Postdoctoral Awards – School of Graduate Studies

Arts & Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The Arts & Science Postdoctoral Fellowships provides outstanding recent doctoral students advanced training in their field of study. These fellowships are not discipline specific, but rather can be held in any department or research unit across the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto. Applicants must secure sponsorship of a full-time supervisor, or supervisors, from the professoriate within the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George Campus).

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is intended to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally; develop their leadership potential; and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada’s economic, social and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.

Seventy fellowships are awarded annually, divided evenly between Canada’s three federal granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC). There are a total of 140 awards active at any one time.

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is unique in its emphasis on the synergy of research goals and projects between the following:

Applicant – individual merit and potential to launch a successful research-intensive career
Host Institution – commitment to the research program and alignment with the institution’s strategic priorities

China Scholarship Council: Scholarships

In partnership with the University of Toronto (U of T), the China Scholarship Council (CSC) offers scholarships to outstanding Chinese students who will pursue doctoral or postdoctoral studies at U of T under the established collaborative program: China Scholarship Council – University of Toronto Joint Funding Program.

The CSC aims to fund in its annual competition:

20 Chinese students for U of T’s PhD program for up to 48 months
20 Chinese visiting PhD students at U of T, for up to 24 months
10 postdoctoral fellows for up to 24 months
10 visiting scholars for up to 12 months

Each year, CSC aims to fund 20 new Chinese U of T students in its annual competition for the PhD degree program. The average U of T success rate for receiving a CSC has been approximately 50%; CSC granted 10 awards to U of T applicants in 2021-22 and 11 in 2022-23. Successful applicants typically have excellent grades and one or more publications.

John Charles Polanyi Prizes

To honour the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Ontario Government established a fund to provide John Charles Polanyi Prizes annually to up to five outstanding researchers or scholars who are in the early stages of their career and at Ontario universities. The prizes, each which is valued at $20,000, will be conferred in the fall of 2023. They are available in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Science, broadly defined.

The John Charles Polanyi Prize is a prestigious award and the University of Toronto is well represented on the list of prize winners. It is our aim to remain successful in this competition and we continue to encourage graduate units to nominate their strongest, eligible candidates.

Read about the latest and past University of Toronto recipients of the Polyani Prize:

Latin American Scholarship Programs (CALDO)

U of T is home to approximately 650 students from Latin America, many of whom are graduates of the region’s leading universities. International PhD students in most programs at U of T are charged the same tuition fees as our domestic students. To further attract and support Latin America’s best and brightest students, U of T has established a number of scholarship agreements with Latin America via CALDO. The CALDO Consortium provides guidance to prospective students from Latin America on finding and applying for graduate programs in top Canadian universities.

Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards

The Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards Program is administered by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) and was established with the support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent women’s health scholars. The Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards Program aims to establish a research community that meets or exceeds internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence in its 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.

Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

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. Nominees must be nominated by their prospective Faculties/divisions following the timeline and processes outlined below. While the nomination/application process will normally begin with faculty advisors/mentors, funding for the successful nominees will be provided to their respective Faculty Research Office for administration.

Read about the recipients of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellows on the PPFP webpage.

Schmidt Science Fellows Award

The Schmidt Science Fellows program, is an initiative of Schmidt Futures supported and funded by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Strategic Fund for Innovation, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust and supported by many of the world’s leading scientific thinkers and institutions. The Schmidt Science Fellows program aims to develop the next generation of science leaders to transcend disciplines, advance discovery, and solve the world’s most pressing problems.

Fellows engage and co-produce with diverse thinkers in science, politics, society, and business to catalyse new ideas and connections. The Fellowship year is the beginning of their membership to a lifelong community of Schmidt Science Fellows, their partners and supporters, all of whom are committed to furthering interdisciplinary science to benefit the world.

For the 2024 cohort selection process, the Program is inviting nominations from approximately 100 leading science, technology, and engineering institutions around the world to join the community of 113 current and Senior Fellows; the University of Toronto may nominate seven candidates.

The University of Toronto has been very successful in having successful nominees since the Program’s inception, averaging one recipient per year. Applicants are encouraged to read about our past Schmidt Science Fellows Program recipients:

2023 Fellows: Schmidt to Announce

2022 Fellows: Elizabeth Philips and Paul Chen

2021 Fellow: Anastasia Korolj

2019 Fellow: Ina Anreiter

2018 Fellows: Jielai Zhang and Xiwen Gong.

About the program

The Schmidt Science Fellows Program’s vision is a world where interdisciplinary science flourishes without limit, accelerating discoveries to benefit the world, and driving innovation that improves quality of life for all.

Schmidt helps scientists solve bigger problems faster by identifying, developing, and amplifying the next generation of science leaders, building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science, and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change.

The Schmidt Science Fellows Program believes the best scientists should draw insights from across numerous disciplines, be able to apply new techniques, and possess a broad worldview informed by the intersections between science and society. This is the space they work in. Schmidt Science Fellows are pioneers, trailblazers, and risk-takers who enjoy unparalleled intellectual and scientific freedom and membership of a supportive, lifelong community that provides a safe place to take scientific risks and push the boundaries of science.

