Information for Host Institutions

1. What is the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program?
2. How are these fellowships different from other fellowships?
3. Who is eligible for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program?
4. How are fellows selected?
5. Who is eligible to host a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship winner?
6. What is required of host institutions?
7. How does an institution demonstrate its commitment?
8. The number of requirements for institutions seems high – why is that?
9. Are there quotas on the number of fellowships that an institute can host?
10. Are there quotas on the number international students receiving fellowships?
11. Do the fellows have to be "new" to the institution – in other words, must they
    have done their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree elsewhere?

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1. What is the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is an initiative of the Government of Canada to attract top-tier postdoctoral researchers, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research-based growth.

The awards are two-year fellowships at $70,000/year for a total award of $140,000. Once in full operation, the program will support 140 international and Canadian postdoctoral researchers, with 70 fellowships awarded each year.

The awards are administered by Canada's three federal research granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Fellowships will be divided evenly among the three agencies.

2. How are these fellowships different from other fellowships?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is different from traditional programs in its emphasis on the synergy between the applicant (their individual merit and potential to launch an international-level, research-intensive career) and the institution (its commitment to the research program and the environment with which the applicant will be affiliated.)

Applicants to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program must apply in close collaboration with the university or other eligible research institution at which they have secured a postdoctoral position. The institution will need to endorse the applicant and provide documents to be included as part of the application. It is expected that there will be a competitive process in the institutions to determine which applicants are endorsed.

3. Who is eligible for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program?

Both Canadian and international recent PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree graduates are eligible to apply for a Banting postdoctoral fellowship. International students must hold their award at a Canadian institution, as must Canadian citizens or permanent residents who obtained their degree from a foreign university.

A limited number of candidates who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and who obtained their PhD or health professional degree from a Canadian university may hold their award at a Canadian institution OR at an institution outside of Canada (up to 25% of awards annually).

4. How are fellows selected?

Successful applicants for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program will be selected on the basis of the Selection Criteria which will be weighted equally by the selection committees.

All applications will undergo an evaluation by an agency-specific selection committee. Applications will be reviewed in relations to the stated selection criteria, and each selection committee will recommend to the Banting Selection Board the 23 or 24 most meritorious candidates based on those criteria.

The Banting Selection Board will endorse the recommendations put forward by the three granting agencies' selection committees. The Steering Committee, made up of the Presidents of the three federal granting agencies, and the Deputy Ministers of Industry Canada and Health Canada, is responsible for approving the final slate of 70 awardees annually.

5. Who is eligible to host a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship winner?

Institutions eligible to host a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship award holder include Canadian and International universities, affiliated research hospitals, colleges and not-for-profit organizations with a strong research mandate and capacity. Canadian government (federal, provincial and municipal) and all for-profit organizations are not eligible to participate as host institutions.

6. What is required of host institutions?

Host institutions must collaborate with applicants and provide evidence of the following:

• the institution's strategic use of the program;
• institutional support for the proposed research program;
• the institution's commitment to developing the research and leadership potential of the applicant; and
• positioning the candidate for a successful research-intensive career.

7. How does an institution demonstrate its commitment?

Host institutions play a critical role in the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program. Institutions are asked to endorse only their highest-calibre postdoctoral researchers.

Host institutions must provide applicants with four documents to support their application:

• An institutional letter of endorsement;
• Supervisor's statement;
• Research environment; and
• Professional development.

For more information on these documents, please refer to the appropriate sections that can be found at the end of Task 10: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents in the Step-by-Step Guide to Applying.

8. The number of requirements for institutions seems high – why is that?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is a prestigious program intended to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers, on a par with the world's most valuable postdoctoral fellowships. It is expected that institutions will make significant efforts to attract top applicants and support them both through the application process and by positioning them for success as research leaders of tomorrow.

9. Are there quotas on the number of fellowships that an institute can host?

No, there are no quotas. However, in light of the small number of awards in this program and the demands of the application and selection processes, universities are encouraged to carefully select and endorse a limited number of the highest quality applicants from both Canada and abroad.

10. Are there quotas on the number international students receiving fellowships?

No, Canadian and international applicants will compete on an equal footing for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.

11. Do the fellows have to be "new" to the institution – in other words, must they have done their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree elsewhere?

If an applicant decides to apply for their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship in collaboration with the same institution at which they obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree, a solid justification – related, for example, to the availability of highly unique equipment – will be an absolute requirement. Such special circumstances, however, are expected to be exceptionally rare in the context of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program.

There are no restrictions on an applicant already being in a postdoctoral position at their proposed host institution.