For Students and Fellows – Overview – Postdoctoral

Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories (VF)

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Value	Application Deadline	How to Apply
$43,724 per year (one year, renewable for up to two more years)	None	Form 200
Program Contacts
Visiting Fellows Eligibility Criteria

What kind of support does this program provide?

This program provides promising emerging scientists and engineers with the opportunity to work with research groups or leaders in Canadian government laboratories and research institutions. Fellowships are awarded for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second and third year, at the discretion of the government department concerned.

The number of awards varies according to the budgets of participating departments and agencies.

Application deadlines

There are no deadlines for application to this program; applications are processed and reviewed as they are received.

Review procedures and selection criteria

Selection committees, appointed by the individual government departments, will be responsible for the pre-selection of applicants, recommending only the most meritorious applicants whose names will be placed on the inventory of approved candidates for a Visiting Fellowship in Canadian Government Laboratories. Applicants will be informed by NSERC, whether their names have been placed on the inventory, approximately three months after receipt of a complete application. (Note: Candidates should be aware that placement on the inventory does not guarantee a fellowship; it is a preliminary requirement only.)

Approved candidates to be offered a fellowship will be selected by the individual government departments. Successful applicants will be notified by NSERC or by the interested government department. The names of the approved candidates will remain on the inventory for one full year or until they are offered a fellowship.

The selection committee will rate the applications according to the following criteria:

• academic excellence
  • scholarships and awards held;
  • duration of previous studies;
• research ability or potential
  • quality of contributions to research and development;
  • relevant work experience and academic training;
  • critical ability; capacity for critical thought and analysis;
  • ability to apply skills and knowledge;
  • judgement, originality, and curiosity;
  • initiative and autonomy;
  • enthusiasm for research;
  • determination and ability to complete projects within an appropriate period of time;
• communication skills
  • ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats (e.g., quality of presentation of application, participation in the preparation of publications, special awards for oral presentations or papers);
• interpersonal and leadership abilities
  • professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations (e.g., mentoring, teaching, supervisory experience, project management, chairing committees, organizing conferences/meetings, and elected positions held);
• justification for location of tenure
• potential benefits to the government department

Announcement of competition results

Decisions are announced approximately three months after receipt of complete applications.

Departments and agencies that support fellowships:

Note: Some changes may occur in this list.