The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program supports and promotes research excellence in health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities, including interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. Administered jointly 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 CPRA is part of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The program provides postdoctoral researchers with funding and flexibility to develop their research skills, contribute to world-class research capacity, and prepare for the next phase of their career.

Overview

The CPRA enables postdoctoral researchers to deepen their experience by conducting research in Canada or abroad. The award is valued at $70,000 per year for a duration of 24 months. Award holders may hold the award at eligible academic research institutions, provincial research institutions, research hospitals, colleges, non-government organizations, Indigenous organizations, and other institutions with a significant research training mandate. Awards may not be held at a Canadian federal government research institution.

Funding and Benefits

In addition to the base award, supplementary funding may be available through joint initiatives and partnerships with not-for-profit, private, and public sector organizations. The agencies may offer additional awards and supplements, including:

• Indigenous Scholars Supplement: A $10,000 supplement for one year is available to meritorious Indigenous postdoctoral researchers (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) who apply through NSERC or SSHRC and are successful in the CPRA competition, subject to available funding.
• Black postdoctoral researchers: Additional dedicated funding is available for meritorious applicants who self-identify as Black and provide consent. Each agency may reserve up to six additional awards for Black postdoctoral researchers.
• Priority research areas: A portion of new awards funded through Budget 2024 is dedicated to supporting select meritorious applications aligned with priority research areas.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold or expect to hold a doctoral or health professional degree before the start date of the award and must not hold or be on leave from a tenure-track or tenured faculty position. The degree must have been completed no more than three years before September 1 of the application year. Exceptions to the three-year eligibility period may be granted for career delays or interruptions due to parental leave, medical leave, family responsibilities, military service, natural disasters, socioeconomic reasons, or relevant employment in industry or government.

International applicants who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons must, as of the application deadline, be currently registered in a doctoral or health professional degree at a Canadian institution, have previously completed such a degree at a Canadian institution, or be currently conducting postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of all postdoctoral awards are available to international applicants.

International locations of tenure are available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons who completed their doctoral or health professional degree at a Canadian institution. Up to 30% of awards may be held outside Canada.

Applicants may apply to only one CRTAS program per academic year, may apply a maximum of three times to the CPRA, and cannot have previously received a tri-agency postdoctoral award or hold a CPRA concurrently with another tri-agency research training award.

Research Areas

The CPRA supports research across a wide range of disciplines. Priority research areas identified in Budget 2024 include:

• Advanced digital technologies (including AI, quantum, and cybersecurity)
• Health, including biotechnology
• Clean technology and resource value chains
• Environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic
• Food and water security
• Democratic and community resilience
• Manufacturing and advanced materials
• Defence and dual-use technologies

The proposed research must be significantly distinct from the applicant’s doctoral thesis. Projects whose primary objective is to adapt a thesis for publication, edit textbooks, translate, or acquire a foreign language are not eligible.

Application Process and Deadline

Applicants must apply to the agency best aligned with their research subject matter. Applications are submitted electronically through the relevant agency’s online platform. Referees and institutional nominators must submit supporting letters through the same system before the deadline.

Application deadlines:

• CIHR: September 16
• NSERC: October 17
• SSHRC: September 10

Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants are advised to submit well in advance of the deadline to avoid system delays. CIHR and SSHRC applicants should also confirm any internal institution deadlines for endorsement or nomination.

Applications are evaluated based on research potential and experience (50%) and quality of the proposed research program (50%). Applicants will be notified of results by March 31.

For further information, contact the agency closest to the applicant’s field of study:

• CIHR: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
• NSERC: nsercscholarships-boursescrsng@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
• SSHRC: fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca