system.

Up to two awards at the postdoctoral level are funded annually. The current value of these awards is $50,000 plus a $5,000 research allowance. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents as of the application deadline date (Jan. 31 annually), and must be sponsored by the Dean of Graduate Studies at the Ontario university at which they are undertaking postdoctoral research.

How are applicants considered?

By Dec. 1 annually, applicants must submit to the dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (via email to fgps@wlu.ca) electronic copies of the following documents:

• The completed application form.
• A curriculum vitae (including information concerning the eligibility criteria).
• For postdoctoral applicants: a brief summary of their doctoral thesis (maximum 300 words).
• A statement of research to be undertaken during the period of graduate study or postdoctoral research (maximum 1,000 words). There must also be an additional, non-technical summary (maximum 500 words). These statements must be written by the candidate.
• Confidential letters from four assessors. These appraisals should focus on an evaluation of the applicant’s research to date, and the research being undertaken during the postdoctoral period. The applicant must ask for the appraisals to be transmitted electronically directly to the dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Two of the assessors should preferably be from another university and must not have been associated with the candidate as either a supervisor, a member of the candidate’s supervisory committee, or a co-author.

For full details, see the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies website, or select "Ontario Women's Health Scholars Award" on Laurier's Graduate Funding and Awards: External Funding webpage.

 

What is the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Program?

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowships support the most promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities, and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers. The value of this fellowship is $70,000 per year for up to two years and is non-renewable.

How are applicants considered?

Applicants must submit their applications to the SSHRC online system by the advertised agency deadline. An institutional nomination letter is required as part of this application. The head of the department or department chair at the primary location of tenure should complete this form. A complete list of eligibility guidelines as well as applications instructions can be found on SSHRC’s website.

What is the Mitacs Elevate?

Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that empowers Canadian Innovation through effective industry-academia partnerships that deliver solutions to pressing problems. Mitacs Elevate is a postdoctoral fellowship with an exclusive professional development curriculum component. Fellows address complex challenges through a one- or two-year research project with their academic supervisor and a partner organization in need of high-level research expertise. Under the program, Mitacs provides a 1:1 match for partner organization funds (minimum partner contribution of $30,000 per year), for fellows receive a minimum of $55,000 annual stipend and access to invaluable inter-disciplinary networking and peer-learning opportunities.

How are applicants considered?

Interested applicants must contact the Office of Research Services to confirm eligibility of the postdoctoral fellow and the partner organization, which is required as part of the application. The partner organization must provide a cash contribution of $30,000 per year.

What is the Travel Assistantship Program?

The Travel Assistantship Program (login required) funding supports any non-domestic research-related travel by postdoctoral fellows, which could include attending a conference, travel to a field site, visiting a research collaborator, or travel to a remote site for specialized training.

How are applicants considered?

Applicants must complete a Postdoctoral Fellows Travel Assistantship Form clearly explaining the nature of the research-related travel and outlining the expected travel expenses​. Your supervisor must sign to verify that the purpose of the travel is related to your program of research. The maximum amount of support that will be provided is $800. Each postdoctoral fellow will be eligible to apply only once per year.

Questions and completed applications for the Travel Assistantship Program should be submitted to fgps@wlu.ca.