Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award
Purpose and Eligibility
The Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award (PCRA) at the University of Toronto is a prestigious opportunity for early-career scholars to develop and expand their research expertise at one of the world’s most distinguished public research universities. The program will empower postdoctoral scholars with the autonomy to pursue an ambitious research program, while benefiting from close collaboration with leading faculty.
The program is designed for exceptional postdoctoral scholars eager to contribute to an innovative, vibrant and inclusive academic community. This program specifically seeks to bridge the critical gap between doctoral training and independent academic careers by providing postdoctoral fellows with the resources and autonomy necessary to establish themselves as independent researchers.
Each award will provide $10,000 in independent research funding. Recipients are expected to develop and lead their own research agenda, distinct from but complementary to their supervisor’s work, positioning them for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.
Eligibility
This award is open to both domestic and international candidates and is available to current and incoming postdocs.
Applicants must:
- be engaged or expect to be engaged as a postdoctoral fellow (employee or trainee) of the Faculty of Information by January 2027;
- have demonstrated academic excellence, proven capacity to conceptualize and execute independent research beyond their doctoral work, and evidence of intellectual leadership in the field of information;
- complete all doctoral degree requirements by the time the award commences and normally be within five years from the completion of their degree;
- not already receive a research allowance as part of their postdoctoral position (e.g., Faculty of Information Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows are not eligible for this competition); and
- not have previously held a Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award at the University of Toronto.
Award recipients must:
- be engaged as a postdoctoral employee / trainee of the Faculty of Information with an engagement end date of no less than 12 months from January 2027;
- be hired by a U of T supervisor appointed primarily to the Faculty of Information;
- register and remain registered with the Postdoctoral Office at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS); and
- not hold a faculty position or be on leave from such a position.
Primary supervisors:
- must hold a primary (51%), full-time appointment with the Faculty of Information in a tenure stream or teaching stream (continuing) position;
- must hold a graduate faculty membership;
- cannot be the candidate’s current or former PhD supervisor;
- can endorse only one (1) candidate for adjudication with the Faculty of Information per round; and
- cannot be CLTAs, graduate-only appointments, cross-appointments, adjunct appointments, or emeritus faculty.
Award Value and Duration
$10,000 in independent research funding per award will be provided to support the postdoctoral researcher’s activities described in the proposal. The structure of each award is as follows:
- The postdoctoral employee or trainee receives an annual salary and / or fellowship as per the terms of their postdoctoral engagement, supported by their supervisor (and co-supervisor, if applicable) and/or an external award.
- In addition to this annual salary and / or fellowship, the postdoctoral employee or trainee receives the PCRA of a total of $10,000, disbursed through a reimbursement process managed by the Faculty of Information.
The 2026 PCRA funds are to be spent between January 1 and December 31, 2027. Any unspent funds will be returned to the program.
All expenditures must be aligned with the University of Toronto’s Guide to Financial Management and relate to the direct costs of research (e.g., materials and supplies, participant costs, travel for research purposes). Note that any equipment purchased with U of T funding is owned by the University and is expected to remain with the institution beyond the project completion.
Salary top-ups and general operating costs of the supervisor’s/co-supervisor’s research program are not permitted.
How to Apply
Candidates interested in the PCRA at the Faculty of Information must work with a current or prospective supervisor (and co-supervisor, if applicable) to apply to this opportunity.
For an application to be considered complete for adjudication, the candidate must download and fill out the provided proposal template. Please refer to the instructions below as you complete the application.
Send the final application as a single PDF (naming convention Last name_PCRA2026.pdf) to research.
The research proposal should articulate:
- the goals/objectives of the proposed research activities to be funded with the award,
- the methodology/approach of the proposed research,
- how the proposed work fits within the overall postdoctoral fellowship,
- how the proposed work represents a significant departure from or advancement beyond the candidate’s doctoral research,
- how the applicant’s research is distinct from the research agendas of the postdoctoral supervisor and co-supervisor (if applicable), and
- the anticipated long-term impact of the research and contributions to the field of information.
List all references cited or works referred to in your proposal. We recognize the use of different referencing styles.
Using the table provided, estimate the research costs for which funding is being requested. All spending must comply with the University of Toronto’s Guide to Financial Management, including institutional procurement policies and applicable reimbursement/per-diem rates for travel.
Using the cost categories from your budget table as headings, briefly explain how each item was estimated. Fully justify all items in terms of the needs of the research.
The statement of support should confirm the supervisor’s (and co-supervisor’s, if applicable) commitment to the successful execution of the applicant’s research through resourcing and mentorship.
Explain how the proposed research complements but remains independent from the postdoctoral supervisor’s/co-supervisor’s program. Also describe how the proposed work is aligned with the Faculty of Information’s Strategic Plan.
Append your CV (any format) to the application package.
Sections I to V (Research Proposal, References/Bibliography, Budget Table, Budget Justification, Supervisor’s Statement of Support) should be prepared using the following requirements:
- Use the application template provided (i.e., letter-size page, 8.5 x 11 inches or 216 x 279 mm; all margins set to at least ¾ inch or 1.87cm).
- Use 12-point Times New Roman font (single-spaced) for body text. Do not use condensed fonts; they will not be accepted.
- Font and size rules do not apply to text within tables and figures inserted into these sections. However, the selected font must be clearly legible.
- Figures and tables count toward specified page limits.
- Spell out all acronyms and abbreviations the first time they appear.
- Write with a multidisciplinary committee in mind. Explain technical concepts and use clear, plain language that will be understood by readers with varied areas of expertise.
Please note that font requirements do not apply to the CV (section VI). We also recognize the use of different referencing styles. Candidates may choose their own citation style.
Combine the application template and the CV and convert to PDF before final submission.
Selection Process
Divisions are responsible for adjudicating applications and selecting award recipients.
| Selection Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Research or Scholarship Potential | • Has the candidate identified a promising independent research agenda? Are the ideas put forward innovative and/or original, and do they have the potential of significantly advancing our understanding of the area? • Does the research plan demonstrate clear intellectual independence from the candidate’s doctoral work and postdoctoral supervisor’s existing research portfolio? • How will the proposed research advance the Faculty of Information’s strategic plan and excellence in the area over the longer term? |
| Feasibility and Appropriateness of Research Plan | • Is the proposed timeline realistic given the scope of work and length of the award? • Are the proposed methods and disciplinary approach well-suited and appropriately justified for answering the research questions? • If applicable, are ethical considerations identified and addressed (e.g., human subjects, data privacy, community consent)? • Is the institutional environment appropriate and adequate to support the research (e.g., mentors, collaborators, resources, infrastructure)? |
| Applicant Track Record | • Has the candidate already demonstrated meaningful scholarly activity as applicable to their discipline (e.g., publications, chapters, presentations, community-engaged work, public scholarship, creative practice and related scholarly activity)? • Does the research accomplished to date demonstrate independence and originality? • Has the candidate received high-quality academic and research training? • Has the candidate received awards or other acknowledgments of academic achievement? |
Applicants will be notified of the results by January.
Contacts and Resources
For questions about the application process at the Faculty of Information, please contact research.
For questions about the process at other divisions, refer to the divisional contact list available on the University of Toronto’s Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award page.