Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs

The University of Toronto Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides funding to Graduate Faculties to increase opportunities for hiring postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, specifically Indigenous and Black researchers. These fellowships will enable postdoctoral researchers to grow their scholarly profiles, undertake academic work at the University of Toronto, and strengthen the research environment at the University with diverse perspectives.

This funding is designed to help the University compete with peer institutions for top-tier candidates, and to support the University in meeting its institutional goal of fostering increased diversity and representation at all levels of teaching, learning and research.

Complete details, including the eligibility, selection criteria and application process can be found on the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program website. Results of the competition will be made available and communicated to Faculty Research Offices in May.

Applicants must be nominated by their Faculty (e.g., Faculty of Arts and Science) to SGS. Faculty Research Offices are asked to establish and communicate their internal application deadline and selection process before forwarding nominations to the School of Graduate Studies.

Potential nominees interested in the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program should contact the nominating supervisor. ​ Supervisors wishing to support a candidate’s application must contact their graduate unit/department Chair and affiliated Faculty Research Office to inquire about the Faculty’s internal deadline and nomination process. Please refer to the Faculty Research Office contact information table below.

Faculty Research Offices are invited to submit a ranked nomination list and a nomination package for each nominee to the School of Graduate Studies at sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca by the SGS deadline.

The nomination package for each nominee should be scanned as a single PDF file, containing all application materials in the order as listed below:

• A support letter from the graduate unit/department Chair, as per the selection criteria above (maximum two pages). Be sure to clearly state in the letter, with which underrepresented group (Indigenous and/or Black) the nominee identifies;
• A nomination letter from the faculty advisor/mentor, as per the selection criteria above;
• Statement of research intent from the nominee (maximum two pages);
• Nominee’s C.V. (no page restriction); and
• A short personal biography of the/written by the /written by the nominee (150-words limit), which may be used on the SGS Postdoctoral Fellows website or other communications, should they be successfully selected as a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow.

Note: A draft engagement letter is no longer required for the nomination package.

Complete details, including the eligibility, selection criteria and application process can be found on the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program website.

For inquiries regarding registration with the Postdoctoral Office at SGS, please contact: Sarah Pickering, Postdoctoral Administrative Officer Postdoctoral Office, SGS at sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca.

Since 2010, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program has attracted top-tier postdoctoral talent nationally and internationally. The aim of the program is to develop leadership potential and to position postdoctoral fellows for success as research leaders and contributors to Canada’s economic, social and research-based growth.

Every year the program awards 70 new fellowships across Canada’s federal granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC). The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is unique in its emphasis on the synergy between the applicant’s and the University’s research goals and projects. Successful applicants’ research programs are aligned with the University’s strategic priorities. 

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $70,000 per year for two years. If awarded, Banting fellows can choose a start date beginning the 1st of the month between April 1st and October 1st. Any date beyond that would be considered a deferral, and would require additional approvals.

All documents (including the ResearchNet application, Canadian Common CV, and all 3 referee assessments) must be emailed to Yasman Mohammadzadeh, Office of the Vice Dean, Research and Health Science Education (OVDRHSE) by July 26, 2024.  Late nominations will not be considered. Nominations will be reviewed and ranked by the Temerty Medicine Postdoctoral Selection Committee.

Please note: Each affiliated hospital will hold its own competition as well. It is separate from Temerty Faculty of Medicine (via OVDRHSE) and may have a different deadline and application process. Applicants will need to decide where to apply because it will determine where the fellowship will be held and paid from (if successful):

1.  Applicants who plan to have the Fellowship administered through the University of Toronto must apply through the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, OVDRHSE by July 26, 2024.  Applicants will have a supervisor with a primary appointment and graduate appointment in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
2.  If fellowship is to be administered and paid by the hospital research training centre (i.e., where the supervisor’s lab is located), contact the research office at the hospital directly.

In Addition:

• Applicants should refer to the SGS Announcment  and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships application guide and Selection Committee guide, including the evaluation criteria for the Fellowship. 
• Supervisors should note that this postdoctoral fellowship is for candidates of the highest quality and supervisors are limited to one nomination. The application requires a great deal of input from the supervisor and applicant; therefore, SGS provided the SGS Tip Sheet with more details and tips.
• View the University of Toronto’s Institutional Strategic Research Plan 2018-2023 and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Academic Strategic Plan 2018-2023 as well as your own department’s Strategic Plan.
• A copy of each referee assessment must to be forwarded to OVDRHSE (i.e., referee to directly email to yasman.mohammadzadeh@utoronto.ca).
• The institutional Letter of Endorsement will be provided by the School of Graduate Studies by September 13, 2024, prior to nominee online submission deadline.
• Applicants who require the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form from U of T must request it by email from the Postdoctoral Fellows Office before September 1, 2024.

For inquiries regarding registration with the Postdoctoral Office at SGS, please contact: Sarah Pickering, Postdoctoral Administrative Officer Postdoctoral Office, SGS at sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca.