Background

Living Skies Fellowship funding will support PDFs with at least two faculty supervisors from different disciplinary areas (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) and a mentor from outside of the academy such as a private or public sector partner. Projects should align with one or more of the Signature Areas of Research.

Round three proposals should demonstrate strong collaboration with partners such as:

  • Community organizations and members
  • Policymakers and government agencies
  • Industry leaders and professionals
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Information on the first two cohorts of the Living Skies Postdoctoral Fellowship can be found here.

About

Fellowship opens for application January 5, 2026. The full application package will be available for download then.
  • Deadline: February 23, 2025, at 4:30 PM (CST)
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Value: $60,000/year 
  • Number of Awards: Up to 9 fellowships will be awarded, with no more than one award per Signature Area of Research

$45,000 of salary funding is provided by the Office of the Vice President Research and at least $25,000 of salary funding plus benefits (and research supplies/materials) must be provided by the supervisory team.  

How to apply

  • The call is open to all USask faculty who are eligible to supervise postdoctoral fellows

  • The supervisory team must consist of 2 faculty members who do not represent the same Tri Agency domain. The 3rd team member needs to be a non-academic, external to USask. Those with adjunct appointments are not considered external.

  • The supervisory team will nominate one PDF candidate. PDFs who are already at USask and who have already applied for a postdoc appointment as of December 31st are not eligible for this funding. 

Applications will be reviewed by the Living Skies Postdoctoral Fellows Selection Committee consisting of Signature Area leads and representatives from the CGPS Postdoctoral Advisory Committee.

Each section below is a separate attachment and must accompany the main application form. The full application package with all attachments must be submitted to leah.johnson@usask.ca by February  23, 2026.

Section 1: Supervisors' Statement

Provide a statement from both supervisors (maximum 1000 words, excluding bibliography) that address the following points: 

  • Description of the supervisors’ academic and research background
  • Description of how the research interests/background of the nominated PDF fit with the team
  • Description of the proposed research setting
  • Five most relevant publications from both faculty members

Section 2: External Mentor Statement

Provide a statement from the external mentor that addresses the mentor's research background, experience, professional activities and contributions related to the proposed transdisciplinary work.

Section 3: Research Proposal 

The PDF, in consultation with the supervisors, will provide a one-page summary that will include: 

  • Objectives of the proposed research program 
  • Explanation of the transdisciplinary nature of the program 
  • Theoretical approach or framework
  • The contribution that the research will make to the advancement of knowledge

Section 4: Funding Contributions

 On a separate page, the supervsiors will outline the sources of funding (must be committed or secured sources) to match the PDF's salary. It must be a minimum of $25k/year for two years. 

Section 5: CV from PDF

 

Questions?

Please contact leah.johnson@usask.ca.