The University of British Columbia (UBC)  Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies and are available for most fields of research.

In keeping with the original spirit of the Killam Endowments, the goal of the Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships program is to bring outstanding scholars from around the world to UBC in order to engage in innovative research that will enhance interdisciplinary collaborations and help establish them in leadership positions in the academic and wider community. As such, applicants must be able to contribute fresh intellectual insights to UBC.

Eligibility

Applicants:

• must have completed all requirements of their PhD no more than 24 months prior to the anticipated fellowship start date. Completion of PhD requirements refers to the date that the applicant completed all the steps required for obtaining their degree. Although these requirements may vary by institution and degree type, they normally include thesis defense corrections and thesis deposition. It is not the convocation date. The period of eligibility may be extended for applicants who have had their career interrupted or delayed for the purpose of childrearing, illness, or health-related family responsibilities. The interruption(s) or delay(s) must have occurred after the applicant completed all the requirements of their PhD. Note that the eligibility window will only be extended by the duration of the delay(s) or interruption(s), to a maximum of one year. Justification for the extension must be provided in the Special Circumstances attachment.
• must not have pursued PhD-level studies at any campus of the University of British Columbia.
• must not currently hold a tenure-track or continuing faculty position at a university or college. Applicants who currently hold a temporary, term, or non-tenure track faculty appointments are eligible to apply.
• may be citizens of any country;  though there are no restrictions regarding nationality of applicants, successful candidates must be able to meet all Canadian immigration requirements.

Evaluation Criteria

1)  Excellence in scholarly work and independent research – 60%

• quality of contributions to research to date
• scholarships and awards held
• duration of graduate studies, taking into account the nature of the program and relevant personal circumstances
• determination and ability to complete projects within an appropriate period of time
• critical thinking, judgment, originality, initiative and autonomy.

2) Quality of proposed research project – 30%

• merit, potential significance, clarity, feasibility of the proposed project
• relevance of applicant’s work experience and academic training to field of proposed research
• suitability and quality of research environment (proposed supervisor, facilities, support of academic unit)

3) Personal qualities of the applicant – 10%

• character:  integrity, collegiality and respect for others
• communication skills
• leadership abilities
• as demonstrated by employment, athletic/artistic achievements, community engagement, volunteering, etc.