Review process overview

Selection criteria

1. Applicant’s research excellence and leadership in the research domain:
   • demonstrated capacity for research excellence based on track record as defined by the quality of the applicant's research contribution; and
   • demonstrated capacity for leadership in the research domain as defined by the sphere of influence achieved to date by the applicant.
2. Quality of applicant's proposed research program:
   • potential of the proposed research program, executed in the proposed institutional environment, to position the applicant to have significant impact through a research-intensive career.
3. Institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between applicant and institutional strategic priorities:
   • demonstrated commitment of the institution to champion the development of the applicant's research and leadership capacity through support (funding, facilities, equipment, etc.) and professional development;
   • institution’s research capacity (demonstrated or potential) in the research area of the applicant’s proposed research program, which will enable the institution to provide an intellectually stimulating environment to position the applicant as a research leader; and
   • demonstrated alignment and synergy between the applicant's research ambitions and the institution's potential to benefit strategically from engaging with the applicant.

Process

Administration Vanier-Banting Secretariat

The Vanier-Banting Secretariat, which is housed at CIHR, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Banting PDF program.

Review Selection committee(s)

All eligible applications to the Banting PDF program undergo an evaluation by an agency-specific (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) selection committee. Applications are assigned to one of these committees based on the proposed area of research identified by the applicant as part of their application.

For more information, please refer to Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

The selection committees review applications in relation to the stated selection criteria, and each committee recommends the 23 or, in the case of the committee awarding the 70th fellowship, 24 most meritorious applicants based on those criteria.

Members of the selection committees are appointed based on their leadership, research excellence, and review experience. Committees are also structured to ensure representation, per the committee member selection criteria.

The lists of members who served on the 2023-2024 Banting PDF agency-specific selection committees are available through the following links:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Approval Tri-Agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee

The Tri-Agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee, made up of the presidents of the three federal granting agencies and the deputy ministers of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and of Health Canada, makes the final decision pertaining to the recommendations for Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Each year, the TAP Steering Committee approves 70 recipients that have been recommended by the selection committees.

Timelines

Notification of decision

Following approval by the TAP Steering Committee, the Vanier-Banting Secretariat notifies applicants of the results of their application by posting a decision letter to their ResearchNet account.

The names of the Banting postdoctoral researchers and other basic award information will be published on the Banting PDF website.

For more information on the posting of and access to information, please refer to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.