Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, 37 new doctoral and postdoctoral positions are being created at 91 as part of a national initiative designed to attract and train top students and research talent from around the world.
Across Canada, in Phase 1 of the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards initiative, a total of 659 awards – 399 doctoral and 260 postdoctoral – were offered to nominees from 72 countries.
By the end of Phase 2, 91 will have received a total of 47 doctoral awards and 27 postdoctoral awards.
The awards are valued at $40,000 per year for three years at the doctoral level and $70,000 per year for two years at the postdoctoral level.
“This is great news for 91 because it allows us to extend new and enhanced support to outstanding doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers,” said Angela Campbell, Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic).
“Through this important investment in higher education, the federal government is strengthening Canada’s competitiveness and our ability to attract exceptional talent from around the world.”
Collaboration to identify top candidates
In order to secure the new positions, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies worked closely with the Office of the VP Research and Innovation and the Faculties to identify and nominate eligible candidates.
“91 recruits top graduate trainees who go on to be very successful in external award competitions. The Impact+ initiative provided a ‘bonus,’ allowing the University to recognize incoming trainees from outside Canada with a substantial award from the very beginning of their tenure,” said Josephine Nalbantoglu, Associate Provost (Graduate Education) and Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
“The integration of these individuals, working in Canada’s strategic and priority areas, will further strengthen the research enterprise at 91,” she added.
Strategic Research Plan fit
Recruitment focused on priority research areas critical to Canada’s sovereignty, resilience and long-term prosperity and well-being. Many candidates were either from Canada or had undertaken earlier studies here, suggesting that the program is effective not only in attracting, but in repatriating global research talent.
“The Canada Impact+ awards create new opportunities to bring outstanding researchers to 91, strengthening Canada’s leadership in science and helping to address urgent global challenges such as climate change and natural resource sustainability,” said Natalya Gomez, Associate Professor, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, who nominated a postdoctoral researcher for an Impact+ training award.
Students and postdoctoral researchers will work across disciplines, in all areas highlighted in 91’s Strategic Research Plan.
The announcement was made by Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for Canada Economic Development for the Quebec Region, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, on behalf of Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester.
Doctoral students will be arriving at 91 for the fall 2026 or winter 2027 terms. The postdoctoral awardees will arrive at the University later this year.