Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

• Eligibility

  Eligibility requirements for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program are set by Banting and are available on the Eligibility section of the Banting website. Applicants and the proposed host institution must meet specific eligibility criteria within several categories. Applications that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted. 

  Justification to remain at the same institution

  While candidates already conducting research as postdoctoral fellows at Ontario Tech University are eligible, you must provide an extensive justification for the decision to remain at the same institution. There should be a direct correlation between the strength of the justification and the amount of time already spent at the institution.

  Only in exceptionally rare circumstances will a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship be awarded to an applicant who is staying at the same institution or within the same research environment where they completed their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree.

• Value and duration
  • $70,000 per year (taxable)
  • 2 years (non-renewable)

  Fellowships are distributed among:

  • the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• Deadlines
  • Internal university application deadline: July 28, 2023 (12 noon EDT)
  • External Tri-agency application deadline: September 20, 2023 (8 p.m. EDT)

  Applicants must first apply for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) by the internal university deadline. Only candidates that are successful in the internal university competition will be endorsed by Ontario Tech for the Tri-Agency competition.

• Application process

  While the detailed application guide can be found on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website, below is a brief overview of the university’s process:

  • Confirm eligibility
  • Contact proposed supervisor at the host institution
  • Complete the mandatory Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Intent to Apply form well in advance of the university's internal submission deadline
  • Register for:
    • Canadian Common CCV
    • ResearchNet account
  • Create CCV (Vanier-Banting academic template) and link to ResearchNet application
  • Start the online application
  • Submit a full PDF copy of the application as outlined on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website, including all attachments, to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, by email to postdocs@ontariotechu.ca by July 28, 2023, at 12 noon (EDT).

  The university’s internal application deadline includes the submission of a copy of your referee’s letters, sent directly by the referee to postdocs@ontariotechu.ca.

  The university does not have access to the online ResearchNet application system.

  Applicants and supervisors are strongly encouraged to review in detail the relevant sections in both the Application Guide and Selection Committee Guide posted on the Banting website while paying special attention to the selection criteria section to ensure the application fully addresses each of the criteria evaluated by the committee members.

  University endorsement letter

  The majority of the application can be completed, with the exception of the institutional endorsement letter. This will only be provided to the candidate(s) successful in the university selection process. Successful candidates will then be able to complete their application by the September 20, 2023 Tri-Agency deadline.

  It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all components of the application are complete (including references) and the application is submitted via ResearchNet by the application deadline.

• Referee letters

  The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies does not have access to letters of reference submitted through the ResearchNet application system.

  Referees should be instructed by the applicant to submit a confidential copy of their letter to postdocs@ontariotechu.ca by the internal application deadline of July 28, 2023 at 12 noon (EDT) for the university selection process. SGPS will not accept reference letters submitted directly by the candidate.

  Referees submitting online to the applicant’s ResearchNet application should keep an electronic copy of their submitted letters.

  It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide referees with the information that they need in order to complete their assessments and ensure submission to the university prior to the university’s internal deadline.

  Refer to Information for Referees section for instructions provided to referees.

  Reminder - Mandatory arm’s length referee: All applications must have at least one arm’s length referee from among the three invited referees.

  The arm’s length referee cannot be:

  • a relative, friend, or anyone else with whom the applicant has a personal relationship;
  • in a position to benefit from the funding of the application;
  • affiliated with the applicant’s current and/or proposed institution(s); or
  • professionally affiliated with the applicant (currently, in the past, or in the immediate future), as a result of but not limited to:
    • being the applicant’s supervisor or trainee,
    • collaborating, publishing or sharing funding with the applicant;
  • affiliated with the proposed supervisor, either personally or professionally.
• Information for Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Recipients

  Please be advised that Banting Postdoctoral Fellows are considered employees at Ontario Tech and therefore are subject to deductions; the $70,000 annual stipend does not cover this cost.

