Postdoctoral Talent Initiative

Find out more about the support opportunities for postdocs at the Faculty of Dentistry.

Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program (REPFP)

Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program (REPFP)

The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program (REPFP) is a university-wide initiative launched in 2025 to strengthen postdoctoral recruitment, mentorship, and professional development across all three campuses. This program positions the University of Toronto as a leading destination for emerging independent scholars, supporting research excellence and pathways to academic and research leadership careers. Over two years, the program will support 100 postdoctoral fellows, providing structured professional development, mentorship, and access to research resources to facilitate transition to faculty or other research leadership roles.

Within the Faculty of Dentistry, the REPFP will be aligned with the forthcoming Strategic Plan (2026), emphasizing innovation in oral health research, translational science, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Value

  • Salary: $80,000 per year (plus benefits) for up to two years
  • Independent Research Funding: $10,000 annually
  • Employer Costs: Includes annual salary increase (1.8%), Standard Benefit Rate (10.5%), and PDF Levy (7.75%)
  • Funding Structure: ~60% institutional support; ~40% from the Principal Investigator's supervisory grant

Call for Applications

Late Spring 2026

The Recruitment of Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program will be aligned to the forthcoming strategic plan of the Faculty of Dentistry (available later in 2026).

Application Requirements

  1. Independent Research Proposal (Max 2 pages + up to 2 pages for references)
    • Clearly articulate how the proposed work represents a significant departure from or advancement beyond your doctoral research
    • Outline anticipated long-term impact, contribution to oral health research, and alignment with U of T's strategic priorities and with the strategic plan of the Faculty of Dentistry (available late spring 2026)
  2. Learning Statement (Max 1 page)
    • Describe professional, academic, and extracurricular experiences that support your ability to develop and implement an independent research plan
    • Explain how the learning environment at the Faculty of Dentistry will enhance your research productivity and career trajectory
  3. Supervisor's Statement
    • Detail the complementarity between the candidate's and the supervisor's research interests
    • Explain how the proposed research aligns with ongoing projects or new directions in oral health science
    • Provide information on discipline-specific benchmarks of excellence (e.g., publication norms, impact factors)
    • Describe the research environment, mentorship plan, and resources available to support independence and career development
  4. Candidate's C.V.
    • NIH Biosketch format recommended. No page limit.

Formatting

  • PDF format, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, 2.5 cm margins
  • All citations included where applicable

Important: Postdoctoral Fellows must secure a supervisor within the Faculty of Dentistry before submitting an application.

Enquiries: Laurent Bozec, Associate Dean for Graduate Education, Faculty of Dentistry

Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award

The Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award is a prestigious opportunity for early-career scholars to advance their research expertise at one of the world's leading public research universities. Within the Faculty of Dentistry, this program empowers postdoctoral scholars to:

  • Pursue ambitious, independent research programs in oral health and allied health science
  • Access tailored professional development and career supports

The award bridges the gap between doctoral training and independent academic careers by providing resources and autonomy to establish a distinct research agenda, positioning recipients for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.

Value & Duration

Commencing 2025-2026, each award provides $10,000 or $30,000 in independent research funding for the duration of a postdoctoral engagement (typically up to two years, or longer where applicable).

Structure of the Award:

  • The postdoctoral fellow receives an annual salary and/or fellowship as per the terms of their engagement, supported by the PI/division and/or external award
  • In addition to salary/fellowship, the fellow receives a competitive research award of $10,000 or $30,000, disbursed through an expense reimbursement process managed by the Faculty of Dentistry's budgetary unit to support their independent research

Call for Applications

Open: March 1st 2026, Closure: April 30th 2026

Application Requirements

  1. Independent Research Proposal (Max 2 pages + up to 2 pages for references)
    • Clearly articulate how the proposed work represents a significant departure from or advancement beyond your doctoral and current postdoctoral research engagement
    • Outline anticipated long-term impact, contribution to oral health research, and alignment with U of T's strategic priorities
  2. Learning Statement (Max 1 page)
    • Describe professional, academic, and extracurricular experiences that support your ability to develop and implement an independent research plan
    • Explain how the learning environment at the Faculty of Dentistry will enhance your research productivity and career trajectory
  3. Supervisor's Statement
    • Detail complementarity between the candidate's and the supervisor's research interests
    • Explain how the proposed research departs from ongoing projects of the supervisors and how the project focuses on new directions in oral health and allied health science
    • Provide information on discipline-specific benchmarks of excellence (e.g., publication norms, impact factors)
    • Describe the research environment, mentorship plan, and resources available to support independence and career development
  4. Candidate's C.V.
    • NIH Biosketch format recommended. No page limit.

Formatting

  • PDF format, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, 2.5 cm margins
  • All citations included where applicable

Enquiries: Laurent Bozec, Associate Dean for Graduate Education, Faculty of Dentistry