The program seeks the brightest minds in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computing who are interested in broadening their horizons, pivoting away from their PhD research area and pursuing a challenging and rewarding period of study in an alternative discipline with the world’s leading academics, scientists and institutions.

Fellows receive a personal stipend of $100,000 a year (for up to two years, a total of up to $200,000 of support during their Fellowship) and are supported to develop the skills and perspectives needed to become future leaders in science and society. Fellows pursue a postdoctoral placement at a world-leading laboratory anywhere in the world, working in a different discipline to that of their PhD. During the first year as a Fellow, they participate in a varied and challenging Global Meeting Series that introduces new research ideas, techniques, and questions, in addition to a tailored training program including communication, leadership and management skills. Fellows also benefit from a personalized mentoring program, providing professional development support from experienced and internationally accomplished scientists, and at the completion of the Fellowship Year, join the Senior Fellows community of alumni for ongoing support, collaboration, interaction, and programming opportunities.

For a range of materials and content available that explains and explores the Schmidt Science Fellows mission and introduces the background, science, and motivations of some of our Fellows. Please see the following links:

Science Needs to Change: Schmidt Science Fellows Vision and Mission Fellowship Research Placement

Who is a Schmidt Science Fellow?

Candidate Requirements

Schmidt Science Fellows are encouraged and supported to take an ambitious scientific risk when considering their postdoctoral placement. Their proposed research pivot (change in area of research) should represent a genuine and innovative disciplinary departure from their PhD studies, with a clear goal towards gaining new skills in a new area and establishing field-leading interdisciplinary lines of research with potential for high reward and societal impact.

Research placements are not restricted to any group of institutions. Schmidt Science Fellows may choose to complete their Placement at a group of their choice, subject to Program approval and assurance that the host organization meets the Fellow’s individual training and research needs. The Program provides advice and support to all selected Fellows in making their final choice of Placement location prior to an approval process. This is a unique opportunity to study in a world-class lab anywhere in the world and candidates are encouraged to consider the unique freedom, flexibility, and global outlook this opportunity provides.

Schmidt Science Fellows are expected to become science leaders and should demonstrate a keen interest in harnessing interdisciplinarity and interacting with wider society. Candidates must possess the drive to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems and the personality to lead, inspire, and galvanize cross-disciplinary collaborations to accelerate discovery leading to impactful solutions.

The Schmidt Science Fellows Program is committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status marital or civil partner status, race, color, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief.

Please note, the application and selection process as well as the delivery of the Schmidt Science Fellows program is only available in English and all engagement with the program must be in English.

SGS Sponsorship Fund

The SGS Sponsorship Fund supports two types of initiatives designed, led, and attended by graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows at U of T: (a) the SGS Events Fund and (b) the SGS Innovation in Graduate Professional Development Fund.

(a) The SGS Events Fund supports the planning and implementation of an event at U of T that contributes to the SGS mission of:

Working collaboratively to advance excellence and innovation in graduate research and education.
Fostering an outstanding graduate experience for our diverse student population.
Creating and promoting opportunities for graduate student and postdoctoral fellow professional development.
Advancing integrity and ethical conduct in graduate research and education.
Establishing policy and promoting best practices for graduate research and education.

For the 2022–23 cycle, the School of Graduate Studies is calling for proposals for both in-person and virtual initiatives involving U of T graduate students and / or postdoctoral fellows focused on community-building, engagement, and networking across programs and disciplines with particular interest in events focused on re-connection and community building activities. Preference will be given to events that have significant U of T student / fellow participation in planning and implementation and/or prioritize U of T students and fellows as participants.

(b) The SGS Innovation in Graduate Professional Development Fund supports the development of new or expanded Graduate Professional Development initiatives by and for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows that contribute to the SGS mission of:

Working collaboratively to advance excellence and innovation in graduate research and education.
Fostering an outstanding graduate experience for our diverse student population.
Creating and promoting opportunities for graduate student and postdoctoral fellow professional development.
Advancing integrity and ethical conduct in graduate research and education.
Establishing policy and promoting best practices for graduate research and education.

The SGS Innovation in Graduate Professional Development fund supports both in-person and virtual initiatives for the U of T graduate students and postdoctoral communities. Preference will be given to initiatives that have significant U of T student / fellow participation in planning and implementation and / or prioritize U of T students and fellows as participants.

UTM Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Program

Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDFs) are an important post-PhD training opportunity, affording recent graduates an opportunity to establish an independent research program. The Office of the Vice-Principal Research’s (OVPR) Postdoctoral Fellowship program aims to provide up to 6 awards annually—2 in the Humanities, 2 in the Social Sciences, and 2 in the in Sciences.

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. UTM views these Fellowships as an important tool to ensure diverse groups have access to research support at this important early career stage.