Data Sciences Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Data Sciences Institute (DSI) is a central hub and incubator for data science research, training, and partnerships at the University of Toronto. Its goal is to accelerate the impact of data sciences across disciplines to address pressing societal questions and to drive positive social change. DSI is focused on training the next generation of data science scholars.

The DSI Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to support multi/interdisciplinary training and collaborative research in data sciences that include faculty from the University of Toronto and partner sponsoring institutes. Currently, DSI Partner organizations/institutions are: Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, University Health Network, and The Hospital For Sick Children.

To be considered for the Fellowship, applicants must pursue a research project that has a data sciences focus, through the development of novel methodology or the innovative application of existing approaches, to address major societal issues. Applicants must identify at least two faculty members from complementary disciplinary backgrounds to serve as co-supervisors, who together can supervise the different multidisciplinary aspects of the research project. Co-supervisors can be drawn from the same academic unit, as long as they represent different disciplines.

The primary and co-supervisors must have a budgetary appointment either at the University of Toronto OR an external funding partner institution and:

• University of Toronto supervisors must be Members of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies and be eligible Principal Investigators, according to the University of Toronto PI eligibility criteria.
• External funding partner supervisors must be appointed as a Principal Investigator and be eligible to hold tri-council funding at their institution and be Members of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies.

Faculty budgetary appointments for the University of Toronto are continuing, full-time academic appointments with salary commitments from a University of Toronto academic unit.

The DSI is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Accepted applicants will form an integrated cohort and will be expected to participate in the networking activities of the DSI, present their research at the annual DSI Research Day and provide a yearly activity report and exit survey. Fellows are required to acknowledge the DSI in publications, presentations, and communications resulting from the Project.

Value and Duration

Each award will provide $60,000 per year plus benefits for a maximum of two years.

DSI Postdoctoral Fellows will also have access to $1,500 in travel funds each year reimbursed through the DSI, to present their work at scientific meetings, or to participate in workshops/training courses.

Fellow Responsibilities

DSI Postdoctoral Fellows will be expected to participate in DSI programming with other Fellows and present their research to the DSI community and at profiled events. Fellows will be expected to participate in the DSI activities, take part in the Meet the Investigator series, and present their research at the DSI trainee Research Day.  

Fellows are required to present an annual activity report; continued funding is depending on presentation of the annual report. Fellows must also present an exit survey. 

Fellows are required to acknowledge the DSI in publications, presentations, and communications resulting from their Fellowship.