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Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

Award Overview

Purpose

The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The program provides funding and flexibility, empowering Canadian and international leaders in innovation and scholarship of tomorrow to develop the skills to build world-class research and drive Canadian prosperity and competitiveness.

Please visit the official Tri-Agency CPRA webpage for eligibility and application information.

Application Process

Applicants apply directly to the agencies. There is no separate university level competition; however, applicants must plan sufficient time to obtain any institutional signatures that are required for their application.

CIHR: Institutional signature required (eApproval on ResearchNet) and is managed by U of T Research Services Office. Supervisors are required to submit an MRA by institutional deadline (Sept 10, 2025). Detailed instructions are posted on OVPRI’s website.

NSERC: Does not require an institutional signature.

SSHRC: Requires department head to read SSHRC’s Guidelines for Effective Research Training and submit the online Institutional Nomination and Commitment form.

On the Institutional Nomination and Commitment form, department heads will be asked to write a letter addressing the following in under 2300 characters:

Research Training and Career Development
Based on SSHRC’s Guidelines for Effective Research Training, please outline how your institution will support effective research training and career development for this candidate. Effective research training and career development should:

  • build both academic (research and teaching) competencies and general professional skills including knowledge mobilization, transferable to a variety of settings;
  • include international and/or intersectoral opportunities whenever possible and applicable;
  • include specific, effective mentoring and institutional support.

If requested by applicant/awardee:
The Fulfillment of degree requirements form must be completed by the institution that issued or will issue the doctorate or health professional degree (CIHR).
U of T doctoral graduates/alumni: Email the SGS Completion Office at sgs.doctoral@utoronto.ca with your student number to complete the form.
Currently registered U of T doctoral students: Contact your graduate unit administrator to complete the form.

Additional Info

NSERC is hosting the following information sessions for the doctoral and postdoctoral programs:

 

Friday, September 5, 2025 (in English)

10 am to 12 pm (ET)

Link: Click here to join the session

 

Monday, September 8, 2025 (in English)

10 am to 12 pm (ET)

Link: Click here to join the session

 

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (in English)

1 pm to 3 pm (ET)

Link: Click here to join the session

Award Holder Information

Please see below steps to activate NSERC/SSHRC postdoctoral fellowships at U of T:

  1. Review the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for policies and requirements for holding the award, such as acceptance, start date, deferment, paid parental leave, early termination, etc.
  2. To accept the fellowship: NSERC/SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship recipients must email NSERC or  SSHRC of their decision by the deadline noted in their award offer letter.
  3. To arrange for payment: Starting six weeks before the start of the award (and no earlier), the Request for First Instalment and Reinstatement of Award Paid by Canadian Institution form must be completed by the award holder.
    • Part 4: Confirmation of Status, of the form, must be completed and signed by the awardee’s Departmental Chair or Business Officer/Manager to confirm they are engaged in full-time research (the form does not need to be signed by SGS and cannot be signed by the Supervisor)
    • The signed form should then be uploaded to the appropriate NSERC/SSHRC secure submission site. Please also email a copy to the SGS Postdoctoral Awards Office at sgs.postdoc.awards@utoronto.ca.
  4. Change in start date: Awardees must request and receive approval from NSERC/SSHRC for a change in start date. If approval is received, please also forward NSERC/SSHRC’s email approval to SGS, if SGS wasn’t already copied.

The department/unit at which you are taking up the award will need to “hire” you and provide you with a letter of engagement and set up your profile on payroll.  If you do not know who your departmental/unit Manager/Business Officer is, please ask your supervisor with which you’re taking up the award. Your supervisor or departmental/unit Manager/Business Officer will inform you what personal information/biographical details are needed from you and required documents (for e.g. passport/photo Id) for the letter of offer (employment contract).

Closer to your start date, you are to register with the SGS Postdoc Office. For those arriving from outside Toronto, registration is usually after having arrived in the city. Please reach out to the SGS Postdoctoral Office to register, issue your UTORid, give instructions for setting up your UofT email address, picking up your TCard, instructions for enrolling in the GSC plan as well as other information about being a postdoc with UofT.

Note that SGS enters and manages the NSERC/SSHRC fellowship funding only. Any other top-ups or payments received is managed by your departmental/unit Manager/Business Officer.

Payment Instructions for Business Officers/Dept Managers

NSERC/SSHRC Interruptions (Parental Leave/other leaves of absence):

  1. Review the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for policies and requirements for interrupting a fellowship
  2. Complete the Request for deferment of start date or interruption of award form
  3. Similar to the Request for First Instalment form, Part 4: Confirmation of Approval of the form, the “Authorized Institutional Official” section must be completed and signed by the awardee’s Departmental Chair, or Business Officer/Manager.
  4. The signed form should then be uploaded to the appropriate NSERC/SSHRC secure submission site. Please also email a copy to the SGS Postdoctoral Awards Office at sgs.postdoc.awards@utoronto.ca.

NSERC/SSHRC Terminations (ending the award early):

  1. Review the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for policies for terminating a fellowship
  2. Complete the Request for termination of award form
  3. Similar to the forms above, Part 5: Confirmation of Institutional Approval of the form must be completed and signed by the awardee’s Departmental Chair, or Business Officer/Manager.
  4. The signed form should then be uploaded to the appropriate NSERC/SSHRC secure submission site. Please also email a copy to the SGS Postdoctoral Awards Office at sgs.postdoc.awards@utoronto.ca.

 

Contacts & Resources

For NSERC/SSHRC PDF/CPRA inquires at U of T: sgs.postdoc.awards@utoronto.ca

For CIHR Fellowships/CPRA inquiries at U of T:
Visit OVPRI webpage
Contact: kitishia.cordner@utoronto.ca