  Should the candidate be nominated and successful, the supervisor would be responsible for covering the cost of any mandatory deductions and Health Spending Account (HSA) expenses in accordance with the Postdoctoral Fellows (PDF) Collective Agreement.

  Successful candidates should be aware that as members of the PDF Collective Agreement, they will be responsible for union dues as outlined in the collective agreement.

• Additional information

  The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  • Cannot be held by a tenured or a tenure-track faculty member, nor can they be on leave from such a position.
  • Are tenable only at the institution which supported the original application for the program.
  • Must be taken up no earlier than April 1 and no later than October 1 following the year of application.
  • Are for two years.
  • Cannot be held concurrently with another Tri-Agency training award.
  • Can only be held once in a lifetime.

  The university is committed to consideration for equity and diversity at all levels of the selection/recruitment, endorsement and review processes of a Banting application.

  For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion visit the EDI page on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website.

General Inquiry FAQ

• How many applications do you receive each year?
  The number of applications received varies by year and by tri-council.
• How many nominations do you put forward each year?
  The number and quality of applications varies from year to year. However, to ensure we are aligned with the requirements of the highly competitive Banting program, we normally endorse only one application per tri-agency.
• How many Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships does Ontario Tech receive each year?
  Due to the highly competitive nature of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, the number received varies from year to year. Information on the competition results is available on the Banting website.
• How strict are the page length requirements and formatting requirements?
  Page length and presentation standards are determined by Banting. Applications that do not meet the requirements set by Banting may be deemed ineligible.
• If I am awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship through Ontario Tech, can I move the fellowship to another institution?
  No. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are held only at the institution that endorsed the application. It cannot be held at another institution. See the Banting eligibility guidelines for more information.

Eligibility FAQ

• Am I eligible for a Banting?
  Please review the eligibility requirements on the Eligibility section of the Banting website. Should you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact Banting directly.
• What happens if I completed my PhD outside of Banting's eligibility window?
  For degree completion and allowable extensions to the eligibility window, please refer to the Eligibility section of the Banting website. Please contact Banting directly if you have any questions about your eligibility.
• Can I apply for a Banting if I completed my doctoral degree at Ontario Tech?
  Yes. However, a strong rationale will be required within the Justification for remaining in PhD research environment section of your application.
• Can I apply for a Banting if I am a current Ontario Tech postdoctoral fellow?
  Yes. However, a strong rationale will be required within the Justification for remaining in PhD research environment section of your application.

Finding a Supervisor FAQ

• How do I find a supervisor?
  Prior to beginning the application process for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, you are strongly encouraged to connect with Faculty members at the University working in your field of research. You may review a list of faculty members and their research interests on each of our faculty websites or through the university's Expert Centre.
• I don’t have a supervisor. Can I still submit an application?

  No, all applicants must have a proposed supervisor. Applications without a proposed supervisor will not be accepted. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) is not responsible for finding a supervisor for prospective Banting applicants.

Ontario Tech Internal Banting Competition FAQ

• How firm is the Ontario Tech Internal Banting Competition deadline?
  Due to a very tight working schedule, the Ontario Tech internal Banting competition deadline is a firm deadline.
• Do you have examples of successful Banting applications from previous years?
  Unfortunately, we are unable to share examples of successful Banting applications from previous competitions.
• Can I submit my CCV in Draft format?
  For the purpose of the Ontario Tech internal Banting competition only, you may submit your CCV in draft format.
• Do I have to submit references for the Ontario Tech Internal Banting Competition?
  Referee letters are required for the internal selection process. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) does not have access to letters of reference submitted through the ResearchNet application system. Referees should be instructed by the applicant to submit a confidential copy of their letter to postdocs@ontariotechu.ca by the internal application deadline. For more information on referee letters, please see the Referee letters section of this page.
• Is a Supervisor's Statement required for the Ontario Tech Internal Banting Competition?
  Yes, Supervisor’s Statements are required for the Ontario Tech internal Banting competition and must meet the Banting PDF Supervisor’s Statement requirements.
• Should my supervisor submit the Supervisor's Statement directly?
  No. The Supervisor’s Statement should be submitted as part of the electronic Banting application package submitted to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS).
• Who needs to sign the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form?

