Funding Opportunities
SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships
Important change regarding eligibility of subject matter
Due to recent changes in eligibility of subject matter, applicants are advised to review the guidelines to ensure that they are applying to the appropriate agency. |
The following program description applies to the competition closing October 6, 2010. SSHRC program descriptions are reviewed and updated before each competition.
| Next application deadline |
Value |
Duration |
Results announced |
Apply |
|
October 6, 2010 |
$38,000 per annum plus a research allowance of up
to $5,000 |
12 to 24 months |
February 2011 |
Web CV, application and instructions |
Objectives
Description
Value and Duration
Eligibility
Evaluation and Adjudication
Application Process
Administrative Regulations
Related Funding Opportunities
More Information
Objectives
The SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships program supports the most promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities and assists them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers.
Description
The SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships provide stipendiary support to recent PhD graduates who are:
- undertaking original research;
- publishing research findings;
- developing and expanding personal research networks;
- broadening their teaching experience; and
- preparing to become competitive in national research grants competitions.
Fellowships will normally be awarded to candidates affiliated with a university other than that which awarded the PhD. SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship awards are tenable at Canadian or foreign universities and research institutions.
Value and Duration
SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $38,000 per year, plus an accountable research allowance of up to $5,000 per award. These are taxable, non-renewable fellowships, tenable for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months. The award may begin on the first of any month between May 2011 and January 2012.
Eligibility
To apply to this program, applicants must:
- be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- have earned a first doctorate from a recognized university no earlier than October 1, 2007 (date all degree requirements were completed, not the date of graduation), or have completed a first doctorate no earlier than October 1, 2004, but have had their career interrupted or delayed for the purpose of maternity, childrearing, illness, or health-related family responsibilities;
- not hold a tenure or tenure-track faculty position;
- have finalized arrangements for affiliation with a recognized university or research institution;
- have applied not more than twice before to the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships program;
- not be applying in the 2010-11 academic year to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Postdoctoral Fellowship program; and
- not have already received funding from the SSHRC,
NSERC
or
CIHR
postdoctoral fellowship program.
Applicants who obtain their PhD from a foreign university are eligible to apply only if they wish to hold their award at a Canadian university.
Applicants are eligible to apply to hold their award at a foreign university only if their PhD was earned at a Canadian university.
Eligibility to Hold a Fellowship
To hold the award, candidates must:
- have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree before taking up the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships award, or, at the latest, by December 31, 2011;
- engage in full-time postdoctoral research for the period of the award; and
- not hold or have held a tenure or a tenure-track position or hold any other employment.
Candidates who do not complete all requirements for their doctoral degree by December 31, 2011, will have their offer of an award withdrawn. Note that withdrawn or declined awards will be included in the calculation of the three-application limit for this program.
Federal government employees are eligible to hold a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship award only if they are on an unpaid leave of absence (no salary or special allowances permitted).
Research Eligibility
It is the subject matter and the objectives and content of a proposal, rather than research methodology or the institutional affiliation of the applicant, that determine research eligibility. Research programs proposing only the adaptation of doctoral theses for publication, the editing of textbooks, translation or the acquisition of a foreign language are ineligible. In other words, the research proposed in the application for a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship must be significantly different and distinct from, or add significantly to, that related to the doctoral thesis.
Evaluation and Adjudication
Evaluation Criteria
Multidisciplinary
selection committees
evaluate applicants solely on academic merit,
measured by:
- fellowships, scholarships or other awards obtained;
- previous research experience and/or publications;
- the duration of the doctoral studies;
- originality, potential significance and feasibility of the proposed program of work;
- comments of the referees and of the supervisor at the intended place of tenure; and
- appropriateness of the intended place of tenure, evidenced by the institutional nomination form.
Competition Process
For all applicants
Step 1: On or before the deadline, the applicant submits to SSHRC his or her completed application and supporting documents.
Step 2: SSHRC staff review all applications and forward eligible applications to the multidisciplinary selection committees.
Step 3: The multidisciplinary selection committees evaluate all eligible applications and make recommendations regarding funding. Committee recommendations are subject to approval by SSHRC.
Step 4: SSHRC informs all applicants of the outcome of their applications in February of each year. Results are not provided by telephone or email.
Application Process
Before submitting their application, applicants must ensure that they meet the requirements specified under
Eligibility. Applicants must complete and submit only one application form, together with the CV and the required attachments. Instructions for filling out the application form and CV are available within the form used by applicants to create their online submission.
Administrative Regulations
SSHRC reserves the right to determine the eligibility of applications it receives, based on the information therein. SSHRC also reserves the right to interpret the program regulations set out in its published materials.
All applicants and fellowship holders must comply with the
Regulations
Governing Fellowship Applications
and with the regulations set out
in the
Award Holder's Guide.
Related Funding Opportunities
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
These new postdoctoral fellowships are awarded to the very best Canadian and international postdoctoral researchers to develop their leadership potential and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow.
SSHRC Postdoctoral Prize
This annual prize is awarded for most outstanding SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient.
Sport Participation Research Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowship Supplements
These supplements are designed to help support SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship holders doing policy-relevant research on participation in sport in Canada.
Standard Research Grants
SSHRC's Standard Research Grants program offers support for investigator-chosen research in the social sciences and humanities conducted by individuals or teams. The broad purpose of the program is to support research and develop excellence in research activities in the social sciences and humanities.
More Information
Please address questions about SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships to:
SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
Fellowships and Institutional Grants Division
SSHRC
350 Albert Street
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6G4
Tel.: 613-943-7777
Fax: 613-943-1329
Email:
fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca