Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

As the most prestigious postdoctoral award in Canada, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program provides the opportunity to bring top talent to join the research community at UBC.

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.

The UBC Internal Banting Competition is managed by the Postdoctoral Fellows Office. For official information, regulations and procedures, visit the Banting website.

To access the Vanier-Banting Academic CV template, visit the Canadian Common CV (CCV) site.

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 B.C. 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.

IMPORTANT DATES

**Please note that the deadline for the UBC Internal Banting Competition has now passed and no further submissions will be accepted.**

  • UBC Okanagan Pre-Application Proposal Deadline: Monday, May 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM PDT
    • This deadline is for applicants applying through UBC Okanagan only. A pre-application proposal is not required for applicants applying through UBC Vancouver.
  • UBC Internal Banting Competition Deadline: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM PDT NO EXCEPTIONS
  • Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program National Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 20:00 EDT (17:00 PDT)

All candidates are responsible for meeting any additional UBC internal deadlines set by their faculties and/or departments.  Please consult with your unit for any additional internal procedures and/or deadlines.

Updated July 12, 2023

Supervisor/PI Resources

All Supervisor/PI resources are available on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Faculty and Staff Portal at https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca/update/57215.

An active CWL account is required to access this portal; please contact postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca if you are unable to access this portal. 

The following Supervisor/PI resources are available for the 2023 UBC Internal Banting Competition: 

  • Supervisor's Statement Template Letter
    • As part of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship application, candidates are required to include a Supervisor’s Statement. Banting will use this document to assess the degree to which the institution and supervisor are committed to the applicant, their capacity to enable the applicant to become a future leader in their chosen field and their potential to build upon the institution's strategic priorities. The Supervisor’s Statement should include the Supervisor’s biography, information about the appropriateness of the supervisor, information about the research environment, information about the professional development opportunities available for successful Banting Postdoctoral Researchers, and a description of the institutional synergy between the applicant’s proposed research program and the institution’s strategic priorities.
    • The PDFO has prepared a Template Supervisor’s Statement Letter. It is highly encouraged that this template be used in the preparation of the Supervisor’s Statement.
  • Research Allowance
    • The Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation at UBC Vancouver and the Office of the Vice-Principal Research at UBC Okanagan have committed a research allowance of $5,000/year for the two years of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship for all successful Banting Postdoctoral Researchers at UBC. 
  • Travel Award and Funding Allocations
    • The PDFO, in consultation with faculties across both UBC campuses, has prepared a document that outlines potential sources of funding that may be accessible to successful Banting Postdoctoral Researchers. Please consult this document on the Faculty and Staff Portal at https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca/update/57215 for additional information. 

Also stored on the Faculty and Staff Portal is a tip sheet to assist UBC applicants in preparing the Significance of leadership contributions component of the Banting application. This document has been stored on the Faculty and Staff Portal at https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca/update/57215. Please connect with your Supervisor/PI to obtain a copy of this document if you are applying to the UBC Internal Banting Competition.

FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS

General Enquiries
How many Banting applications do you receive each year? 

The number of applications received varies by year and by tri-council.

How many nominations do you put forward each year? 

The number of applications selected for institutional endorsement varies by year and by tri-council based on the caliber of the applicant pool. In keeping with Banting requirements, we only submit the highest-quality applications received as part of the UBC Internal Banting Competition. 

How many Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships does UBC receive each year? 

The number of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships received varies from year to year. Detailed competition results, including all UBC winners, are available on the Banting website

How strict are the page length requirements and formatting requirements? 

Page length and presentation standards are determined by Banting. Applications that do not conform to the requirements set by Banting may be deemed ineligible. 

If I am awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship through UBC, can I move the fellowship to another institution? 

As per the Banting eligibility guidelines, Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable only at the institution which supported the original application for the program. 

What Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion considerations are present as part of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program?

