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Appointing a Postdoctoral Fellow

Prospective postdoctoral fellows may contact faculty members directly to discuss potential postdoctoral fellow 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 postdoctoral fellow express interest in a position at the university, the supervising faculty member is responsible for initiating the appointment process. All postdoctoral fellow appointments are made by the faculty, in partnership with Human Resources and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS).

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

  • 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.
  • Visa and immigration procedures
    1. Obtain a valid passport. 
    2. 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.
    3. 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. 
    4. Complete the IRCC work permit application online or submit to the closest Visa Application Centre. 
    5. 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.
    6. Postdoctoral fellows do not require a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada.
  • 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.