Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards

Fellowship Details

The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA) will provide 400 postdoctoral fellowships across Canada to recruit international candidates. Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $70,000 per year for two years.

  • Annual Value: $70,000
  • Duration: 2 years

Eligibility Criteria

Research area eligibility: 

  • Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, 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

Nominee (Postdoctoral Fellow) eligibility:

  • Prospective Postdoctoral Fellow:
    • Nominees cannot have a current affiliation with a Canadian institution and must be currently studying or working abroad.
    • Nominees must be qualified to undertake postdoctoral research at the nominating institution in Canada as of the award activation date. All Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards must be activated by March 31, 2027.
  • Nominees can be of any citizenship:
    • International citizens.
    • Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons.
  • Undertaking research in priority areas listed above.
  • Meet eligibility requirements to hold a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UBC.
  • Must not have held previous postdoctoral-level funding from the tri-agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC), regardless of institution.
  • See additional nominee eligibility criteria at: Tri-Agency FAQ #23-35.

Nominator (faculty supervisor) eligibility: 

Evaluation Criteria

  • Excellence in scholarly work and research (50%)
  • Quality of proposed research project (50%)

Application procedures

Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows do not apply directly for CIRTA funding, but may contact their prospective research supervisor (UBC faculty member) to discuss if there is an opportunity to be nominated for CIRTA funding. Note that (i) not all UBC faculty members are eligible to nominate a student for CIRTA funding and (ii) there are a limited number of CIRTA nominations available.

There are several avenues available to assist in finding and applying for Postdoctoral Fellowships, but there is no central application process at UBC. Applications are made directly to faculties/departments, and units will assist with any appointment-related administration.

 

Nomination procedures

Each CIRTA nomination requires identification of two roles:

  • Nominator (faculty): see eligibility section above for details
  • Nominee (incoming Postdoctoral Fellow): see eligibility section above for details

Each disciplinary Faculty may recommend up to one nomination for a CIRTA award, with each Faculty determining the process by which they will select their nominators and nominees. Disciplinary Faculties with multiple academic units have provided instructions to their units and have each set their own internal nomination deadline.

Each Faculty Associate Dean or equivalent is responsible for providing their selected nomination to the College of Graduate Studies by Thursday 19 February end of day.

 

Adjudication procedures

The College of Graduate Studies will hold a campus-wide adjudication and submit UBC Okanagan’s two nominations to the Tri-Agencies on 4 March 2026.

The Tri-Agencies will validate eligibility of nominations submitted by UBC and make formal CIRTA funding offers to nominees in April 2026.

Additional resources

 

questions? email POSTDOC.OK@UBC.CA