The Post-Doctoral Fellowship _PDF_ Program

							To request an official copy of this policy, contact:

The Research, Development and Creativity Office
Laurentian University
935 Ramsey Lake Road
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 2C6

Phone: 705-675-1151
Fax: 705-671-3850
Email: lvasseur@laurentian.ca

                              Policy on
       The Selection Process and the Selection Committee for
           The Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) Program
            of the Ministry of Research and Innovation


Questions regarding this policy should be addressed to the Office of Administrative responsibility.

        Office of Accountability: Vice-President, Academic

        Office of Administration: Research, Development and Creativity Office

             Approval Authority: President

                  Approval Date: September 18, 2007

              Amendment Date:

                   Next Review:




1. Purpose
The purpose of the new Post Doctoral Fellowship Program (PDF) is to recruit and
retain outstanding young scientists to spend two years as post-doctoral fellows in
Ontario research institutions and supports these PDFs through a provincial
network. This program was announced in the 2006 Budget.
Under this program, each PDF will receive $50,000 annually for two years. Of
that total, $25,000 will be provided from the Ministry of Research and Innovation
(MRI) and the additional $25,000 will be provided by the institution. The PDF
must report to the Institution on their research activities. Ontario reserves the
right to publish the names and other basic research information of successful
PDFs appointed by the Institution.
The PDF must start between July 1 and December 31 of the year in which the
Institution sends the applicant the letter of offer.

2. Policy

I. The Competitive Selection Process

   Selection and appointment of the PDF by Laurentian University (Laurentian)
    is based on a competitive process managed solely and independently by
    Laurentian. Recruitment by Laurentian may include advertisement or search
    through any appropriate competitive mechanism.

   Laurentian has established an application process that requires the applicant
    to submit to Laurentian an application package consisting of:

    a.   The MRI Sponsored Postdoctoral Fellow Application Form 1: Application
    b.   three letters of reference
    c.   a curriculum vitae
    d.   a proposed research plan
    e.   The MRI Sponsored Postdoctoral Fellow Application Form 2: Supervisor
    f.   other documents or forms as determined appropriate by Laurentian

II. The Selection Committee

   Laurentian shall establish a selection committee, which will be composed of
    qualified researchers to evaluate the applications. The selection committee is
    chaired by the Associate Vice-President Research (AVP Research). Each
    Faculty shall nominate two faculty members who have high quality track
    record (including funding, publications, awards, previous supervision, etc.).
    Committee members will adhere to all relevant polices of Laurentian in their
    review and selection of successful applications (including research integrity,
    conflict of interest, and confidentiality). They shall also consider the strategic
    priorities of the province and the LU Research Strategic Plan.

   In order to ensure a fair and tractable process and evaluation of the
    applications, all meetings of the Selection Committee will have minutes taken
    by a secretary (reviewed and approved by all members of the Selection
    Committee).

III. Evaluation

   Candidates shall be evaluated based on the following:
    a. Their past research and leadership achievements
    b. The excellence and impact of the proposed research program
    c. Potential for youth outreach
    d. Their ongoing/future research and leadership potential
    e. The alignment of their research activity with priority economic sectors
       (agriculture, materials and advanced manufacturing, life sciences,
       information and communications technologies, energy, environmental
       technologies and emerging technologies) according to Ministry of
       Research and Innovation
    f. The relevant information contained in the reference letters
    g. The relevance of the research program and the research track record of
       the supervisor.


IV. Notification of Selection

Successful PDF applicants will be notified directly by the AVP Research.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by the RDC Office once the first selected
candidate has accepted the position. Laurentian will provide the successful
applicant with a letter of offer stating the terms and conditions of the appointment
of the PDF by Laurentian.

V. Appeal process
 Laurentian has established the following procedures for appeals concerning
   the selection and appointment of PDFs by Laurentian. In case of an appeal of
   a decision, the applicant shall send a letter (hardcopy) requesting an appeal
   to the AVP-Research no later than 30 days from the date of the decision letter
   is.

   Upon receiving the letter, the AVP-Research shall establish an appeal
    committee which will be composed of the Deans of the different Faculties
    (they elect among themselves a chair). Appeals may be granted only on
    procedural grounds or when there is a significant disagreement over the
    interpretation of the criteria for selection of the candidate. The decision of the
    Appeal Committee shall be binding and not subject to further review. The
    Appeal Committee shall forward a report summarizing their findings and
    recommendations within 30 days of the date of its decision to the AVP-
    Research.

   Any notice (during the appeal process) delivered after 5:00 p.m. and before
    12:00 a.m. or on Saturday, Sunday, or a Holiday shall be deemed to have
    been delivered on the next business day. Any notice delivered at or after
    12:00 a.m. and before 9:00 a.m. on a Business Day shall be deemed to have
    been delivered at 9:00 a.m. on that Business Day. Notwithstanding the
    foregoing, any notice delivered by mail shall be deemed to be delivered five
    (5) business days after the said mailing if there is no mail strike in progress or
    threatened at the time of mailing. In the event of a threatened or actual mail
    strike, any notice delivered by mail shall be deemed to be delivered on the
    day that it actually arrives at the address for service to which it was sent. Any
    notice so given shall be conclusively deemed to have been given when
    delivered.

   Subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of
    Privacy Act of Ontario, all materials provided under the appeal process shall
    remain confidential and all copies provided to members of the Appeal
    Committee for the purpose of review shall be destroyed.