Awards & Funding

The University of British Columbia offers and administers programs that provide financial help to Postdoctoral Fellows. Some of these funding opportunities are external to UBC, however others can be applied to a UBC PDF appointment.

Award Highlights

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. Read more...
Killam Postdoctoral Fellow Research Prize
The Killam Postdoctoral Fellow Research Prizes are awarded annually for excellence in research. Established in 2011, the Killam PDF Prize is in memory of Izaak Walton Killam and his wife, Dorothy Johnston Killam, who together created the Killam trusts. Two prizes in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded to fulltime Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC in recognition of outstanding research and scholarly contributions while at UBC. Read more...
Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
The Killam Scholarship and Prize Programmes were established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam through the Will of his wife, Dorothy Johnston Killam, and through gifts made during her lifetime. Their primary purpose is to support advanced education and research at five Canadian universities and the Canada Council for the Arts. Read more...
PDF Travel Awards
The Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) offers a quarterly travel award competition for Postdoctoral Fellows currently appointed through UBC Vancouver. These awards are intended to assist UBC-appointed Postdoctoral Fellows with the costs associated with attending conferences to present research performed during their UBC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Read more...

Funding Agencies

CIHR

CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) postdoctoral fellowships provide support for highly qualified candidates at the postdoctoral (post-PhD) or post health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad. Please visit the CIHR website for more information.

NSERC

NSERC (Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council) postdoctoral fellowships provide support to a core of the most promising researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The fellowships are also intended to secure a supply of highly qualified Canadians with leading-edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government, and universities. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students who are interested in the program to apply. Please visit the NSERC website for more information.

SSHRC

SSHRC (Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council) Postdoctoral fellowships provide stipendiary support to recent PhD graduates who are:

  • undertaking original research;
  • publishing research findings;
  • developing and expanding personal research networks;
  • broadening teaching experience; and
  • preparing to become competitive in national research grants competitions.

Please visit the SSHRC website for more information.

MITACS

Through unique research and training programs, Mitacs is developing the next generation of innovators with vital scientific and business skills. In partnership with companies, government and academia, Mitacs is supporting a new economy using Canada’s most valuable resource – its people. MITACS offers multiple funding opportunities, several are applicable to postdocs. Please visit the Funding Opportunities page on the MITACS website for more information.

Other Funding Sources
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Provides grant opportunities for postdoctoral fellows and faculty
  • Pathways to Science - Database of fully funded STEM Programs
  • Euraxess - Information on research funding, research careers, and collaboration opportunities with Europe
  • Zintellect - A collection of largely US-based internships, experiential learning opportunities, academic fellowships and scholarships funded by government and private sector organizations.

Applying for Funding

Please visit Funding Opportunities for a listing of funding opportunities that may be available to you.

Some funding opportunities require institutional endorsement of applications. Unless otherwise specified, please follow the procedures outlined in the UBC Signature Policy: Application for Research Funding.