Financial Support for Postdoctoral Research Fellows
This policy applies to Postdoctoral Research Fellows whose primary appointment is in the Research Division at Baycrest. It does not apply Clinical Fellows who may have a secondary cross-appointment in Research.
POLICY
- PhDs will be compensated in accordance with current Baycrest scales for Postdoctoral Research Fellows, and will also be allowed up to $750 annually for conference travel.
- MDs whose fellowships do not include clinical practice will be compensated at the same level as PhDs.
- MDs whose fellowships do include clinical practice will be compensated in accordance with current CIHR rates, and will also be allowed up to $750 annually for conference travel.
- PhDs or MDs with their own external funding who have been reviewed and approved as eligible for Baycrest-funded positions will, if their external funding is less than Baycrest rates, be eligible for top-up funds to bring their funding to the level of Baycrest-funded positions, and will also be allowed up to $750 annually for conference travel.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Research Fellow
A postdoctoral fellowship provides an important stage in the transition from graduate student to independent scholar. Postdoctoral fellows (PDF) are, in essence, contract employees who are receiving further training to enable them to pursue their research in an environment that will afford them the opportunity to develop as independent scholars. In light of the transitional nature of their status, postdoctoral fellowships are time-limited and are not ongoing.
Criteria for Fellowship
- Ph.D. or equivalent recently awarded (normally within 5 years)
- The fellowship is temporary
- The fellowship involves participating in research on a full-time basis
- The fellowship is preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career
- The PDF selection should be done by a process set up by the research unit
- The productivity of the postdoctoral fellow must be evaluated at the six-month interval, and thereafter, annually
The postdoctoral fellow is not registered in another training program (e.g. clinical post-graduate training).
Term of the Fellowship
1. The term of engagement is usually a minimum of two years. The maximum term is five years
- Extension of the fellowship that is funded by Baycrest beyond two years is applicable only for PDFs who have their own funding or are funded by a scientist’s grant.
- If the PDF position is linked to a Chair position, the extension can be Baycrest funded, if no external funds are available.
- The Managing Director, Rotman Research must approve the use of Baycrest funds in cases such as these.
2. At the end of the two years (or longer with an approved application for extension) the engagement shall expire, without any further payment obligations by Baycrest, on the date specified in the letter of engagement.
3. The engagement may be terminated at any time by Baycrest for a material failure to meet the specified standards as evaluated by the review process of the research group.
- The post-doctoral fellow is not entitled to any further payments beyond those earned up to the date of the termination of the engagement.
4. Early termination of the position may also occur if either party provides two weeks’ notice in writing to the other party, and in accordance with Baycrest’s Human Resources policies and procedures.
- Baycrest may provide a payment in lieu of notice equivalent to the stipend that would have been earned over the course of the two weeks.
Conditions for offering a Fellowship
1. The prospective fellow will have a Ph.D. or M.D with an advanced research degree in relevant field to that of the one of scientists within the Rotman Research Institute.
- The prospective fellow must provide written confirmation, either the diploma or an official letter from the University indicating successful defence of his/her dissertation, or research degree.
2. Within six months of the start date of the fellowship, the Scientist is required to conduct a review, in writing, to ensure the PDF is meeting expectations .