Post-doctoral fellows (PDFs)

UVic adopted an updated University Policy HR6310 Post-Doctoral Fellows Policy and Appointment Procedures in August 2010. The purpose of the policy is to:

• define the eligibility requirements for a PDF appointment at the university;
• establish the responsibilities of the faculty member as the supervisor and/or employer of a PDF;
• establish the responsibilities of the PDF; and
• outline the support provided by the university.

University Policy HR6305 - Employment under Externally Funded Grants and Contracts is also relevant to grant-funded PDFs, as it sets out some of their conditions of employment.

Faculty members who supervise PDFs and individuals interested in becoming post-doctoral fellows are advised to familiarize themselves with the policy and appointment procedures. Please also refer to the information for prospective post-doctoral fellows.

Policy reviews

For information on the review of the previous PDF policy that was completed in mid-2010, please see the policy review page.

Read the Frequently asked questions about appointing post-doctoral fellows and answers to those questions.

If you are a faculty supervisor wishing to recruit an international PDF or if you are a prospective international post-doctoral scholar, consider that getting the proper documentation can take time. International PDFs who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, will need to apply for a work permit and/or visa in order to come to Canada for their fellowship. Obtaining these documents is the PDF's responsibility and the process can take up to several months or more depending on where they are from.

• Immigration guidelines to help plan for a PDF at UVic are available on the university's Immigration website
• Information on work permits and other requirements can be found at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• PDFs should consult the Government of Canada’s immigration website for the latest information on new travel requirements.
• See the university's Immigration website for COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) relevant to international PDFs.

There are several external Post-doctoral Fellowship opportunities available. All external funding applications must be approved internally before submission to the funding agency. In 2022-2023, the Banting PDF internal competition also serves to obtain internal approval.

For all other fellowships, please submit an electronic copy of your application together with a Research Summary Application Form (RASF) using our Research Administration Information System (RAIS) to the Office of Research Services at least one week prior to the external deadline.  Your academic supervisor must start the RASF as the Principal Investigator (PI) and add you as the Principal Applicant (PA) before you will have access to the RASF.

The RASF requires the following signatures before submission to ORS:

• Faculty grants officer, or equivalent;
• Research centre director, if applicable;
• Department chair or school director; and
• Dean of faculty or associate dean research.

For more information on UVic's external funding application process, please contact the Research Programs Liaison.

Are you a faculty member seeking a PDF (either paid by your grant or who brings their own external funding)? Please contact the Office of Research Services for ideas on sharing PDF opportunities. Please email the following information to postdocinfo@uvic.ca:  

• faculty member/supervisor’s name
• department/unit at which PDF will be held
• a brief description in an email, electronic document (e.g., Word or Adobe PDF) or on a website (e.g., department, lab or personal research website) outlining the following:
  • description of the PDF position
  • salary/benefits offered
  • details on how to apply (what to submit, and how)
  • the application deadline

Please note that UVic does not have a central posting web page for advertising PDF positions. 

If you are currently a post-doctoral fellow at UVic, your supervisor is always your first point of contact for any questions.

Office of Research Services
 postdocinfo@uvic.ca