Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
115 Séraphin Marion St.
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1N 6N5
Tel: (613) 562-5742
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Vision 2010 Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, with the support of the Province of Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, is pleased to announce a competition for two-year postdoctoral fellowships for outstanding young scientists.

1. Overview

Application deadline: July 15, 2009. Applications must be received at the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) by 3:30pm (Eastern Time) on this day. Late applications will not be considered.

Results: posted by mid-October 2009
Contract start date: no later than December 31, 2009

2. Description

Four postdoctoral Fellowships of $50,000 per year for two years will be available, for a total of $400,000. The total budget of $50,000 per year includes salary, fringe benefits, and a maximum research allowance of $5,000. The fellowship is not renewable.

  • Half of the funding will come from the Province of Ontario
  • $12,000 from the Office of the Vice-President, Research
  • $500 in travel funding from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
  • $12,500 in matched funds from the supervisor/department/faculty making the nomination
  • The supervisor/department/faculty making the nomination is responsible for any fringe benefits.

3. Eligibility

  • External candidates only (not those currently registered or those who have been registered as postdoctoral fellows, postdoctoral assistants, or research associates at the University of Ottawa or at its related institutes or centres);
  • Canadian or international candidates; international candidates must be eligible to hold a PDF in Canada;
  • Candidates must have completed or received a PhD degree no more than two years before the application deadline (i.e. not before 2007), or be expected to complete their PhD no later than January 1, 2010;
  • The date of the degree completion is the date on which all requirements of the degree have been met;
  • If an applicant has at least six months of full-time relevant work experience in industry or government after receiving the doctorate, the eligibility period is extended to three years;
  • If an applicant has withdrawn from the workforce and active research for maternity or paternity leave or to raise a child for at least one year after receiving a doctorate, the eligibility period is extended to six years;
  • Candidates in all disciplines;
  • Postdoctoral proposals must meet both the Government of Ontario and the University of Ottawa’s areas of research priority;
  • Government of Ontario priorities: proposals with an emphasis on agriculture, materials and advanced manufacturing; life sciences, information and communications technologies, energy systems and technologies, environmental technologies and emerging technologies.
  • University of Ottawa priorities: Quantitative Biomedecine and Medicinal Chemistry.
Quantitative Biomedecine
Research proposals from candidate postdoctoral fellows are solicited in the area of Quantitative Biomedicine. The proposals will meet the requirements of both the Government of Ontario and the University of Ottawa in this area at the junction of the physical and life sciences. Specific proposals are sought in the following fields: 1) development of biosensors using systems biology (e.g. lipidomics) and photonics methods; 2) molecular biophysics, cellular mechanics and artificial tissues including DNA studies, and 3) systems neuroscience with emphasis on sensory processing. The candidate will have a doctorate in a related area (physics, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, cellular and molecular medicine, etc...). He/she may combine experimental, computational modeling and theoretical approaches, and will be co-supervised by two mentors.
Medicinal Chemistry
Proposals are invited that will meet both the Government of Ontario and the University of Ottawa priorities with special focus on materials and advanced manufacturing with implications in life sciences (novel pharmaceuticals and preparative methods) as well as the molecular sciences. More specifically, proposals are requested in the area of transition metal catalysis and organic synthesis with a particular focus on catalytic transformations at C-H bonds. Suitable candidates will have strong knowledge in the handling of air sensitive materials, purification techniques, HPLC, GC, and NMR techniques.

Metal Catalyzed Organic Reactions of Petroleum Feedstocks Leading to Value Added Materials: Magnetic nanoparticles containing dendrimer metal complexes are excellent, new classes of catalysts. It is planned to demonstrate the versatility of these catalysts for converting petroleum feedstocks to value added materials including plastics, polymers, and nanostructured entities. Some of these products will have considerable potential for applications to several industry sectors including drug delivery systems, coatings, and foams for the auto and advanced manufacturing industries
  • Priority will be given to those proposals which meet both the Government of Ontario and the University of Ottawa’s strategic areas of development (see previous point, above) ; however, proposals that meet only one of the two may also be considered;
  • Research must be carried out at the University of Ottawa or in one of its affiliated institutes. The supervisor must be a member of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies;
  • Proposals must commit a minimum of 1% of their research activities to mentor youth on-campus and in their local community (a wide spectrum of activities will be considered);
  • The PDF and the PDF’s mentors must agree to participate in a PDF network as may be requested and organized by the Government of Ontario from time to time.
  • Priority will be given to candidates who will support the research program of young University of Ottawa researchers. See http://www.research.uottawa.ca/excellence-awards-details_1.html .

4. Selection Committee

  • Four Tier I Canada Research Chairs from the University of Ottawa (one in each of the four strategic areas mentioned above)

5. Selection Criteria

  • Past research and leadership achievements
  • Excellence and impact of the proposed research program
  • Ongoing/future research and leadership potential
  • Alignment of activity with Government of Ontario and University of Ottawa research priorities

6. Application Process

The following documents are required:

  • A completed application
  • Three letters of reference
  • A curriculum vitae
  • Proof that you have obtained a PhD or a letter from your university stating expected date of completion (must be before January 1, 2010)
  • A proposed research plan (maximum of four pages)
  • A letter from the future PDF supervisor supporting the nomination, as well as confirming the availability of the matching component of the award ($12,500 per year for 2 years), and confirming the provision of office space and fringe benefits.

Only complete application packages with all necessary documentation should be sent to:

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Hagen Hall
115 Séraphin Marion (204)
Ottawa, Ontario K1N6N5
Inquiries: gradadm@uottawa.ca