Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award (PCRA)

Commencing 2025-2026, each award will  provide $10,000 in independent research funding to a postdoctoral researcher. Funds are disbursed through an expense reimbursement process to support their independent research.  The researcher must have at least 12 months remaining in their Fellowship from start date of receipt of the PRCA to be eligible.

The purpose of this award is to provide postdoctoral scholars with the autonomy and resources necessary to advance their research agenda, distinct from their supervisor’s program, while ensuring feasibility within the timeframe of their engagement. All expenditures must comply with University of Toronto financial policies and be processed through the appropriate divisional reimbursement mechanisms.  

The structure of the award is as follows:

• The postdoctoral fellow receives an annual salary and/or fellowship as per the terms of the postdoctoral engagement, supported by the PI/faculty and/or the external award. 
• In addition to their annual salary and/or fellowship, the postdoctoral fellow receives the competitive research award of $10,000 disbursed through an expensed reimbursement process managed by their budgetary graduate unit. 
• Any unspent funds are to be returned to the program.  

Eligible Expenses	Ineligible Expenses
Research consumables and materials  Software and licenses Data collection and participant costs Research-related travel   Publication costs   Knowledge dissemination	Salary top-ups   General lab operating costs Capital equipment purchases Supplies, consumables and/or equipment Professional Development  Conferences without prior approval (approved conference must support active participation through presentation etc., and not just attendance) Writing retreats

This award is open to both domestic and international candidates. 

Applicants must: 

1. Be engaged as, or seeking a position as a postdoctoral employee of the University of Toronto (teaching hospital postdocs are not employees of the university); 
2. Have demonstrated academic excellence, the ability to design and execute independent research, and evidence of intellectual leadership in their chosen field. 
3. Proven capacity to conceptualize and execute independent research beyond their doctoral work
4. Have a nursing-related academic background; RN or NP designation is preferred
5. Not have previously engaged in more than one postdoctoral appointment
6. Have completed all doctoral degree requirements by the time the award commences and normally be within five years from the completion of their doctoral degree
7. Not have previously held the LBFON Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award

Award recipients must:

1. Be engaged as a postdoctoral fellow of the University of Toronto with an engagement end date of no less than 12 months from the award start (teaching hospital postdocs are not employees of the university)
2. Be hired by a LBFON supervisor (primary appointment)
3. Register and remain registered with the Postdoctoral Office at the School of Graduate Studies (University of Toronto)
4. Not hold a faculty position or be on leave from such position
5. Indicate if they have an interest in teaching a course during the fellowship

Important note about the application process: Candidates interested in the Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award (PCRA) Program should contact the current or prospective supervisor(s) and co-supervisor(s). Supervisors wishing to support a candidate’s application must contact research.nursing@utoronto.ca to inquire about internal deadlines.  

To apply for the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award (PCRA), applicants must submit a complete application package by the competition deadline. All materials should be combined into a single PDF document and submitted via email to the designated contact.  

Application requirements 

1. Candidate’s Independent Research Proposal (max 3 pages, plus up to 2 additional pages for references/citations) 
   • Clearly state the objectives and significance of your proposed research
   • Describe the methodology and demonstrate feasibility within the award period
   • Explain how the project is distinct from your supervisor’s research program and will advance your independent research
   • Include an expected outcomes section and a knowledge mobilization plan outlining how results will be shared
2. Proposed Budget Form and Justification
   • Detail how the $10,000 award will be allocated
   • Ensure all expenses align with the eligible cost categories outlined in the award guidelines
3. Supervisor’s Statement (max. 2 pages)
   • Describe the complementarity between the research interests and background of the supervisor and candidate, how the proposed research complements the supervisor’s ongoing projects or new research directions, and the anticipated benefits.
   • Demonstrate how the research plan is distinct and independent from the supervisor’s work. 
   • Provide details regarding the candidate’s proposed research environment, clearly stating the supervisor’s and graduate unit’s commitment. Examples of commitment include (but are not limited to): mentorship; opportunities for collaboration, dissemination, and/or knowledge translation; and resources (e.g., funding, facilities, personnel) that will be available to support the candidate as they carry out their proposed research.
   • Illustrate the supervisor’s commitment to the applicant’s academic and professional trajectory and development of an independent research program, clearly indicating the resources and mentoring activities that are available through the research environment to support career development. 
4. Candidate’s CV (no page restriction)

Formatting Requirements 

Sections 1 to 3 (Candidate’s Independent Research Proposal, Budget & Justification and Supervisor’s Statement) should be prepared using the following requirements: 

1. Spell out all acronyms and abbreviations the first time they appear. 

2. Use letter-size page (8.5 x 11 inches or 216 x 279 mm). 

3. Use single spacing. 

4. Use 12-point Times New Roman font for all text. (Do not use condensed fonts; they will not be accepted.) 

5. Use mainly black text. Colour images are acceptable. 

6. Set all document margins to at least 2 cm (0.79 inch). 

7. Font and size rules do not apply to text within tables and figures. However, the selected font must be clearly legible. Figures and tables count toward specified page limits. 

Please note that these font requirements do not apply to the CV (section 4). We also recognize and allow the use of different referencing styles. Candidates may choose their own formatting and citation style. 

For an application to be considered complete for adjudication, the candidate must: 

1. Be compiled into a single PDF file with the naming convention: Last name, First name_PCRA2026.PDF 

2. Upload the Application Package outlined below to this site

A committee will be established to review all applications from members of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.  Each LBFON Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award application will be reviewed and ranked by the committee. To be successful, applicants must write their applications for non-specialist reviewers. Applications written in a highly specialized or technical prose may receive a lower ranking.  It is expected that a decision will be rendered within 60 days of the application deadline.  

Applications for the LBFON Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award (PCRA) will use the following weighted criteria. Each criterion is designed to ensure that awards are granted to candidates who demonstrate excellence, independence, and potential for impact.  

Selection Criteria	Description
Academic Excellence & Leadership (30%)	Reviewers will evaluate the applicant’s academic record, including publications, presentations, and other scholarly contributions.  Evidence of research independence and intellectual leadership will be considered, such as the ability to conceptualize and execute projects beyond doctoral work.  Strong indicators include high-quality publications, awards, and leadership roles in research collaborations.
Quality & Independence of Proposal (30%)	The proposed research must be original, well-structured, and clearly articulated. Reviewers will assess whether the project demonstrates creativity and scholarly rigor, and whether it is distinct from the supervisor’s research program.  The proposal should outline clear objectives, a sound methodology, and a compelling rationale for the research.
Feasibility & Environment (20%)	The committee will consider whether the proposed research can realistically be completed within the award period.  This includes evaluating the timeline, milestones, and access to necessary resources and facilities.  The supervisor’s letter of support should confirm that the applicant will have the required infrastructure and mentorship to succeed.
Impact & Career Trajectory (20%)	Reviewers will assess the potential of the proposed research to generate meaningful outcomes, such as publications, datasets, or knowledge mobilization activities.  The committee will also consider how the project will advance the applicant’s career, positioning them for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.