D2R Postdoctoral Scholar Awards  

​1.1 Key Dates

• Competition Launch: July 17, 2025 
• Information session: August 5, 2025 from 12:30-1:30pm Eastern Time (Register here) 
• Application Deadline: August 29, 2025, 5:00pm Eastern Time 
• Anticipated Results Announcement: Fall 2025
• Anticipated Award Start: November 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026 

1.2 Award Duration and Value

• $70,000 (+ benefits) per year for 2 years 

1.3 Applicant Eligibility

• The proposed research project must be aligned with the overall goals of D2R and be tied to at least one of D2R’s Foundational Axes 
• At the time of application, applicants must: 
  • Have a designated supervisor or written commitment from a supervisor at McGill or one of D2R’s Partner Institutions 
  • Applicants planning to hold the award at a Partner Institution must be supervised by a D2R-eligible researcher 
  • Be Canadian or an international researcher with a valid visa 
• Limitations: 
  • Within a given application period, supervisors are limited to supporting the application of 1 postdoctoral researcher. 
  • Applicants cannot concurrently hold a fellowship from a Canadian federal/provincial funding agency or their institution and a D2R Scholar award.  
  • Trainees receiving funding from the Training Budget of a D2R grant (i.e. Foundational Projects, Research in Motion, and Translational Impact Research) are eligible to apply for the D2R Scholar awards but are asked to declare this information in the application form 
    • If awarded, they will no longer be eligible for funding from the Training Budget 

1.4 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Considerations

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the core of D2R and is placed as a high priority in all its bold and cutting-edge research initiatives. 

Self-Identification Survey for all D2R trainees

Whether or not applicants identify with an equity deserving group, completion of the D2R Self Identification Survey will help D2R refine its programs and enable us to track the evolution of representation among our applicants and awardees. Individual survey responses will be viewed only by authorized D2R team members for administration and reporting. Responses will not be shared with external reviewers or individuals outside the D2R team. 

EDI in research design and research practice requirements for all D2R trainees

Beyond diversity representation, all funded trainees are expected to complete mandatory training in EDI offered by D2R to support optimal integration of EDI in research design and research practice. 

Representation matters at D2R

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from all talented postdoctoral researchers, including those from equity deserving groups, including, but not limited to: women; 2SLGBTQIA+; Indigenous People; racialized individuals; Black, African and Caribbean; persons with disabilities. The D2R Initiative at McGill University is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive research environment. Also, applicants are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have influenced their education/career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the applicant’s record. 

Accessibility

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application process may contact us in confidence as we are working to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures.  

The full application as described below must be submitted through the online application form before Friday August 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. It is strongly recommended that applicants have the required documents ready to upload when completing the form. 

Applications submitted after the deadline, incomplete applications, or applications submitted by email will not be accepted. If any technical difficulties are experienced, it is the applicant's responsibility to notify D2R prior to the deadline. 

2.1 Online Application Form

Link to the Application Form 

• Includes the following sections: 
• Identification of the applicant, Institution, supervisor(s) 
• Statement regarding application to alternative funding competitions, including current receipt of D2R training funding 
• Research Proposal title, the D2R Foundational Axis/Axes best aligned with the proposed research project, and five keywords that describe the project 
• Specification of name and contact information for 2 referees 
• Identification of the applicant’s desired contribution(s) to the D2R Training community 
• Documents to Upload 
• Confirmation of completion of the D2R Self Identification Survey 

2.2 Reference Letters

The applicant is responsible for contacting 2 referees who will submit reference letters on their behalf through the online Reference Letter Submission form. 

• Reference Letters must be on institutional letterhead and submitted directly through the form by the application deadline (5:00 PM Eastern Time on August 29, 2025)

2.3 Documents to Upload

• Research Proposal 
• Letter of Motivation 
• Biosketch (Template) 
• Copy of Applicant’s Transcripts and cGPA 
• Declaration and Commitment Form (Form) 
• Optional: Explanation of Leave, Interruption and/or Other Personal Circumstances 

2.4 Research Proposal Instructions

Describe the research project for which funding is requested. Failure to adhere to the format requirements will result in the application being deemed ineligible. 

• Length: 
  • 2 page maximum, including all text and figures (References can be included on an additional page) 
• Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced, 2.0 cm margins 
• Indicate the applicant’s name at the top right corner of each page 
• Indicate the Research Project title at the top of the first page 
• Must include the following sections, clearly separated with sub-headings: 
  • Background and Rationale 
    • Situate the project within the current landscape of knowledge. 
    • Outline the rationale behind the proposed project (i.e. Why is the research important? What do you hope to learn/discover/develop overall? Why is your research group an ideal place to perform this project?) 
  • Research Plan and Methods 
    • Outline the experimental plan for the project linked with clear research objectives 
    • Explain the research methods you will use to achieve the proposed objectives 
  • D2R Alignment 
    • Describe how the proposed project aligns with D2R’s goals and objectives, specifying how it is tied to at least one of D2R’s Foundational Axes 
  • References 
    • List all works cited in the Research Proposal. Include the DOI where available. 

