VPR Postdoctoral Excellence Award

You must provide the following in your online application form: 

• Contact information 
• Ph.D. completion information 
• Contact information for 2 references 
  • Ensure that your referees submit letters of reference to fellowships@ucalgary.ca on or before the application deadline. We will not contact referees to request letters. 
  • Do not list your proposed UCalgary supervisor as a reference 
• Proposed research project title and lay abstract (150-300 words) 

Note: All documents in your application must be on 8.5x11 pages, single-spaced with minimum margins of 2 cm on all sides, and a minimum font size of 11 in Arial font. The PDF attachment MUST include your first and last name in the file name (e.g. "Last Name, First Name VPR Excellence.pdf")

Attach the following as a single PDF, in the order listed below:
 
1.  Research project proposal (2 pages maximum, plus 1 additional page for list of references)
Please be sure to write your proposal in clear, plain language and avoid jargon, keeping in mind that your application will be evaluated by a review committee covering a broad discipline category. 
Applicants must submit a well-structured proposal that addresses the following: 

• Background and Challenge: Provide relevant background information, explain the significance of the issue, and describe how your project addresses a challenge in academic, creative, or societal contexts. 
• Aims/Objectives: Clearly state the research, scholarly, and/or creative aims/objectives, or the scientific hypothesis that guides the study. It is highly recommended to pose a direct research question. 
• Methods and Activities: Outline the key activities, steps, and the approach or methodology you will use to meet the challenge or to investigate your question. Explain in a compelling manner how the proposed activities of the project will successfully achieve the aims/objectives and address the challenge identified. 
• Expected outcomes and impact: Describe the anticipated results and their potential contribution or application within the field and beyond. This may include transdisciplinary contributions, policy, industry, public health, or environmental sustainability.  

It is not necessary to use these exact headings, but these elements must be addressed in relation to the evaluation criteria. 

2. Narrative CV (3 pages maximum): Approach this item as an abridged version of the Tri-Agency CV (TCV). The adjudication committee will evaluate applications according to Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) recommendations, which recognizes a wide and diverse range of scholarly outputs beyond such metrics as journal impact factors. For guidance on composing this item, please consult the TCV Guide maintained by the Knowledge to Impact team. 
 
3. Confirmation of Ph.D. degree completion (not required at time of application submission, if degree is pending) 
 
4. Supervisor's statement  (1 page maximum) 

• Confirmation of match-funding ($60,000) for full two-year tenure of award (i.e. Project Number or RMS record for pending funding requests) 
• Describe the quality of the research and training environment, including access to space, resources, funding, networks, and research opportunities; 
• Outline the supervisory commitment, including career development support and professional training. 
• Highlight the supervisor’s track record in training trainees and demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) and, where applicable, alignment with UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy (ii’taa’poh’to’p).  

5. Detailed plan for external funding applications (1 page maximum) 

• List all external postdoctoral fellowships for which you are eligible and have applied, or plan to apply. Include confirmation of eligibility, application deadlines, funding amounts, and the anticipated start dates.

6. Special Circumstances (if applicable; 1 page maximum): Applicants should use the Special Circumstances page, where applicable, to explain any career interruptions, non-traditional career paths, or factors that may have influenced their academic trajectory. 

We must also receive 2 letters of reference from referees to fellowships@ucalgary.ca on or before the application deadline. These must be submitted by the referees, and not by the applicant. Letters of reference must be on institutional letterhead and include the name, title, and signature of the referee.  

1. Research Potential and Experience (50%) 
Assesses the applicant’s research ability, independence, leadership potential, and readiness to carry out the proposed research. 

a) Impact and significance of prior research and contributions: 
Evidence of meaningful contributions to the field (e.g., publications, creative outputs, presentations, awards),and demonstrated potential for continued high-impact research. 
Examples may include: peer-reviewed publications; book chapters or monographs; conference presentations or invited talks; creative works, performances, or exhibitions; patents, software development, or commercialization activities; policy briefs or reports influencing practice or programs, e.g. in government, professional domains, or community; research datasets or digital tools; knowledge mobilization or translation activities; creation of, or leadership in, community or organizational partnerships; research awards, fellowships, or prizes 

b) Demonstrated leadership potential and contributions to the research environment: 
The applicant’s demonstrated or emerging leadership in their field, including mentorship (formal or informal) of collaborators, students, trainees, interns, research or creative partners, other professionals, or community members; and/or training in methodologies, knowledge systems, or cultural practices and approaches in the research context. 
 
c) Demonstrated potential for securing extramural funding: 
Evidence of success in securing external funding (e.g., fellowships, grants) and/or strong potential for future success. Applicants must identify at least two relevant external fellowship opportunities they intend to apply for during their postdoctoral appointment. 
 

2. Quality of Proposed Project (50%) 
Evaluates the project proposal using the following subcriteria, taking into account how the applicant’s prior training and research environment support the proposed research. 

a) Significance, Innovativeness, Feasibility, Clarity, and Potential Impact of the Proposed Project: 

• originality and significance of the research question or challenge, the clarity and feasibility of the objectives, methodology, and timeline, and  the appropriateness and innovativeness of the described approach;  
• potential impact of the project in academic and societal contexts, including transdisciplinary contributions, policy, industry, public health, or environmental sustainability.  
• where applicable, integration of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) considerations and/or alignment with Indigenous research principles.   

b) Research Training Environment and Supervisory Commitment: 
Suitability of the proposed supervisor and research environment, relevance and expertise of the supervisory team, and strength of supervisory commitment and engagement, including available resources, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities to support successful completion of the project; commitment to advancing EDIA and, where applicable, alignment with UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy (ii’taa’poh’to’p). 
 

• The purpose of this award is to attract new Postdoctoral Associates to the University of Calgary who will be highly competitive for external fellowship awards based on their scholarly contributions, research leadership, and proposed research program.  Award holders are required to apply for all fellowship opportunities identified in their external fellowship plan, with priority given to external awards from provincial and national agencies. Renewal of the VPR Postdoctoral Excellence Award for the second year is contingent on the award holder having met this requirement. 
• VPR support does not include benefits or employer CPP and EI contributions. It is a base contribution to salary only. The entire cost of any salary increases mandated by the PDAC Collective Agreement will be fully paid by the supervisor (i.e. increases scheduled under Appendix A of the Collective Agreement). Supervisors of international postdocs are also responsible for the $230 Compliance Fee Payment to support the work permit application.   
• The VPR Postdoctoral Excellence Award cannot be combined with any award of equal or greater value (extramural or intramural), and any new funding awarded during the tenure of the VPR Postdoctoral Excellence Award must be activated on the earliest possible date allowed under the terms of the new funding. Once the new funding source is in place, the Excellence Award will be discontinued. Individuals obtaining external support (i.e. Tri-Council, AIHS, MITACS, or equivalent) or any other internal funding must immediately inform the Postdoctoral Office fellowships@ucalgary.ca. 
• Award holders who obtain new extramural fellowship funding will be converted to a concurrent postdoctoral appointment in accordance with Article 5.13 of the PDAC Collective Agreement. In such cases, the supervisor remains responsible for the ongoing cost of employer benefits and compliance fees related to immigration, plus 10% of the salary in effect at the time of the activation of the external fellowship under Article 5.13. 
• Awards are always subject to the continuing availability of VPRO funds. 

• Must hold a continuing academic staff appointment at University of Calgary with regular research and supervision duties.  
• Cannot be on leave at the time of the application or award start date, including administrative leave.  
• Supervisors can support multiple requests for match funding in each application round; however, a maximum of one application per round will be awarded per supervisor. 
• Supervisors must provide a letter of support committing to a minimum $30,000.00 annual component of the award plus employer-paid benefits (Plan C), CPP, EI, and WCB for the entire award period including the renewal year (i.e. a total of two years). The letter must acknowledge that the supervisor has reviewed and is familiar with the award terms stated here including the incentive funding should the awardee successfully secure other fellowship funding. 

• Award must be held at a campus of the University of Calgary. Awardees must be residing in Alberta, Canada while holding the VPR Postdoctoral Excellence Award.