How to appoint a postdoctoral fellow
Prospective postdoctoral fellows (PDFs) may contact faculty members directly to discuss potential PDF opportunities and applications can be made directly to the faculty member. We recommend the following resources to learn more about our faculty members and their research:
Should a prospective PDF express interest in a position at the university, the supervising faculty member is responsible for initiating the appointment process. All PDF appointments are made by the faculty, in partnership with Human Resources and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
To begin the hiring process, please complete the Postdoctoral Fellow Registration Form:
Postdoctoral Fellow Registration Form
For questions regarding the hiring process, contact Keeshia Barksdale at keeshia.barksdale@ontariotechu.ca.
Information for international postdoctoral fellows
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International postdoctoral fellows working in Canada
- Non-Canadian residents must have a work permit to work in Canada legally.
- International postdocs must have an Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) work permit prior to coming to Ontario Tech University to assume a postdoctoral fellowship.
- Prior to completing an application for a work permit, the postdoctoral candidate must have a Letter of Invitation and a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exempt employer number.
- If the prospective postdoctoral fellow is a recent graduate of a Canadian University with a valid study permit and they would like to pursue a postdoctoral position with Ontario Tech, they must apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit in accordance with the guidelines from IRCC.
- If the prospective postdoctoral fellow attended Ontario Tech as a student and intends to remain in Canada to pursue a postdoctoral position, they must apply for a Canadian work permit, regardless if the student authorization (study permit) is still valid.
- Postdoctoral fellows who already hold a work permit and wish to extend their stay in Canada should complete an IRCC work permit application online.
- Additional information on changes or amendments to an application can be found on the IRCC website.
- Postdoctoral fellows at Ontario Tech University are governed by the Post Doctoral Fellows Collective Agreement.
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COVID-19 quarantine requirements
- Mandatory requirements for travelers to Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/11/government-of-canada-announces-new-mandatory-requirements-for-travellers-to-canada.html
- Travelers Checklist: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/exemptions?utm_source=travel-covid_travel-restrictions_entering-canada-checklist&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=gac-amc-covid-20-21&utm_source=flying-canada-checklist&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=en
- For travelers without COVID symptoms: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/2019-novel-coronavirus-information-sheet.html
- For travelers with COVID symptoms: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/travellers-with-symptoms-return-canada.html
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- NOTE - Travelers who show COVID symptoms would not be permitted to board a flight to Canada, but the above link may apply if they show symptoms by the time they arrive in Canada, or if they arrive in Canada via land border.
All international postdoctoral fellows must ensure they have a satisfactory and detailed quarantine plan upon arrival to Canada. The plan must include the following;
- no need to leave accommodations for any reason;
- someone to assist with access to food and medical supplies; and,
- isolated from vulnerable persons present in the quarantine space,
Note: if the quarantine plan does not meet Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requirements, the postdoc may be required to stay at a government facility for quarantine. This will be advised by border officials at the time of arrival at the Port of Entry to Canada.
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Visa and immigration procedures
- Obtain a valid passport.
- Secure a formal appointment letter from a recognized Faculty, School or Department at Ontario Tech University and proof of submission for the Offer of Employment/LMIA exemption to support the work permit application for the postdoc.
- IRCC must be assured that financial support will be sufficient for any individual entering Canada. The minimum annual salary of a postdoctoral fellow at Ontario Tech University is in accordance with Appendix A of the current Post Doctoral Fellows Collective Agreement with Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). This minimum salary allows a postdoc to prove adequate minimum support after arriving in Canada; the appointment letter will indicate whether there is any additional funding.
- Complete the IRCC work permit application online or submit to the closest Visa Application Centre.
- Provide the non-refundable application processing fee. This fee is separate and different from the Offer of Employment/LMIA exemption fee paid for by the University to support the work permit application for the postdoc.
- Postdoctoral fellows do not require a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada.
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Work permits for spouses or partners
Spouses or partners accompanying postdocs to Canada are eligible to search for employment once they arrive in Canada. Information on the Spousal Employment Authorization initiative can be found on the IRCC website.
To apply for an open work permit, spouses or partners must provide IRCC with an application processing fee and the following documents:
- Valid passport;
- Work permit of the postdoc spouse or partner; and,
- Marriage certificate in English or French.
