Thinking about a postdoc at Western, or already in conversations with a supervisor?

Start here.

Western University is one of Canada’s leading research‑intensive institutions and home to a diverse, international postdoctoral community. As a postdoctoral scholar at Western, you join an environment that values mentorship, discovery, and career development across the humanities, sciences, engineering, health, and creative disciplines.

This page outlines what it takes to become a postdoctoral scholar at Western, from identifying a supervisor to understanding appointment types, funding expectations, and next steps.

Why Western for Postdoctoral Training

Western scholars advance research with real‑world impact in health, technology, sustainability, social innovation, and more. With more than $267 million awarded annually in research funding, Western offers a rich environment for developing your research program and strengthening your scholarly profile.

As a postdoctoral scholar at Western, you benefit from:

• Access to world‑class facilities, labs, and research institutes
• Interdisciplinary collaboration across campus
• Professional development and mentorship opportunities
• Campus services and supports tailored to postdocs
• Opportunities for teaching, leadership, and outreach 

Securing a supervisor is the first and most important step in pursuing a postdoctoral appointment at Western.

How to identify research alignment

Explore:

• Departmental websites
• Faculty member profiles
• Research institutes, centres, and groups

Look for:

• Overlapping research interests
• Compatible methodologies
• Active or forthcoming projects
• Strong potential for mentorship and collaboration

How to reach out

When contacting a potential supervisor:

• Introduce yourself briefly
• Summarize your research background
• Highlight key publications or projects
• Explain why you want to work with them
• Describe how your expertise aligns with their work

Early contact helps establish expectations and supports a strong appointment proposal.

Postdoctoral scholars at Western hold one of two appointment types.

Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF)

Postdoctoral Scholars who receive more than 90% of their funding from an external source (awarded to the postdoc, not to the supervisor) are not eligible for employment status and are viewed as independent contractors. These postdoctoral scholars are designated as Postdoctoral Fellows (PDF).

Postdoctoral Fellows:

• Receive a T4A for earnings (subject to income tax, but not taxed at source unless request made in writing to Human Resources)
• Are not subject to statutory deductions for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Employment Insurance (EI) and are not eligible for the related benefits

Postdoctoral Associate (PDA)

Postdoctoral Scholars who receive more than 10% of their funding from "internal" sources (i.e. from a supervisor's research grants or contracts, or from a research unit of the university), are considered employees of Western. In these circumstances, the Postdoctoral Scholar is a Postdoctoral Associate (PDA) and he or she will be in an employment relationship with the University. The terms and conditions of his or her working relationship with the faculty supervisor will be governed by the collective agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Postdoctoral Associates:

• Receive a T4 for earnings and will be taxed at source automatically
• Are subject to statutory deductions for CPP, EI, and income taxes
• Are represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) in their relationship with the University, and are threfore governed by that collective agreement and are subject to deductions for union dues

Please note:  Postdoctoral Scholars who are funded directly by a granting agency and do not receive payment through the Western Human Resources system are not eligible for the PDA employment status.

The University defines a Postdoctoral Scholar as an individual who meets the following criteria:

• the individual has received their doctoral degree within five years;
• the individual holds a postdoctoral appointment that is time limited, for a period of up to four years (i.e., counted from the first appointment at Western), with the possibility of a one-year renewal (for a maximum length of five years);
• the appointment involves full-time research, scholarship, and creative activity;
• the individual is encouraged and expected to publish and disseminate their research during the period of the appointment; and
• the individual will work independently in association with a faculty mentor.

Length of Term

The appointment of a PDF or PDA is time-limited and not ongoing. Generally, PDFs and PDAs are appointed for a term of one to four years, with the possibility of a one-year renewal.

All postdoctoral scholars must have secured funding before the appointment begins. Funding may come from:

• External granting agencies or fellowship programs
• Supervisor research grants or contracts
• Research units or institutional fellowships

Funding sources affect compensation levels, allowable expenses, and employment conditions.