Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

All prospective Banting applicants must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for internal review and selection. The NOI is a simplified version of the final application to Banting (see the Banting Application Guide for more information). NOIs will be evaluated on the synergy between the applicant and the research environment, the proposed research program, and the research leadership/excellence of the applicant. 

Submit NOI by 4:30 PM CST, Monday, June 10, 2024

Selection of Applicants

NOI’s will be submitted to the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) for review and adjudication by the USask Banting Selection Committee.

NOI submissions will be reviewed on the following selection criteria:

• Research excellence and leadership in the research domain (of both the applicant and supervisor)
• Quality of applicant’s proposed research program
• Institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between the applicant and institutional strategic priorities

The strongest applicants will be invited to prepare a full draft application as per the Banting application guide.

• NOI Form and Instructions
• USask internal review timeline

Successful applicants and their supervisors will be required to follow the internal deadlines set by CGPS.  Applicants and Supervisors invited to submit a full draft application will be provided further information and a schedule of mandatory deadlines.

Full draft applications will be submitted to CGPS and reviewed by the USask Banting Selection Committee, who will provide formative feedback to each applicant and supervisor. This development process will ensure applications meet the high standards of this competition.

Only the strongest applicants from this phase will be supported by the USask Banting Selection Committee to receive the institutional Letter of Endorsement supported through Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives.

The College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will provide approved applicants and their supervisors with complete information on the requirements of the full application to Banting and will coordinate institutional requirements and letters of endorsement with the relevant offices at the University of Saskatchewan.

Please visit the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website for more information.

How competitive is the Banting PDF?

This fellowship is highly competitive. 70 awards are granted nationally per year, split evenly among the tri-councils.  Banting receives 500 – 700 applications per year (national data, 2010 –2015).

The Banting Secretariat strongly discourages applicants who seek to remain at their current institution from applying to the Banting program. Only the most exceptional candidates seeking to remain at the University of Saskatchewan should consider applying.

What makes this fellowship different?

• Strong emphasis on the synergy between the applicant and institution
• International applicants are eligible
• Emphasis on research leadership

How many 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 endorse the highest-quality applications through the USask internal review process.

How many Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships does USask receive each year?

The number of fellowships received varies from year to year. Detailed competition results, including all USask awardees, are available on the Banting website. 

How strict are the presentation standards?

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

If I am awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship through USask, 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?

As per the Banting website, 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 consider:

• Promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in research
• Research respectfully involving and engaging Indigenous communities
• Reducing unconscious bias

All applicants and supervisors should review Banting's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion guidelines and resources prior to submitting NOI through the USask internal review process.

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 USask?

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 USask postdoctoral fellow?

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. 

*Only in rare circumstances will a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship be awarded to an applicant who is staying at the same institution or within the same research environment where they completed their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree.

How do I find a supervisor?

In taking the first steps to start the application process, it is critical to connect with appropriate faculty member(s) at USask working in your field of research. Prospective Banting applicants can:

• use the University of Saskatchewan’s online index of Colleges and Schools for information about faculty members and their research
• search for prospective supervisors using the find a supervisor tool for graduate students
• browse the online listings of open postdoctoral positions

How to apply?

Please see the ‘How to apply’ section above

How firm are the USask Internal Banting Review Process deadlines?

Due to a very tight working schedule, the deadlines for all phases of the USask Internal Banting Review Process are firm.

What do I include in my NOI submission?

The NOI submission form lists the required documents.  Questions about these documents can be sent to postdoctoral.studies@usask.ca.

How are USask nominees selected?

All applications submitted through the USask Internal Banting Review Process are reviewed for eligibility. All eligible applications put forward through the USask internal review process. Through this multi-phase process, the committee selects applications to be supported institutional endorsement. 

When will I know if my application will receive institutional endorsement?

Only applications selected to move to Phase 3 of the competition are eligible for institutional endorsement. All applicants will be notified if their application is going to be endorsed by USask following the committee review of the full draft application.

I have been selected as a USask nominee. Now what?

Applicants selected as USask nominees will receive a copy of the Institutional Letter of Support prior to the Banting application deadline. USask 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.

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 USask nominees will not make major adjustments prior to final submission as the institutional endorsement was adjudicated based on the documents provided. 

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 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 NOI submission through the USask internal review process, and if selected to move forward in the competition, work with the candidate to prepare full draft application with all relevant attachments as detailed on the Banting website.

General

• Each university has their own application process and deadlines.  Make sure you’re aware of the process for the institution you’re applying to.
• Review the Eligibility section of the Banting website thoroughly. 
• Review and become familiar the application guide, the selection committee guide and the EDI page
• Reach out to colleagues to get feedback, even on your NOI submission (go outside of your lab or office)
• Engage with your proposed supervisor throughout the process and ask for their help. Make sure to give them ample time to provide feedback.
• Link and align your work with the strategic initiatives of the institution (USask signature areas of research). Address institutional synergy throughout your application.
• Demonstrate how receiving a Banting fellowship might assist your long-term research trajectory and how it would help you carve out a new, independent path
• Don’t self-select - You don’t get anything you don’t apply for.
• Don’t be humble! Be explicit about why you are the best person for this fellowship.
• Review the Evaluation of the Banting program (2015)

Proposal/Research Program

• If you’re unsure of where your research program 'fits'/ which tri-agency you should be applying to, Banting can help provide a recommendation.  You can email Banting with a one-page summary of the proposed research.  Ideally, this should be done in advance of the USask NOI submission.
• Show how the project is original, innovative and feasible.
• Avoid jargon. At every phase of the review process, the committee reviewing your application will be committee and will include scholars outside your area. 
• Look up the mandate or objectives of the tri-agency you're applying to and show how your proposed research aligns.  

CCV

• Highlight any awards you’ve received
• Publications – what is competitive varies depending on discipline

Referees

• Select your referees carefully (especially arm’s length) and communicate to your referees how prestigious the fellowship is
• Give you referees an early deadline (prior to the actual Banting deadline).