  The Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form should be completed by the institution at which you completed your doctoral degree.

  Current doctoral students or graduates of a doctoral program at Ontario Tech should send the form to gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca for signature.

• How do I submit my application?
  Applications must be submitted as one continuous PDF file, in the following order:
  
  

  1. ResearchNet Application Details
  2. Canadian Common CV (Vanier-Banting Academic Template)
  3. Significance of research contributions    
  4. Significance of leadership contributions    
  5. Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form    
  6. If applicable, Special circumstances    
  7. Research Proposal     
  8. Bibliography
  9. Supervisor’s Statement    
  10. Please name the PDF file “Lastname, Firstname”.

  Please note that the application must be submitted by the applicant directly, rather than by the Supervisor/PI or the proposed unit or faculty. 
• How do I download my application details from ResearchNet?
  Within your ResearchNet site:
  
  

  1. Under Banting Postdoctoral Fellows Program
  2. Apply for Funding section
  3. Go to Tasks
  4. Click on Preview (6th item on the list)
  5. Under Application Materials
  6. Click on Preview in Application Details (should generate a PDF file)
  7. Save the file.
• Can I submit a paper application?
  No. Submissions must be made electronically to postdocs@ontariotechu.ca.
• How are Ontario Tech nominees selected?
  The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) will review all applications for eligibility. All eligible applications may be forwarded to a Faculty Selection Committees for review, then the Faculty recommendations are reviewed by a University Selection Committee (USC) to identify the applications to be put forward for institutional endorsement.

Ontario Tech Nominees FAQ

• I have been selected as a nominee by Ontario Tech. Now what?
  Ontario Tech Banting nominees will receive a copy of the Institutional Letter of Support required by Banting in PDF format by email prior to the Banting final submission deadline.  
  
  In some years, the University Selection Committee will provide suggestions to the nominee or the nominees proposed supervisor to strengthen the application.
  
  All required documents must be uploaded by the Ontario Tech nominees to ResearchNet in order to complete the Banting application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all components of the application including the Letter of Endorsement and appropriate referee assessments are submitted by the final deadline.
• How do I get the Institutional Letter of Support?
  Applicants selected for endorsement by Ontario Tech will be notified and will receive a completed and signed Institutional Letter of Support in PDF format by email prior to the Banting final submission deadline.
• Can I update my application after receiving an institutional nomination?
  In some years, the University Selection Committee will provide suggestions to the nominee or the nominees proposed supervisor to strengthen the application. While you may make minor adjustments, over and above any suggestions from the USC, it is expected that Ontario Tech nominees will not make major adjustments prior to final submission as the institutional endorsement was adjudicated based on the initial documents provided.

FAQ for Supervisors

• Can a Supervisor/PI support more than one Banting applicant?
  Yes, however, if all applicants are successful in the National competition, the Supervisor/PI must be prepared to provide the necessary resources.
• I am a Supervisor/PI who has agreed to supervise a Banting applicant. What is required of me as a supervisor?

  Supervisors must prepare the Supervisor’s Statement for the application and are strongly encouraged to support the candidate in the preparation of the Banting application package prior to submission to the internal competition.

  Be advised that Banting Postdoctoral Fellows are considered employees at Ontario Tech and therefore are subject to deductions; the $70,000 annual stipend does not cover this cost.

  Should the candidate be nominated and successful, the supervisor would be responsible for covering the cost of any mandatory deductions and Health Spending Account (HSA) expenses in accordance with the Postdoctoral Fellows (PDF) Collective Agreement.

  Successful candidates should be aware that as members of the PDF Collective Agreement, they will be responsible for union dues as outlined in the collective agreement.