The Government of Canada is thrilled to present the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program, a remarkable funding opportunity aimed at nurturing exceptional postdoctoral candidates from around the world. With a primary focus on bolstering the nation’s economic, social, and research-based progress, these fellowships attract and retain the brightest minds in academia.
By providing support and fostering leadership potential, the program paves the way for these scholars to become influential research leaders of tomorrow, contributing significantly to scientific advancements and innovation on a global scale. Here’s more details to the Government of Canada 2023 Banting Postdoctoral fellowships for international students.
Deadline
- submission deadline: 20 September 2023 (20:00 EDT)
Benefits of Government Of Canada Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
- $70,000 per year (taxable)
- 2 years (non-renewable)
Applicant Eligibility
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign citizens are eligible to apply for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.
- Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada must hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution.
- Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree from a foreign university must hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution.
- Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree from a Canadian university have the option to hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at either a Canadian institution or an institution outside of Canada.
Eligibility Window For Degree completion
To be eligible for the 2023-24 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program, applicants must satisfy the following requirements regarding their degree:
- Applicants must have fulfilled or completed all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree.
- The degree completion or fulfillment should fall within the period from September 15, 2020, to September 30, 2024, inclusive.
- Also, the degree requirements must have been fulfilled before the start date of the fellowship award.
For applicants who have not fulfilled all degree requirements at the time of application, they are required to provide proof of degree completion no later than October 15, 2024.
In the case of applicants who have multiple PhDs, PhD-equivalents, or health professional degrees, the eligibility window is applicable to the most recent degree obtained.
Allowable extensions to eligibility window:
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program recognizes that there may be circumstances that have interrupted an applicant’s career progression, and therefore, an extension to the eligibility window is permissible. Here are the details:
1. Extenuating circumstances: The eligibility window can be extended by a maximum of three years if the applicant experienced career interruptions due to various reasons, such as:
- Parental leave
- Illness
- Health-related family responsibilities
- Mandatory military service
- Disruptions caused by war, civil conflicts, or natural disasters in the country of residence
- Socio-economic reasons or lack of research opportunities
- Pandemic-related reasons
2. Career interruption definition: A “career interruption” refers to a period when the applicant was not working (full-time or part-time) and when their research output was completely halted.
3. Clinical training extension: For health professionals who have engaged in post-degree non-research-related clinical training, such as residency, the eligibility window can be extended by the duration of that training.
4. Professional certification: For professions requiring post-degree non-research-related training to be certified by a professional body, it is advisable to consult the Vanier-Banting Secretariat to confirm whether an extension to the eligibility window is permissible.
5. Timing of interruptions: You have to know that interruptions used to extend the eligibility window must have occurred after the fulfillment of the degree requirements and before the application submission deadline.
Justification and documentation:
Applicants seeking an extension to their eligibility window must provide a justification for their circumstances in the Special circumstances attachment, along with any necessary supporting documentation.
Host Institution Eligibility
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program allows various institutions to host postdoctoral researchers. Here are the eligibility criteria for host institutions:
– Eligible institutions: Canadian and foreign universities, affiliated research hospitals, colleges, and not-for-profit organizations with a strong research mandate and capacity are eligible to host Banting postdoctoral researchers.
– Ineligible institutions: Canadian governments (federal, provincial, municipal) and all for-profit organizations are not eligible to participate as host institutions.
– Clarification: For any queries regarding institutional eligibility, it is recommended to contact the Vanier-Banting Secretariat well in advance of the submission deadline.
Other eligibility restrictions:
There are a few additional restrictions and considerations for eligibility in the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program:
1. Previous postdoctoral fellowships: Applicants who currently hold or have held CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC postdoctoral fellowships are eligible to apply to the 2023-24 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program only if the term of that funding officially ends on or before September 30, 2024, and prior to the start of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. Early termination of the agency-specific postdoctoral award for the purpose of application to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is not permitted.
2. Multiple applications: Applicants can apply simultaneously to both the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program and other agency-specific postdoctoral fellowship programs, as long as the research proposed in each application aligns with the mandate of the respective federal granting agency. However, if an applicant is successful in both competitions, they will need to choose which award to accept.
3. Tenure-track positions: Applicants must not hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, nor can they be on leave from such a position. Generally, “tenure or tenure-track” refers to an open-ended academic position that involves forming a research group, applying for external research funding as a principal investigator, and teaching. If there is uncertainty regarding this condition, it is advisable to contact the
How to Apply
To apply for the Banting fellowship go to Government of Canada on banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca to apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program?
Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign citizens are eligible to apply, provided they have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree within the specified eligibility window.
Can the eligibility window be extended if there were career interruptions?
Yes, the eligibility window can be extended by a cumulative maximum of three years for career interruptions due to extenuating circumstances, such as parental leave, illness, health-related family responsibilities, mandatory military service, disruptions due to war, civil conflicts and/or natural disasters, socio-economic reasons, lack of research opportunities, and pandemic-related reasons.
How should career interruptions be justified?
Applicants must provide a justification for their career interruptions in the Special circumstances attachment, along with relevant supporting documentation.
Are there any restrictions on the host institution eligibility?
Eligible host institutions include Canadian and foreign universities, affiliated research hospitals, colleges, and not-for-profit organizations with a strong research mandate and capacity. However, Canadian governments (federal, provincial, municipal) and for-profit organizations are not eligible to host Banting postdoctoral researchers.
Can applicants apply to both the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program and other agency-specific postdoctoral fellowships?
Yes, applicants can apply to both, as long as the research proposed in each application aligns with the mandate of the respective federal granting agency. However, if successful in both competitions, applicants will need to choose which award to accept.
Can an applicant hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position while applying for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships?
No, applicants must not hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, nor can they be on leave from such a position. This requirement ensures that the fellowships are awarded to candidates who are early in their research careers.
Can a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship be awarded to an applicant who completed their degree at the same institution?
Generally, a fellowship will not be awarded to an applicant who stays at the same institution or research environment where they completed their PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree. However, valid justifications, such as scientific reasons, family reasons, health reasons, or research with Indigenous communities, may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can an applicant receive the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship more than once?
No, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is a one-time opportunity. Once an applicant has been awarded and successfully completed a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, they are not eligible to receive the fellowship again in any future competitions.
Can the eligibility window be extended for applicants who have completed multiple PhDs or equivalent degrees?
Yes, the eligibility window applies to the most recent of these degrees. The completion or fulfillment of degree requirements for the most recent degree should fall within the specified eligibility window.
How much do Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships pay?
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a financial support of $70,000 per year (taxable) for a duration of two years. This funding is intended to cover the fellow’s salary and contribute to their research-related expenses during their postdoctoral tenure.
What are the key features of a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship?
The fellowship is tenable only at the institution that supported the original application, lasts for two years, must commence between April 1st and October 1st following the year of application, cannot be held concurrently with another tri-agency training award, and can only be held once in a lifetime.
References
- https://banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
- https://www.afterschoolafrica.com/57036/government-of-canada-banting-postdoctoral-fellowships-2021-for-international-scientists/
- https://www.scholarshipair.com/scholarships/government-of-canada-2023-banting-postdoctoral-fellowships-for-international-scientists
