The Western Postdoctoral Fellowship at Western University is a prestigious program designed to support early-career researchers in advancing their academic and professional development. This fellowship provides recipients with the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, collaborate with world-class faculty, and contribute to Western University’s dynamic scholarly community.
| Host Country | Canada |
| Host Institute | University of Western Ontario |
| Level | Postdoctorsl |
| Eligible Nationality | International |
| Fellowship Type | Merit Scholarships |
| Benefits | Various |
| Closing Date | May 6, 2025, 3 p.m. EDT |
University of Western Ontario (Western University)
The University of Western Ontario (Western University), situated in London, Canada, is a prestigious institution known for its excellence in research, innovation, and education. Committed to fostering intellectual development and global impact, Western offers a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across multiple disciplines. With a dynamic academic community of students, researchers, and faculty, the university is dedicated to advancing knowledge and making significant societal contributions. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities and a stimulating learning environment, Western University continues to cultivate future leaders and drive groundbreaking discoveries.
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Western Research, representing the Vice-President (Research), welcomes applications from eligible candidates for the 2025 Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Managed by Western Research, this prestigious fellowship is open to outstanding scholars from diverse fields. It provides financial support, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge resources, empowering postdoctoral researchers to advance their academic and professional aspirations.
Following are the details of the Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program:
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Objective
The goals of the Postdoctoral Fellowship program are:
Enhance support for promising research programs that further Western’s strategic goals for research success; draw in diverse postdoctoral talent from a global candidate pool who will positively impact research excellence; and create a lively, welcoming environment for scholars and set them up for success as early career researchers.
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Value
In addition to recoverable benefits and a $5,000 annual research allowance for two years, fellowships will include a minimum salary of $70,000 per year (subject to any changes in the association agreement).
Matching requirement: Over the course of the postdoctoral fellowship (up to two years), Western Research will pay a maximum of $90,997, which includes 50% of the basic fellowship (stipend and recoverable benefits) and a $5,000 annual research allowance. The remaining 50% of the stipend/benefits must be secured by the host faculty and/or supervisor.
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Criteria
Unless there are documented career interruptions or exceptional circumstances (see b) below), the applicant’s PhD (including a PhD-equivalent or health professional degree) must have been awarded (formal convocation/graduation date) within five (5) years before the planned start date of their award. It is anticipated that candidates with a PhD in progress will submit this paperwork and fulfill all PhD criteria by the award’s start date.
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- Throughout the five years specified above, the applicant’s academic accomplishments, professional path, and project work may be interrupted and impacted by a variety of life circumstances. The eligibility period of five years may be prolonged if:
- In the application section “7. Career Interruptions and Exceptional Circumstances,” applicants can include more information about their eligibility and pertinent research progress, including the dates and nature of these circumstances.
- Parental leave, raising children, disease, handicap, cultural or communal responsibilities, socioeconomic obstacles and setting, health-related family responsibilities, and pandemic-related issues are examples of relevant situations.
- Candidates are not permitted to apply if they are presently employed by Western or have previously held a postdoctoral position there. Those who are registered as postdoctoral scholars with Western’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies before the application deadline are said to have a postdoctoral job at Western.
- At this time, candidates are not eligible to hold permanent faculty positions or faculty positions that lead to permanent positions.
- Recipients are not permitted to work as postdocs at another university while receiving this prize. A postdoctoral appointment at another institution must be duly terminated prior to the award start date for applicants who have been granted a Western Postdoctoral Fellowship. During the Western Postdoctoral Fellowship period, applicants who land a job at another university must cancel their award before starting their new job. Any money left over will be given back to Western Research and the faculty/supervisor.
- In order to serve as the grantee’s host supervisor, applicants must get the signed commitment of a Western faculty member who is qualified, experienced, and capable of doing so. Supervisors must also be Western employees with research eligibility.
- Applications where postdoctoral scholars are additionally hired by Western to teach one or more courses may be taken into consideration by Western Research. In these situations, the suggested fellowship will be lowered in proportion to paid teaching, and it will be evaluated on an individual basis after consulting with SGPS.
- Candidates who are not citizens of Canada must get all the licenses, permits, or other paperwork that each applicable jurisdiction requires. The webpage of Western’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has more details.
Important Dates
- WPDF Program Launch: March 2025
- ROLA Deadline: April 29, 2025
- Application Deadline (including Referee Letters): May 6, 2025, 3 p.m. EDT
- Selection Committee Review: May – June 2025
- Communication of Results: June 2025
- Successful Candidates’ Start Date: July 2025 – June 2026
Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Process
- Applications for internal programs must be submitted with a completed ROLA proposal that has been examined and approved by the faculty dean and department chair.
- The Western Research Internal Grants online submission portal must accept program applications prior to the specified date.
For more details and the application process, visit the fellowship official page.
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