Internal Funding for Postdocs

Updated: January 2025


There are several funding opportunities for postdoctoral fellows. To learn more, see below or click the menu options on the right hand side.

 

The University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies (SGS) has announced the following new funding supports for postdoctoral fellows at the University:

  • New Postdoctoral Fellows Professional Development Reimbursement Fund
    SGS is launching the Postdoctoral Fellows Professional Development Reimbursement Fund which will provide additional financial assistance in the administration of Article 27:03 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement. This fund supports postdoctoral fellows engaging in additional professional development (PD) activities beyond those that may be requested or required by their Principal Investigator/Supervisor, including activities that postdoctoral fellows identify to enhance their professional growth. These activities are subject to pre-approval by their Principal Investigator/Supervisor.

    Postdoctoral fellows employed in the bargaining unit between March 3, 2024, and December 31, 2025, may be reimbursed for eligible PD expenses up to $500 per year of their contract.

    Additionally, SGS is offering the fund to postdoctoral trainees [non-employee postdocs] at U of T to support the enhancement of professional skills and career development for all postdoctoral fellows.
     
  • Expansion of the SGS Parental Grant Program
    Following the recommendations of the SGS Postdoc Working Group, the SGS Parental Grant Program has been expanded to include U of T postdoctoral trainees [non-employee postdocs] who receive their salaries through external fellowships that do not offer continued funding during a parental leave. The grant offers financial support during a parent’s approved parental leave for up to eight months; birthparents may receive funding for up to 12 months.

    The value of the grant is based on the postdoc trainee’s current fellowship up to 100% of the monthly fellowship stipend, to a max of $50,000 ($4,167/month) over a 12-month period.
     
  • Increase to the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP)
    To support graduate faculties and supervisors in offering competitive salaries to our distinguished and deserving scholars, the value of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) will be increased to $80,000 per year, for up to two years commencing with the 2025 cohort of fellows. This increase will be in effect for the next cohort of PPFPs who will hold the award in 2025-2026.

    The PPFP provides funding to graduate faculties to increase opportunities for hiring postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, specifically Indigenous and Black researchers. These fellowships enable postdoctoral researchers to grow their scholarly profiles, undertake academic work at the U of T, and strengthen the research environment at the University with diverse perspectives.

 

Further details about these initiatives are available on the SGS website through the above links. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the SGS Postdoctoral Office at sgs.postdoc@utoronto.ca.