The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program supports outstanding innovators and researchers, providing funding and flexibility to develop skills and drive Canadian prosperity. Administered by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, the CPRA aims to cultivate research skills and empower awardees to contribute significantly to Canada's research ecosystem.

Objective and Description

The primary objective of the CPRA program is to recognize and support the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers, and researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. This program aims to empower Canadian and international leaders in innovation and scholarship to develop world-class research skills.

The CPRA program is a federal research talent investment program in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). It is administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

The program supports research talent in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities, including interdisciplinary research. This support allows postdoctoral researchers to add to their experience by engaging in research either in Canada or abroad and facilitates their transition to the next phase of their career.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must hold or expect to hold a doctorate or health professional degree before the award's start date. They must also not hold or be on leave from a tenure-track or tenured faculty position. The doctorate must have been completed no more than three years before September 1 of the application year.

Exceptions to the doctoral degree completion eligibility period are granted up to a maximum of three years only if you meet one or more of the following criteria. Career interruptions due to parental, medical, or family-related responsibilities, mandatory military service, disruptions due to war, civil conflicts or natural disasters in your country of residence or limited research opportunities due to socio-economic reasons.

International applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a doctorate at a Canadian institution or be conducting postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of awards are available to international applicants. CPRAs cannot be held at a Canadian federal government research institution.

• Hold or expect to hold a doctorate or health professional degree.

• Not hold a tenure-track or tenured faculty position.

• Completed doctorate no more than three years before September 1 of the application year.

Application Process and Deadlines

Applicants must select the agency (CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC) whose research mandate aligns most closely with their research subject matter. Applications must be submitted electronically through the relevant agency’s platform, with all supporting letters submitted online before the deadline.

It is the applicant's responsibility to follow the instructions and submit the application by the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. With the exception of personal contact information, you cannot make any changes or updates to your submitted application either before or after the deadline.

The application deadlines vary by agency: CIHR: September 17, NSERC: October 17, and SSHRC: September 11. Be sure to check if your proposed host institution has an internal deadline.

Selection Criteria

The evaluation of CPRA applications is based on two primary criteria: research potential and experience (50%) and the quality of the proposed research program (50%). Selection criteria indicators and subcriteria are detailed in agency-specific application instructions.

The agencies are committed to meaningful assessment of excellence in research funding and to ensuring that a wide range of research results and outcomes are considered and valued as part of the assessment process. The agencies will continue to work to ensure that their strategies, policies and guidance align with DORA.

Applicants will be notified of the results by March 31. Successful applicants' names and basic award information will be published on the relevant agency's website.

Award Details and Conditions

The CPRA provides $70,000 per year for a duration of 24 months. The award can be held at eligible Canadian or international institutions. Award holders must comply with the policies and guidelines set out in the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide.

Award holders may be eligible to hold their awards part time. See the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for further information. The agencies reserve the right to interpret and enforce the policies and guidelines for their funding opportunities set out in their published materials.

Up to 30% of all postdoctoral awards will be available to be held abroad. The Government of Canada has allocated additional funds to increase direct support for Black postdoctoral researchers. Each agency has up to 6 additional awards reserved for Black postdoctoral researchers.