The Weston Brain Institute Postdoctoral Scholars at Oxford program supports top-tier Canadian postdoctoral scholars by providing international training at the University of Oxford and affiliation with Merton College. Prior to submitting an application, candidates should independently identify a host lab and potential supervisor at the University of Oxford who agrees to supervise them if awarded. Awardees will receive salary support for their postdoctoral positions at Oxford.
NEW for 2018:
- Now accepting applications on diet, physical activity, sleep and nutritional supplements, if these application meet the other scope criteria.
- If you are planning on submitting an application on diet, physical activity, sleep and nutritional supplements please contact Matthew Sacheli (matthew.sacheli@westonbrain.org, 1-416-967-7828) to ensure your project meets the mandate prior to submitting.
Program Overview
Refer to the Program Details for more information
Goal: To encourage development of the next generation of leading Canadian neuroscientists by providing postdoctoral researchers with international training to accelerate their careers in translational research for neurodegenerative disease(s) of aging. Scholars should plan to build their careers in Canada upon completion of their postdoctoral position.
Applicant eligibility:
Applicants must be postdoctoral fellows who are normally resident in Canada, and plan to return to Canada to live and work upon completion of their postdoctoral position. They will have demonstrated outstanding scientific contributions, and will have the potential to be competitive for faculty positions in Canada following this postdoctoral position at Oxford.
Clinicians looking to complete a research position are eligible, but may not practice concurrently during their time at Oxford. Current PhD students considering this program for their first postdoctoral position should contact the Institute directly to discuss their eligibility.
If candidates are applying with a supervisor not focused on translational research for neurodegenerative diseases of aging, they are encouraged to seek a co-supervisor in the field.
Project eligibility:
Projects must meet two conditions to be eligible:
- Be translational research that helps accelerate the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases of aging
- Be the development of a therapeutic and/or tool
The Institute defines neurodegenerative diseases of aging to include: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, vascular contributions to the listed diseases (not stroke-mediated vascular disease), and prodromes to the listed diseases (e.g., mild cognitive impairment as prodromal to Alzheimer’s disease; REM sleep behavior disorder as prodromal to Parkinson’s disease). Proposed projects may relate to any disease(s), but must have an impact on neurodegenerative diseases of aging, and will be adjudicated based on their potential impact on these diseases.
To read how the Institute defines translational research, therapeutics and tools, please see What We Fund.
Selection Criteria
Awardees will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Proposed work in the Institute’s area of focus, translational research to accelerate the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases of aging
- Excellent track record as an independent researcher
- Potential to become a future leader in the Canadian neuroscience landscape
- Strong leadership demonstrated both within and outside the lab
- Potential impact of the proposed work
- Fit with research underway at Oxford
Application Process
Applications to this program are accepted on a rolling basis. There are two stages to the application process:
- Review Stage – submitted applications are reviewed by an adjudication committee
- Interview Stage – interviews scheduled for short-listed candidates
Before reaching out to a host supervisor at Oxford or starting an application, please contact Matthew Sacheli by email at matthew.sacheli@westonbrain.org or 416-967-7828 to confirm your eligibility and that your proposed project is in scope.
Application documents are submitted through our online grants management system. Please have your referees submit their letters of reference directly to the Institute by email at info@westonbrain.org
Request for Applications (RFA)
Candidates should plan to begin their time at Oxford within 1 year after their application submission.