Funding Opportunities
Postdoctoral funding is available from a variety of internal and/or external sources. While not a complete list, this page provides guidance and information on key award and fellowship opportunities
If you are interested in finding a postdoctoral position where you are paid by a faculty member’s grant, we recommend that you explore Toronto Met faculty and department websites. You are encouraged to reach out to faculty members whose research interests align with your own to ask if they are looking to hire a postdoctoral fellow. See current research staff opportunities. Though you may directly contact a faculty member with related research interests even if there are no current postings in that area.
Canada's three federal granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), all provide funding for fellowship programs geared towards qualified applicants at the postdoctoral (post-PhD) stage of their careers.
CIHR’s Health Research Training Strategy (external link) aims to equip (external link) research trainees so that they emerge from their training as scientific, professional, or organizational leaders within and beyond the health research enterprise. Generating Research Leaders of tomorrow (external link) is a key objective for CIHR.
CIHR Fellowships provide support for highly qualified applicants in all areas of health research (external link) at the postdoctoral (post-PhD) degree or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.
Award Value and Duration: The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance and are valued in Canadian dollars. The maximum amount awarded for a single award is up to $60,000 per annum for up to 5 years. The value and duration of each award is determined by the degree(s) held, licensure (where applicable), location of tenure and experience of the applicant.
Application details and eligibility criteria are available on the CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program website (external link) and Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation.
NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowships provide support to a core of the most promising researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The fellowships are also intended to secure a supply of highly qualified Canadians with leading-edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government and academic institutions.
Award Value and Duration: $45,000 per year for two years.
Application details and eligibility criteria are available on the NSERC Fellowships Program website (external link) and Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation.
Based on the recommendations of the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review and (PDF file) Standing Strong committee, and as part of a wider commitment to equity, TMU is offering up to four Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black Scholars valued at $70,000/year plus benefits.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is jointly administered by Canada's three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research-based growth.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is distinguished from existing postdoctoral fellowships programs by its emphasis on the synergy between an applicant’s individual merit and potential to launch a successful research-intensive career and the host institution’s commitment to the research program and environment with which the applicant is to be affiliated. As such, an applicant’s application to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program must be completed in full collaboration with the proposed host institution.
Award Value and Duration: $70,000 CAD per year for up to two years (non-renewable).
Selection Criteria:
- Research excellence and leadership in the research domain
- Quality of applicant's proposed research program
- Institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between the applicant and institutional strategic priorities
Full application details and eligibility criteria are available on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website (external link) .
All prospective applicants planning to apply for the Banting fellowship to be held at TMU must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). Only those successful at the LOI stage may develop a full-application to be submitted on behalf of TMU.
The LOI submission process will open in May 2024. Instructions and the LOI form will be available here in the coming weeks.
The LOI submission deadline will be Monday, June 3, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET. TMU’s internal committee will review and identify the strongest applications and selected candidates will be notified by mid-July. Full applications will then need to be submitted by TBA.
Contact: Natasha Mills, Coordinator, Graduate Scholarships and Awards, YSGPS, natasha.mills@torontomu.ca
The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS) (external link) provides valuable resources for Canadian postdoctoral fellows including, amongst many things, funding opportunities.
Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization that works with institutions, companies and the federal and provincial governments to promote and support innovation. Postdoctoral opportunities available through Mitacs include the following programs: Globalink Research Award (external link) , Accelerate (external link) , Elevate (external link) and the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship (external link) .
Award Value and Duration: Various
Application details and eligibility criteria are available on the Mitacs website (external link) and Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation
The Nadir Mohamed Postdoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $10,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold a PhD degree.
The Singer Family Doctoral Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $10,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward a PhD degree.
The Howard Tanenbaum Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $2,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward an MA degree.
The Elaine Ling Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $2,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward an MA degree.
Please visit The Image Centre (external link) for more information about fellowships.