Feds launch new fellowships program

The federal government has added yet another program in its growing arsenal of research talent support programs with the announcement of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (BPF). Pegged at $45 million over five years, the program provides recipients with $70,000 annually for two years and will support 140 students when fully implemented.

Named after Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin, the BPF was originally announced in the recent Budget following recommendations from several organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (R$, Match 19/10).

The BPF is open to Canadian and international students and will be delivered equally across the three granting councils. The deadline for the first round of fellowships is January 15/11 and is open to those who have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree.

In a novel twist, BPF recipients may hold their award at either Canadian or foreign institutions, although those who apply in collaboration with a foreign institution are capped at 15 of the 70 awards made annually — five per granting council.

Fellowships, scholarships and research chairs are the main instruments of the federal government's attract-and-retain approach to securing world class research talent, and establishing links with researchers globally.

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