Graduate Studies Scholarships Program in Occupational Health and Safety
Postdoctoral fellowship
Last update : August 2009

Regulations

The postdoctoral fellowship scholarship category is intended for Ph.D. graduates who wish to pursue their education in a specific occupational health and safety research area.

Eligibility requirements
1. To be eligible, applicants must, at the time they submit their applications:

Scholarship applicants must meet all the requirements by the time they accept the scholarship offered. In cases where the thesis has not yet been defended at the time the scholarship application is submitted, proof of successful thesis defense must be submitted by the department director at the time of acceptance, failing which the scholarship offer will be revoked.

The relevance of the applicant's research objective to the IRSST's priorities is a deciding factor in the awarding of these scholarships.

Scholarship Amount
2. The amount of the scholarship is $27,000 a year for scholarship recipients who do their research program in Canada, and $36,000 a year for those who do their program outside the country.

The cost of one round-trip a year to the research location, equal to the cost of one economy-class return airfare or one return trip by car, for each year during which the scholarship is valid (maximum of two years).

Duration and Renewal
3. The duration of the scholarship is two years (six consecutive sessions) if the applicant is awarded a new scholarship by the IRSST at the very beginning of his¹ postdoctoral fellowship and needs six sessions to complete the fellowship. If this is not the case, the duration of the scholarship is reduced by the number of sessions already completed between the start of the fellowship and the time when the applicant receives the first scholarship instalment and by the number of sessions that are no longer required at the end of the fellowship. However, no scholarship is awarded for a period of less than one year.

4. To receive his scholarship for the second year, the recipient must submit a duly completed application for renewal. The deadline for submission of a renewal application is the same as that for a new application.

Maternity leave, paternity leave, and sick leave
5. The rules concerning the scholarship eligibility period (duration of the scholarship) only leave room for exceptions under circumstances beyond the recipient's control, such as a serious illness that obliges him to defer his research program. Recipients who defer their research program to take parental leave may request an extension of their eligibility period of up to 12 months.

In both these cases, the scholarship is still awarded for the maximum number of eligible sessions, but these sessions are no longer consecutive. Moreover, recipients who wish to avail themselves of the exceptional circumstances provision regarding the eligibility period must provide an official attestation of registration deferral, and if applicable, a medical certificate indicating the duration of and reason for the deferral.

Combining scholarships and other remuneration
6. IRSST scholarship recipients may not accept other scholarships awarded by the Canadian or Québec governments, one of their agencies, or a federal or provincial granting agency.

However, an IRSST scholarship may be combined with other scholarships from the private sector (foundations, private institutes, companies, etc.).

7. Research projects must be carried out by scholarship recipients on a full-time basis. Subject to the approval of their research supervisor, recipients may accept remunerated work related to their field of research, provided that it does not exceed 150 hours a session. For the purposes of this rule, a 45-hour course load is considered equivalent to 150 hours of work.

The remuneration paid to scholarship recipients to allow them to work exclusively on their research project is considered a scholarship that cannot be combined with an IRSST scholarship.

6. Required documents²

To be considered valid, photocopies of official documents must be legible and officially authenticated by a commissioner of oaths or any other duly authorized person.

For a new application:

• A proof of Canadian citizenship (New: birth certificate or certificate of citizenship) or of permanent residency in Canada (permanent resident card);
• New: A photocopy of a valid Québec health insurance card (a card with an expiry date prior to the deadline for the scholarship competition is not valid) or any official document confirming Québec resident status within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act;
• The scholarship application form, duly completed (front side only) and signed by the applicant and the research supervisor;
• The official transcripts of all university grades, including grades for completed programs and those under way (if the program has begun but the marks are not yet available, include an official attestation of acceptance or registration). The document must bear the seal of the university registrar. In the case of transcripts from outside North America, include an official letter explaining the grading system used by the institution concerned;
• An evaluation letter (maximum of two pages on the front side only) from each of two scientists other than the research supervisor, who have participated in the applicant's education (the respondents must follow the instructions given in the document entitled "Letter of evaluation for postdoctoral fellows");
• A letter of recommendation (a maximum of two pages on the front side only) written by the research supervisor (the latter must give his general assessment of the applicant and the research project submitted; specify how the project fits in with his own work, if applicable; describe the research environment and explain its relevance;
   
• The declaration of the research supervisor, and, if applicable, of the research co-supervisor(s) (they must complete the relevant form). A duly completed full version of their Canadian Common CV is accepted in lieu of the IRSST form, on condition that the information be limited to the past five years of the research supervisor's (and co-supervisor's career(s));
   
• Applicants wishing to pursue their fellowships and research outside Canada must submit documents explaining the chosen program and institution.

For a scholarship renewal application:

• The duly completed scholarship renewal application form, signed by both the applicant and the research supervisor.

7. Application deadline
 

The deadline for submitting applications to the IRSST is 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of October (the postmark or the courier-signed and -dated receipt serves as proof of the date of submission). 

¹ The masculine form is used in this text solely in the interests of readability. It refers equally to women and men, with no gender discrimination intended.
² Please note that no documents other than those required will be forwarded to the review committee.