The Government of Canada, and the Vanier-Banting Secretariat, are committed to ensuring that all trainees have equitable access to research funding and career support. Equity is an integral part of a sustainable research ecosystem as it encourages greater diversity among applicants. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review Banting's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion guidelines and resources prior to beginning a Banting application.

Eligibility
Am I eligible for a Banting? 

Eligibility requirements for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program are set by Banting and are available on the Eligibility section of the Banting website. Please contact Banting directly if you have any questions about your eligibility.  

What happens if I completed my PhD outside of Banting’s eligibility window? 

Please refer to the Eligibility section of the Banting website for information about the eligibility window for degree completion and for allowable extensions to the eligibility window. Please contact Banting directly if you have any questions about your eligibility.  

Can I apply for a Banting if I completed my doctoral degree at UBC? 

Yes. However, you will be required to complete the Justification for remaining in PhD research environment attachment as part of your application. 

Can I apply for a Banting if I am a current UBC Postdoctoral Fellow? 

Yes. However, you will be required to complete the Justification for remaining in the same research environment (other than PhD) attachment as part of your application. 

Finding a Supervisor
How do I find a supervisor?

In taking the first steps to embark on a Postdoctoral Fellowship application, it is critical to make contact with appropriate Faculty members at the University working in your field of research. Please check faculties/departments of interest – each department has a list of faculty members and their research topics, and you can also search research faculty by keyword on our website. The PDFO website also has a list of Supervisors/PIs who are currently recruiting postdoctoral fellows on our Career Opportunities page

UBC Internal Banting Competition
Deadlines and Application Support 
How firm is the UBC Internal Banting Competition deadline? 

Due to a very tight working schedule, the UBC Internal Banting Competition deadline is a firm deadline. 

Do you have examples of successful Banting applications from previous years?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide examples of successful Banting applications from previous years. 

Application Components 
Can I submit my CCV in Draft format?

For the purpose of the UBC Internal Banting Competition only, you may submit your CCV in draft format. 

Do I have to submit references for the UBC Internal Banting Competition?

For the purpose of the UBC Internal Banting Competition, referee assessments are not required. However, should your application be selected for UBC endorsement, you will be required to provide the appropriate referee assessments by the Banting deadline of Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 20:00 EDT (17:00 PDT)

Is a Supervisor’s Statement required for the UBC Internal Banting Competition? 

Yes, Supervisor’s Statements are required for the UBC Internal Banting Competition. Please ensure that your Supervisor’s Statement meets all of the requirements, including Presentation standards, set out by Banting.

Should my supervisor submit the Supervisor’s Statement directly? 

No. Please submit your Supervisor’s Statement as part of the Banting application package submitted in .PDF format to the PDFO. 

Who needs to sign the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form? 

Please contact the institution at which you completed your doctoral degree to determine the appropriate signatory for the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form.

If you completed or are completing your doctoral degree at UBC, please email a completed form in .PDF format, along with your student number, to graduate.sas@ubc.ca. Once received, the form will be signed by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and returned to you by email.

Application Submission
How do I submit my application? 

Applications must be submitted as one continuous PDF file in the following order via the UBC Internal Banting Submission Form.

1. Canadian Common CV (Vanier-Banting Academic Template)

2. ResearchNet Application Details

  • For the purpose of the UBC Internal Banting Competition, the names and contact information of your referees is not required. If selected as a UBC nominee, the appropriate referee assessments will be required by the September 20, 2023 20:00 EDT deadline. The Title of Research Proposal, Lay title, and Lay Abstract are required.

3. Significance of research contributions    

4. Significance of leadership contributions    

5. Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form

  • A copy of a doctoral graduation certificate/diploma will not be accepted in lieu of the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form.

6. If applicable, Special circumstances    

7. Research Proposal     

8. Bibliography

9. Supervisor’s Statement    

Please name the continuous PDF file “TRI-AGENCY - [Applicant Last Name], [Applicant First Name]" (eg. CIHR - Doe, John).

Please note that the application must be submitted by the applicant directly, rather than by the Supervisor/PI or the proposed unit or faculty.  

