Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

Banting Postdoctoral FellowshipOverview

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research-based growth. The program is jointly administered by Canada's three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). As the most prestigious postdoctoral award in Canada, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides the opportunity to bring top talent to join the research community at Western. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded to the very best postdoctoral researchers, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to Canada's economic, social, and research-based growth.Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Banting Fellowship Recipients in Social Science

FSS candidates put foward:

  • 2020 - Steffen Poetzschke (with Howard Ramos, Sociology)
  • 2020 – Abigail Kimmit (with Scott MacDougall-Shackleton, Psychology)
  • 2019 - Nathan Oesch (with Jessica Grahn, Psychology)
  • 2019 - Gina Martin (with Jason Gilliland, Geography)
  • 2019 - Lucia Watson Jimenez (with Andrew Nelson, Anthropology)
  • 2018 - Eric Wilkey (with Daniel Ansari, Psychology)
  • 2018 - Angela Meadows (with Rachel Calogero, Psychology)
  • 2017 - Kaitlin Laidlaw (with Mel Goodale, Psychology)
  • 2017 - Moujan Matin (with Andrew Nelson, Anthropology)
  • 2016 - Mark Kersten (with Joanna Quinn, Political Science)
  • 2016 - Scott Krayenhoff (with Jamie Voogt, Geography)

The objective of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is to:

  • attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally
  • develop their leadership potential
  • position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow

Value and Duration: $70,000/year for two years

Number of Awards:  70 fellowships awarded each year

Eligibility:  Please refer to the eligibility guidelines on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship website.

  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program must fulfill or have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree between within a specific window – approximately 4 years – see guidelines; and before the start of the award.
  • Only in exceptionally rare circumstances will a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship be awarded to an applicant who is staying at the same institution where they completed their PhD, PhD- equivalent or health professional degree. In such cases, a solid justification – related for example to availability of highly unique equipment - must be provided. Current postdoctoral fellows already at the institution must also justify the decision to continue at the same location.
  • Applicants must not hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position.

Application Details:  Please refer to the application guide on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship website.

  • Should you apply? Bantings are the most competitive Canadian Postdoctoral fellowships. Please see this “Are you competitive” document for further details.
  • Applicants hoping to take up a fellowship at Western should first contact their intended fellowship supervisor to request the support for their application.
  • Applicants should consult Important Dates for Faculty Deadlines.

Process and Important Dates (updated March 26, 2024):

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is in three stages, and Stage 1 is held within the Faculty of Social Science. Please see this 2025 process document for details. The internal deadline for Stage 1 in the Faculty of Social Science is June 28, 2024. Please send your application to Ann Seabrook (ann.seabrook@uwo.ca).