2.5 Letter of Motivation Instructions

• Maximum of 1 page 
• Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced, 2.0 cm margins 
• Indicate the applicant’s name at the top right corner of the page 

In the Letter of Motivation, the applicant must describe: 

• Their career goals  
• How being a D2R Postdoctoral Scholar will help them achieve these goals 
• How they intend to contribute to the growing D2R Training Program, with possible options including: 
  • Attending D2R Training Program events, such as professional skills development workshops, EDI trainings, networking events, and an annual Trainee Symposium. 
  • Applying for internship, industry training and funding opportunities provided by D2R. 
  • Joining the D2R Trainee Committee to help guide the direction of training activities within D2R and organize events. 
  • Being part of a D2R mentorship program (as a mentee or mentor). 
  • Performing research that benefits other members of the D2R community (e.g. development of analysis systems, database generation, etc.) 
  • Other (further suggestions are welcome, please explain them in your Letter of Motivation) 
• What they hope to gain from being a D2R Postdoctoral Scholar and from the D2R Training Program 

2.6 Biosketch Instructions

Prepare a Biosketch using the provided template. The template includes sections about academic and research history, community engagement (if applicable), honours and awards, publications, presentations, and other research outputs. 

• Applicants are encouraged to highlight efforts made towards more equitable access to research results. Research outputs reflecting diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation are valued and encouraged. 
• Applicants are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities or industry. 

2.7 Instructions for Copy of Applicant’s Official Transcripts and cGPA

Attach all university transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) combined into one PDF. 

• Official electronic or scanned transcripts are required. Applications that include unofficial or outdated transcripts will not be considered. 
• Along with any non-North American transcripts, please provide a grade conversion.  

2.8 Declaration and Commitment Form Instructions

Both applicant and supervisor must carefully read and sign the Declaration Form. The form must be submitted as a PDF. 

• The applicant commits to: 
  • Providing true and accurate information throughout their application 
  • Commit to being an active member of the D2R Training Program if successfully funded 
• The supervisor is asked to: 
  • Declare their Early Career Research status 
  • Agree to serve as a reviewer for the D2R Scholar Awards (avoiding conflicts of interest) 
  • Commit to supervising the applicant in their research group and supporting the applicant’s participation in D2R Training Program activities if successfully funded. 
• Additionally, the supervisor must write a statement (up to 1 page) clearly outlining: 
  • Why the applicant is an ideal fit to work on this project in their research group 
  • Why their research group is well suited for the performance of this project, and 
  • How the supervisor will ensure that the applicant is supplied with the required training and resources to succeed 

2.9 Instructions for the Optional Explanation of Leave, Interruption and/or Other Personal Circumstances

• Maximum of 1/2 page 
• Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced, 2.0 cm margins 
• Indicate the applicant’s name at the top right corner of the page 

Applicants are invited to signal any leave, interruption and/or other personal circumstances that affected research productivity or grades, or that have influenced their education/career path. This may include, but is not limited to, family care or health-related circumstances. Applicants are not required to provide details about their personal situation or information they would consider confidential. It is acceptable to indicate the nature of the circumstances without providing personal details. This information will be included in the application package that is sent to reviewers to ensure equitable assessment of the applicant’s record. 

3.1 Administrative Review

Applications will be reviewed for completeness, as well as applicant and subject matter eligibility. 

3.2 Expert Review

All eligible and complete applications will be assessed by an evaluation committee consisting of faculty members. The weighting of each application component is as follows: 

• Research Proposal (40%)  
  • Note: clear demonstration of alignment between the research project and at least one of D2R’s Foundational Axes is required 
• Applicant’s Letter of Motivation (20%) 
• Biosketch (20%) 
• Reference Letters (10%) 
• Supervisor Declaration and Commitment (10%) 

3.3 Student Training and Knowledge Development (STaKD) Committee Review

D2R’s STaKD Committee will review top-ranking applications from the expert review, with funding recommendations being subject to prioritization of D2R’s mission and strategic goals.  

During the awarding process, preference will be given to applicants who have not yet started working in the group of their supporting supervisor, who have been in their current Postdoctoral position for less than 6 months at the time of application, and/or who completed their doctoral studies at institutions outside of McGill University and D2R Partner Institutions. 

4.1 Funding Decision

The D2R Research Steering Committee (RSC) will consider both the expert review and D2R’s strategic goals in its funding decisions. In cases where multiple excellent applicants have similar scores, and funds are limited, the RSC may use a balanced distribution approach, considering factors such as EDI principles, the diversity of research axes, applications from partner institutions, support for early career researchers, applications written in French, and funding trainees across many research groups and disciplines. 

4.2 Announcement of Results

All applicants will be informed of the results in Fall 2025.

4.3 Notice of Award

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award, which details the terms, conditions, and obligations. At this stage, applicants will be asked to confirm that they have not been awarded alternative funding that revokes their eligibility for a D2R Postdoctoral Scholar award. 

Awarded D2R Postdoctoral Scholars will be expected to actively participate in the D2R Training Program and the annual Trainee Symposium.