Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program offers financial support to exceptional postdoctoral candidates from around the world who have the potential to make valuable contributions to Canada’s economic, social, and research-based progress. Its primary objectives include attracting and retaining high-caliber postdoctoral researchers, both domestically and internationally; fostering their leadership potential; and positioning them for success as the next generation of research leaders.

In this article, we will explore research opportunities for postdoctoral fellows in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria for Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

In order to qualify for this Canadian Fellowship, applicants are required to confirm that both they and their host institution meet the program’s eligibility criteria before submitting an application. The eligibility criteria for this fellowship are as follows:

  • Citizenship: To avail this funding opportunity applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or international students, including those from India. Non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada can only hold their fellowship at a Canadian institution.
  • Degree Completion Eligibility: Applicants must have fulfilled all degree requirements for a Ph.D., a Ph.D. equivalent, or a health professional degree. The degree must have been completed before the start of the fellowship.
  • Host Institution Eligibility: The fellowship is open to Canadian universities, foreign universities, affiliated research hospitals, colleges, and not-for-profit organizations.
  • Applicants who have previously held a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship will be considered ineligible.
  • Applications that fail to meet any of the eligibility criteria will be deemed ineligible. Please note that this fellowship is not intended for students (including health professionals) to complete a degree.
  • If an applicant has completed more than one PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree, the eligibility window applies to the most recent degree.

This Canadian government fellowship has the following conditions:

  • They can only be held at the institution that provided support for the original program application, without any exceptions.
  • The fellowship must be undertaken between April 1st and October 1st of the year following the application.
  • The duration of the fellowship is two years.
  • It is not possible to hold the fellowship concurrently with another tri-agency training award.
  • The fellowship can only be held once in an individual’s lifetime.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Application Process

Applicants interested in applying for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships should first read the Application Guide thoroughly.

How to apply for Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships?

The application process involves several steps, which are outlined below:

  • Confirm Eligibility – Applicants should ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, including citizenship and degree completion requirements. They should also verify that their desired host institution is eligible.
  • Contact Host Institution – Applicants must contact their desired host institution to confirm their eligibility and obtain two required documents for submission through ResearchNet.
  • Register for CCV and ResearchNet – Applicants should create a Canadian Common CV (CCV) account, a web-based tool for generating CVs, and a ResearchNet account, the web-based application tool and database used by the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program. They should create a CCV using the Vanier-Banting academic template and link it to ResearchNet. CCV is mandatory regardless of the applicant’s citizenship, and a validation number will be provided upon validation.
  • Start ResearchNet Application – Upon successful login to ResearchNet, a list of tasks will be displayed, which must be completed before submitting the application.
  • Identify Area of Research – Applicants must identify their proposed field of research, which will determine the assigned selection committee.
  • Identify Participants – Applicants should provide their name, the name of their institution at the time of application, and the confirmation number of their CCV.
  • Attach Documents – Several documents are required, including the significance of research and leadership contributions, fulfilment of degree requirements form, special circumstances, and three references in either English or French.
  • Degree and Proposal Information – Applicants must provide information on their Ph.D., Ph.D. equivalent, or health professional degree and the research project, including an overview, details, descriptors or keywords, and attachments.
  • Consent and Submit Application – Applicants must consent to the terms listed in ResearchNet and submit their application. Upon successful submission, an email confirmation will be sent.
  • Ensure Attached Documents Meet Presentation Standards – All documents submitted with the application must meet the provided standards, and failure to do so can lead to the application being deemed ineligible.

To avail this research funding opportunity in Canada applicants must submit all the required application documents as a single PDF file and ensure they have thoroughly read the official website’s details. They may only submit one application per year.

Selection Process

The selection process for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program involves the review of eligible applications by a selection committee. The applications are initially sorted and sent to the relevant federal granting agencies, depending on the area of research. 

The selection criteria are based on three equally important factors: 

  • the applicant’s demonstrated research excellence and leadership qualities in their respective field, 
  • the quality and potential impact of the proposed research program, and 
  • the research-oriented environment and relationship with the host institution.

Upon approval by the selection committee, the Vanier-Banting Secretariat notified the applicants of the results in February, with decision letters posted to their ResearchNet accounts. 

Benefits of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

Importance of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships in academic research is immense. This international fellowship program offers the following benefits:

  • Each year, a total of 70 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are granted.
  • The fellowship provides a taxable stipend of 70,000 CAD per year.
  • The fellowships are divided equally among Canada’s three major research agencies, namely, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Tips for Writing a Successful Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposal 

If you’re interested in applying for Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships for International Researchers, keep in mind that the competition is tough. 

  • Carefully review the Application Guide and the Selection Committee Guidelines before submitting your application. 
  • Show excellence and leadership in your research domain
  • Choose an “arm’s length” referee who is not personally invested in the research program
  • Start early. Create a timeline for completing the application and contact the faculty member with whom you wish to collaborate as early as possible. Make a strong case for why you selected this institution and supervisor, and ensure everyone involved has plenty of time to prepare. Also, demonstrate academic productivity and consider contacting a successful Banting fellow for advice and to see if they’d share their application.
  • For the research proposal, provide concrete examples of your research excellence and leadership, communicate clearly and engagingly, anticipate questions that might arise, and distinguish your proposal from the competition. Before submitting your application, ask someone in your field and a non-specialist to review it, revise and proofread, and create a checklist to ensure it’s complete. Finally, only provide requested material and respect formatting guidelines, page limits, and word counts.

Conclusion

Bestowed upon the most exceptional researchers, this research fellowship is one of Canada’s top postdoctoral fellowships. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (BPDF) program is highly competitive, and only a limited number of awards are granted annually. However, we have made the application process more accessible by providing all the essential details. By acquiring this information, you have already taken the initial step toward submitting your scholarship application, and we are here to assist you with the subsequent stages.

With more than three decades of experience, ALLEN Career Institute is a coaching and guidance organization that assists students in preparing for competitive exams. Our institute is well-regarded for its exceptional educational standards.

ALLEN Global Studies Division can assist students in various ways in obtaining the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. To begin with, the division can offer guidance and support to students to help them enhance their academic excellence, leadership potential, and research abilities. This may involve providing courses, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that aid students in excelling academically and developing the skills and qualities required for the scholarship.

Enrolling in the ALLEN Global Studies Division offers you access to our wide range of resources and specialized expertise, ensuring comprehensive support throughout the entire application process. Our commitment is to keep you well-informed and provide guidance at every stage of your global application journey. We are here to assist you every step of the way.  Join us at the earliest opportunity to stay ahead and maximize your chances of achieving your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the success rate of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships?

The success rate varies, but it is typically around 10% in the 2020 competition.

What is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship?

A Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is a prestigious award that provides funding to postdoctoral researchers to pursue their research in Canada.

How much do Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships pay?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program is designed to assist outstanding postdoctoral researchers of exceptional calibre. This fellowship offers funding of $70,000 annually for a duration of two years.

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