Introduction

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024-2025 is a funding opportunity designed to support promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities. The program aims to assist these scholars in establishing a research base and preparing them for research-intensive careers. The fellowships provide financial support to recent PhD graduates who are undertaking original research, publishing findings, and expanding their research networks.

Scope of Work

The SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for recent PhD graduates who are engaged in full-time postdoctoral research. The program supports activities such as undertaking original research, publishing research findings, developing and expanding personal research networks, broadening teaching experience, preparing for research-intensive careers within and beyond academia, and preparing to become competitive in national research grant competitions.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships, applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or a “protected person” under subsection 95(2) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act by the application deadline. They must not hold a permanent faculty position or a faculty position leading to permanency and must have finalized arrangements for affiliation with a recognized university or research institution. Additionally, applicants must not have applied more than twice before to the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships funding opportunity and must not have already received a postdoctoral award from SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR.

Budget and Duration

The SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $70,000 per year over two years, for a total of $140,000. These are taxable, non-renewable fellowships that can begin on the first of any month between May 2025 and January 2026.

Additional Information

To hold the award, applicants must engage in full-time postdoctoral research for the period of the award, have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree before taking up the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and not hold a permanent faculty position or a faculty position leading to permanency. If they are full-time Government of Canada employees, they must be on an approved leave of absence for the period of the award.

Key Dates

The application deadline for the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024-2025 is September 12, 2024.

Application Process

Applicants must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements before submitting their application. All referees and institutional nominators must use SSHRC’s online application system to submit their supporting letters before the deadline. The applicant is responsible for ensuring all required application components (CV, two Letter of Appraisal forms, Research Appraisal form, Institutional Nomination and Commitment form, and all attachments) have been submitted ahead of the deadline. Applicants must complete the application form in accordance with the accompanying instructions. Applications must be submitted electronically directly to SSHRC. Requests to submit late applications will not be accepted.

Selection Process

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Challenge (20%): Originality and potential significance of the proposed program of work.

• Feasibility (30%): Feasibility of the proposed program of work; appropriateness of the intended place of tenure; and effectiveness of the overall support provided by the host institution according to the Guidelines for Effective Research Training.

• Capability (50%): Fellowships, scholarships or other awards obtained; previous research experience and/or publications; and timely completion of doctoral studies, taking into account the nature of the program and any related personal circumstances that may have delayed the applicant’s academic career.

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.