Resources for postdocs

First, you must determine if you are eligible to apply.

Second, you must find a faculty member to be your supervisor, either by applying for an open position or by approaching a faculty member directly.

Visit the Applying and recruiting page for more information.

To be eligible as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Calgary, the candidate must have been awarded a PhD or equivalent within the seven years immediately preceding the appointment or ten years from the completion of an MD, DDS, DVM or equivalent.

For Postdoctoral Associates, visit the Collective Agreement - Article 5. For Fellows and Guests, please visit the Postdoc Guidelines to read more about eligibility.

Visit the Careers page for current job postings.  

• Create a research profile on the UCalgary page so that people can find you. To update your profile follow these instructions.
• Start working through your Research Dossier. This will help you start to frame your broader research program and make conscious decisions about the research you want to do. It is also a useful resource to draw from when you are completing grant applications and applying for jobs. 
• Get to know what support is offered by the Research Support Offices (RSO):
  • Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST)
  • Knowledge Engagement
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
  • International Research and Innovation
  • Grants and Awards
  • Ethics and Compliance
  • Research Security
  • Data Management

Recruiting a postdoctoral scholar is the responsibility of the individual faculty member or research group. Before recruiting a postdoctoral fellow, the faculty member who will be providing the training needs to ensure that certain financial, resource, and eligibility requirements can be met. Visit the Applying and recruiting page for more information. 

• There is sufficient financial support available to fund the postdoctoral appointment. Financial support may include funding from the supervisor’s grant or research funds and/or from an external fellowship awarded to the postdoc.
• Postdoctoral scholars at the University of Calgary must receive a minimum stipend of $45,000/year plus Plan C health benefits (visit Benefits for information and costs) 
• There is appropriate research/office space and resources available for the postdoc to complete the required research and training.
• The prospective candidate is eligible to be a postdoctoral scholar, as outlined for Postdoctoral Associates, in the Collective Agreement - Article 5.
• For Fellows and Guests, please visit the Postdoc Guidelines to read more about eligibility.

Postdocs can teach one half course per term. The maximum load of teaching duties for postdocs is one half-course per term and arrangements must adhere to any granting agency restrictions on the amount of teaching permitted. The granting of teaching assignments is subject to Human Resources and Faculty Association of the University of Calgary (TUCFA) regulations. Any teaching assignment must be made as a separate appointment from the postdoctoral appointment.

Postdoctoral Associates can find more information in Collective Agreement - Article 5.10.  Fellowship Holders and Guests can find more information in Postdoc Guidelines.

• CIHR ICR Travel Awards are available to postdocs
• If you don't have research allowance funded through an external fellowship, please discuss with your supervisor.

Postdocs are eligible to audit without payment of fees, but must obtain a written permission from the instructor of the course on a "Registration Exception" form, which you can get from Enrolment Services. 

Postdoctoral Associates who have completed more then six months of continuous service are entitled to tuition support for both Academic Courses and Continuing Education Courses. For additional information please refer to the HR webpage Tuition Support.

• For questions related to salary please contact the Postdoctoral Office (postdoc@ucalgary.ca). 
• For questions related to taxes please contact UService (hr@ucalgary.ca).

Postdoctoral scholars must pay for access to the campus gym and recreation facilities. For more information on membership, visit the Active Living website. 

Postdocs have access to the campus Staff Wellness Centre, all campus libraries, and the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

• Check the University of Calgary’s information on applying for grant as a Postdoctoral Scholar. For a more exhaustive list of grants see the Funding Calendar.
• You will need your supervisor’s support: 1) Postdocs require their supervisor’s signature on the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) – RFAA’s must be submitted with application; 2) Postdocs cannot be a Principal Investigator on human ethics applications so Postdocs are required to submit ethics applications on the IRISS system under their supervisors; 3) You will need to ensure you have the capacity to do the research.
• Be sure to start your application with plenty of time to meet both the funding body’s deadlines as well as the internal deadlines. Follow the Grant Application Checklist.
• Use the help that is offered across Research Services Office (RSO).  Make sure you plan ahead so you can utilize the help these services can provide.
• Something to consider: For most grants, if you are an applicant or co-applicant, you cannot receive any payments from the grant for your work on the project but you will have successfully applied for a grant which is beneficial for your career. If you are listed on the grant application as a research assistant, then you can receive payment from the grant for your work on the project but you will not have successfully applied for a grant. 

• Depending on your appointment type and length it might be worth applying for a postdoctoral fellowship. Obtaining these prestigious fellowships can be beneficial when looking for academic positions in the future.
• The Killam fellowship provides $50,000CAD per year for 2 years.
• CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC Fellowships provide $70,000CAD per year for 1-3 years.
• Internal fellowship can be found here: Funding Opportunities
• RSO keeps an up-to-date calendar of all funding opportunities here: Research Opportunities Database

• See the section ‘Article 10: Leaves’ in the PDAC Collective Agreement for detailed information on general leave, illness leave, and maternity and parental leave.
• Speak to your supervisor and the Postdoctoral Office (postdoc@ucalgary.ca) to determine the length and nature of your leave.
• Contact PDAC (office@pdacalgary.com) if you are not satisfied with how your leave is being handled.

UCalgary faculty, postdocs, and other researchers can now publish open access in more than 1800 Elsevier journals. This is a great way to increase your research impact and comply with funder requirements for Open Access!

If you have questions, please Contact a Librarian. 

• Speak to your supervisor first and see if you can work out an arrangement that better suits your desired research program.
• If you feel you are being unfairly denied the ability to carry out your research program you can contact the Postdoctoral Office (postdoc@ucalgary.ca) and the PDAC Union (office@pdacalgary.com).

• There are limitations such as the requirements for supervisory support on university systems, however, you are entitled to the academic freedom to carry out and disseminate your own research insofar as you continue to abide by the duties and responsibilities of your appointment.
• Under Article 17.1 of the PDAC Collective Agreement Postdocs have the right to carry out independent research and “Supervisors are responsible for providing them with appropriate measures of intellectual independence and academic freedom”. 
• If you feel you are being unfairly prevented from carrying out your own research program you should contact the Postdoctoral Office (postdoc@ucalgary.ca) and PDAC (office@pdacalgary.com).
• Please note that international postdocs who are on a closed (employer-specific) work permit cannot be compensated for work outside of their postdoctoral position, or work duties provided to IRCC.

A postdoctoral appointment will automatically terminate on the end date in the offer letter. It is the responsibility of the postdoctoral scholar and supervisor to negotiate an extension. Visit the Applying and recruiting page for details. 

A letter of resignation is required by both your supervisor and the Postdoc Office. Please confirm the receipt of your resignation letter by both your supervisor and Postdoc Office if not delivering in person. 

If an extension is not requested or approved, the appointment will automatically terminate on the end date. No online termination form is required, but an online termination checklist should be completed by the supervisor. Individual departments will have their own processes for ending appointments (eg. returning keys).