The University of Toronto is launching a $24-million initiative to strengthen research capacity and support emerging scholars, including the creation of 100 new postdoctoral fellowships across its three campuses.
The strategy aims to attract promising early-career researchers from Canada and around the world and provide additional support for current U of T postdocs who are launching their careers.
Key to the initiative is the Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows program, a $20.9-million initiative that will fund 100 new two-year fellowships, covering the cost of salaries as well as $10,000 per year in research support. The program is designed to provide top minds from across the globe with the resources, mentorship and freedom to pursue innovative lines of inquiry at U of T, one of the world's premier research institutions.
A further $3 million has been earmarked to create a fund to elevate rising stars within U of T's postdoctoral community. Launching in early 2026, the Postdoctoral Competitive Awards Research program will award targeted grants of $10,000 or $30,000 to allow both new and current fellows to pursue independent research and accelerate their academic trajectory.
U of T Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young said the university's decision to invest nearly $24 million provides the institutional support that the next generation of researchers needs to succeed in a rapidly changing research landscape.
"This is an important step in our commitment to early-career researchers," said Young. "Postdoctoral scholars are at a pivotal stage in their careers - building independence, refining their research focus and preparing to lead the next wave of discoveries. Supporting them helps to develop a strong foundation for future excellence in scholarship.
"By investing in new pathways for these researchers, we're reinforcing U of T's role as a top destination for talent and a launchpad for future leaders."
This initiative, which builds on last year's decision to raise base funding for PhD students to $40,000 per year, aligns with U of T's broader vision to support research excellence at all stages. While the university planned and launched the program proactively, the strategy is in step with Canada's recent $1.7-billion commitment in last week's federal budget to attract top global research talent.
The program's official launch comes as the university further strengthens its academic ranks with the addition of three world-renowned researchers and faculty members from U.S. universities, whose work spans astrophysics and the economics of everything from innovation and energy to health care and homelessness.
Beginning in 2025-2026, the fellowship program will draw 100 postdoctoral scholars from across disciplines, appointed in overlapping cohorts over the next five years.
The program was developed in consultation with academic divisions across the university's three campuses, which will be participating and accelerating research capacity in an expansive range of fields.
"This is a unique moment in history for the international research community, many of whom are contemplating new pathways for their important work," said Joshua Barker, U of T's vice-provost of graduate research and education and dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
"With programs such as this one, the University of Toronto - a global research powerhouse - is in a unique position to welcome many of those scholars while championing independent research and free inquiry for the benefit of Canada and the world."
