Award Overview

• Award Category

  International Awards, Postdoctoral Awards

• Student Deadline

  Determined by academic division

• Application Dates

  Dates may vary across academic divisions - see divisional website for further details and specific dates

• Value & Duration

  $80,000 per year for up to two years of postdoctoral research, plus an additional $10,000 in annual independent research funding

• Level of Study

  Doctoral

• Required Legal Status

  Domestic / International

• Results

  Determined by Academic Division

Value & Duration

The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program is designed to engage 100 exceptional postdoctoral fellows across the university over two years. Commencing 2025–2026, each award will provide the full cost of a two-year postdoctoral salary and associated employers costs, plus an additional $10,000 in annual independent research funding.

The structure of the award is as follows:

• The postdoctoral employee is hired at the salary rate of $80,000 per year for two years; and
• An additional $10,000 in funding is provided annually for independent research.

Purpose

The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program at the University of Toronto is a prestigious opportunity for early-career scholars to develop and expand their research expertise at one of the world’s most distinguished public research universities. The program will empower postdoctoral scholars with the autonomy to pursue an ambitious research program, while benefitting from close collaboration with leading faculty and access to tailored professional and career development supports. The program is designed for exceptional postdoctoral scholars eager to contribute to an innovative, vibrant and inclusive academic community. This program specifically seeks to bridge the critical gap between doctoral training and independent academic careers by providing postdoctoral fellows with the resources, autonomy, and mentorship necessary to establish themselves as independent researchers. Fellows are expected to develop and lead their own research agenda, distinct from but complementary to their supervisor’s work, positioning them for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.

Eligibility

This award is open to both domestic and international candidates. The following criteria are the institutional eligibility requirements for successful engagement as a Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow.

Candidates must:

• Be engaged as, or seeking a position as a postdoctoral employee of the University of Toronto (teaching hospital postdocs are not employees of the university);
• Have demonstrated academic excellence, proven capacity to conceptualize and execute independent research beyond their doctoral work, and evidence of intellectual leadership in their chosen field;
• Expect to complete all doctoral degree requirements by the time the fellowship commences and normally be within five years from the completion of their degree; and
• Not have previously engaged in more than one postdoctoral appointment.

Award recipients must:

• Have completed all degree requirements prior to the start of the fellowship;
• Be engaged as a postdoctoral employee of the University of Toronto (teaching hospital postdocs are not employees of the university);
• Be hired by a U of T supervisor appointed to a graduate unit;
• Register and remain registered with the Postdoctoral Office at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS);
• Not concurrently hold another major fellowship;
• Not hold a faculty position or be on leave from such position; and
• Establish an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and submit it to the Postdoctoral Office at SGS within the first three months of the fellowship. The IDP should be reviewed annually and the revised copy sent to SGS.

Please consult the academic division to determine if there are any additional division- or discipline-specific eligibility requirements.

Application Process

Candidates interested in the Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program should contact the prospective supervisor(s) and co-supervisor(s). Supervisors wishing to support a candidate’s application must contact their appropriate academic divisional office to inquire about local processes and internal deadlines. Please refer to the relevant divisional website for more information (see contact list below).

Application Requirements

Candidates for the Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program will be evaluated at the divisional level. Please review the divisional websites for more information.

Results

Results will be communicated to applicants in accordance with divisional practices

Contacts & Resources