How do I download my application details from ResearchNet?

Within your ResearchNet site:

  • Under Banting Postdoctoral Fellows Program
  • Apply for Funding section
  • Go to Tasks
  • Click on Preview (6th item on the list)
  • Under Application Materials
  • Click on Preview in Application Details (should generate a PDF file)
  • Save the file.
Can I submit a paper application? 

No. Please submit your UBC Internal Banting Competition application in electronic (.PDF) form. 

Adjudication and Results
How are UBC nominees selected?

All applications to the UBC Internal Banting Competition are reviewed for eligibility, and all eligible applications are forwarded to internal committees for review. The internal review committees select applications to be put forward for institutional endorsement. 

When will I know if I have been selected as a UBC Banting nominee? 

All applicants will be notified of the UBC Internal Banting Competition results by email no later than Monday, August 28, 2023.

UBC Nominees
I have been selected as a UBC nominee. Now what?

Applicants selected as UBC nominees will receive a copy of the Institutional Letter of Support required by Banting in .PDF format by email no later than Tuesday, September 5, 2023. UBC nominees must upload all required documents to ResearchNet to complete the Banting application process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all components of the application including the Letter of Endorsement and appropriate referee assessments are submitted by the final deadline of Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 20:00 EDT (17:00 PDT).

All candidates are responsible for meeting any UBC internal deadlines set by their faculties and/or departments. Please consult with your unit for any internal deadlines. 

How do I get the Institutional Letter of Support?

Nominees selected for UBC endorsement will be sent a completed and signed Institutional Letter of Support in .PDF format by email no later than Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Can I update my application after receiving an institutional nomination? 

While you may make minor adjustments to your application package prior to the final Banting submission, it is expected that UBC nominees will not make major adjustments prior to final submission as the institutional endorsement was adjudicated based on the initial documents provided. 

For Supervisors
Can a Supervisor/PI support more than one Banting applicant?

Yes, a Supervisor/PI may support more than one Banting applicant. However, the Supervisor/PI must be prepared to provide the necessary resources should all of their applicants be successful in the national Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships competition. 

I am a Supervisor/PI who has agreed to supervise a Banting applicant. What is required of me as a supervisor?

Host institutions play a critical role in the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program, and are asked to endorse only their highest-calibre postdoctoral researchers. Supervisors who have identified applicants of this calibre must work with these candidates in preparing a Banting Application Package for submission with all relevant attachments as detailed on the Banting website.

As part of the Banting application, Supervisors/PIs are required to submit a Supervisor’s Statement. In order to assist in the development of this document, the PDFO has created a template Supervisor’s Statement that can be accessed through the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Faculty and Staff Portal at https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca/update/57215.  An active CWL account is required to access this template document; please contact postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca if you are unable to access this portal. 

Please be advised that Banting Postdoctoral Fellows are entitled to benefits; however, the $70,000 annual stipend does not cover this cost. It is the Supervisor/PI’s responsibility to ensure that they or their unit have the funding required to cover these expenses. For more information about benefits at UBC, please consult the Benefits website. For sample costs, please refer to the benefits calculator.  

Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form

The Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form is required for all applicants, as it is used to determine eligibility for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program. A copy of a doctoral graduation certificate/diploma will not be accepted in lieu of the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements form.

For candidates who have completed their PhD at UBC and require a Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form, please email a completed form in .PDF format, along with your student number, to graduate.sas@ubc.ca. Once received, the form will be signed by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and returned to you by email.

CONTACTS

For any questions pertaining to the internal review process that are not addressed on the PDFO website or FAQ, email the PDFO at postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca.

For any questions pertaining to the UBC Okanagan Pre-Application Proposal requirement, please email Janie Bandringa at janie.bandringa@ubc.ca.

For any questions pertaining to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program, including questions about eligibility, please contact Banting directly

Files

Deadline

Annual Value

$70,000 CAD/year for 2 years

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