Institut Courtois Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026, Canada

Applications are now open for the Institut Courtois Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026. The Institut Courtois Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 offers a fully funded 3-year postdoctoral opportunity at the Université de Montréal, Canada. This prestigious program supports high-calibre researchers in conducting innovative, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate materials discovery and development.

The fellowship focuses on transformative materials research across key global challenges including quantum technologies, energy transition, environmental sustainability, and smart systems. It provides generous financial support along with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and a collaborative research environment. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Host Country: Canada
• Host Institution: Université de Montréal – Institut Courtois
• Duration: 3 years
• Application Deadline: September 28, 2026
• Start Date: Between March and September 2027
• Application Fee: None
• Open for: Fully funded

Scientific Programming:

Scientific and Societal Horizons

The Institute’s research activities are structured around four main thrusts in which new materials play a transformative role:

• Materials for the Quantum Revolution: Development of quantum materials and systems necessary for the emergence of quantum technologies.
• Materials for the energy transition: Research on energy production, storage and conversion.
• Materials for a sustainable environment: Design of material solutions that promote sustainability and environmental resilience.
• Materials for a Smart Society: Development of materials that support advanced information technologies and intelligent systems.

Cross-Cutting Axes

Two structuring axes run through all scientific activities:

• Modeling, theory, materials simulation and artificial intelligence: Accelerate predictive approaches and the discovery of complex systems, while promoting bidirectional interactions between AI and materials specialists.
• Automation, robotization and AI applied to experimental data: Development of high-throughput experimentation, autonomous discovery and advanced data analysis.

This program aims to create an environment conducive to the exploration of major open questions in materials science and to generate major scientific impacts.

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Objectives of the Competition:

The objectives of the Institut Courtois Postdoctoral Fellowship program are to:

• Recruit high-calibre researchers for exploratory, innovative and high-impact research postdoctoral fellowships.
• Promote the development of interdisciplinary projects in chemistry, physics and computer science.
• Increase the national and international influence of the Institut Courtois.

Amount, Duration and Conditions of Financing:

• Salary: $63,819 CAD per year (approximate value of $76,000 CAD including benefits)
• Research funding: up to $30,000 CAD per year, if justified
• Duration of funding: 3 years

Contest Calendar:

• Contest launch: May 4, 2026
• Notice of intent: September 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EST)
• Deadline for submission: Monday, September 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
• Announcement of results: January 2027
• Start of funding: between March and September 2027

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Eligibility:

To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a postdoctoral program at the Université de Montréal.
• Have obtained their doctoral degree within the three years prior to the start of funding, or plan to obtain it before the start of funding.
• Propose an original research program, in line with the expertise of the members of the Institut Courtois.
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada for the period in question (Canadian citizenship or permanent residence), or commit to taking the necessary steps to obtain a work permit. The Institut Courtois will offer support to the selected persons in their visa application process. The final allocation of the internship is conditional on obtaining the required permit.

Individuals who can justify career breaks or special circumstances (e.g., maternity, illness) may have obtained their doctorate less than four years ago at the time of the start of the internship.

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Evaluation Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Excellence of the File

• Academic excellence
• Scientific publications and presentations
• Scientific leadership

Project Excellence

• Originality and innovative character
• Feasibility
• Added value to the mentor’s scientific programming

Integration at the Institut Courtois

• Alignment with research axes
• Collaboration with the members of the Institute
• Use of the Institute’s infrastructure and resources

The evaluation committee is composed of members with various expertise (computer science, chemistry, physics, mathematics). Applications must therefore be written in a way that is accessible to a multidisciplinary scientific audience.

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Application File:

The file must include the following documents:

1. Research Project (maximum 6 pages)

Including:

• The problem
• The objectives
• A literature review
• The methodology
• A justification for the choice of Institut Courtois mentor (supervisor)
• A justification for the integration of the project into the research axes of the Institut Courtois

2. Other Required Documents

• A budget (using the Excel template provided) and a budget justification (maximum 1 page)
• Bibliographical references (maximum 1 page)
• Official doctoral transcripts (including the grading scale for non-Canadian universities)
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• A letter of support from the Institut Courtois mentor, co-signed if applicable

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation must be sent directly by the referees to: [email protected]

• Subject: ICPDF2026 – letter for LAST NAME First name
• File Name: Rec-letter NAME of XXX.pdf

Institut Courtois Mentor Letter of Support

The letter of support from the Institut Courtois mentor must:

• Propose three suggestions for evaluators.
• Clearly describe the innovation and value-added of the project in relation to the existing activities of the host group, particularly in relation to exploratory projects already funded by the Institute.

Notice of Intention

The notice of intention must be filled out using the online form and should include:

• Name of the candidate
• Title of the project
• 10 key words
• Institution and year of PhD completion of the postdoctoral Fellow candidate
• Names of the three referees providing letters of reference
• Name and emails of mentors and co-mentors

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

Application Instructions:

1. Fill in the notice of intent before September 10, 2026 using the link below
2. Letters of recommendation must be sent directly by referees via email.
3. Submit the full application as single pdf by email to: [email protected]

Subject: ICPDF2026 – LAST NAME First name
File: A single PDF named: NOM_Prénom_FellowpostdocIC2026

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