2024 Fraser Mustard Postdoctoral Research Award in Work and Health

About the award

The award is named in honour of Dr. J. Fraser Mustard, who was the chair of the Institute for Work & Health's first Board of Directors.

The award supports the development of outstanding new researchers in the field of work and health congruent with the mission of the Institute. It aims specifically to build capacity for innovative multidisciplinary research concerning the relationship between work environments and worker health. As such, the award is open to a range of academic disciplines including social, behavioural, and organizational sciences, as well as clinical and population health sciences.

Research conducted at the Institute broadly encompasses two overarching themes: Work as a Determinant of Health and Health as a Determinant of Work. Within each theme, the Institute focuses its research on six priority areas. These are: the changing nature and future of work; work and society; mental health and work; organizational context and size; longstanding work and health issues; and worker diversity and inclusion. 

Submissions are encouraged from applicants with an interest in IWH’s themes and priority areas. Applicants should review the IWH website for more details about our research and the scientists working in areas related to their research interests. The applicant should identify IWH scientists whose subject matter and methodological expertise would complement their proposed research.

Eligibility criteria

1. Applicants must have completed a PhD (or equivalent) at the time they begin the fellowship, in one or more of the fields of social, behavioural, organizational or health sciences, including epidemiology, medicine and allied health professions.
2. Applicants must be within five (5) years of completion of their PhD, have held no more than one other postdoctoral fellowship (or equivalent), and have not held another academic job as an independent investigator (e.g., assistant professorship).
3. Applicants should have an interest in approaching research questions from a multidisciplinary perspective.
4. Applicants should have proficiency in relevant qualitative and/or quantitative methods.
5. Applicants must hold Canadian citizenship, have permanent residency status in Canada or be eligible for a Canadian work visa at the time of application.
6. Applicants may not hold another major salary award in addition to the Fraser Mustard Postdoctoral Research Award.

Conditions of the appointment

1. The successful candidate will conduct scholarly inquiry within at least one of the priority areas relevant to the Institute and is expected to contribute scholarly work in the form of peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals where funding is available during the tenure of the award.
2. The candidate will be mentored by one or more IWH scientists with expertise in the research area proposed by the candidate. Although applicants do not have to secure a potential mentor prior to applying, identifying potential mentors at IWH at the time of the application is encouraged. 
3. The successful candidate will be based at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto, Ontario, with an expectation of regular attendance (at least two days per week) at the IWH offices.
4. The award is provided for up to two years (i.e., one year with the possibility of a one-year renewal). If the award is terminated during its course, the award will be prorated.
5. The successful candidate will submit brief interim written reports to his/her mentor and the Institute's scientific director at three, nine, 12 and 18 months into the term. A final detailed report must be filed prior to the conclusion of the award term.
6. The award currently stands at $65,000 CDN per annum. In addition, the awardee will be enrolled in the IWH health and dental benefit plan and receive conference travel support. Only one award is awarded.

How to apply

Applicants must complete an online application form.

The following materials are required to complete the online form:

• Covering letter and curriculum vitae in PDF format.
• Copies of transcript of academic records in PDF format (graduate, complete with description of grading scale employed). Official transcripts are not required.
• Abstract of the post-doctoral research proposal (maximum 250 words).
• Full statement of the proposed program of research to be conducted during the term of the fellowship in PDF format (maximum 3 pages). The statement should be written by the applicant and should include the scientific and career benefits expected to be derived from the research and its relevance to the mandate of the Institute.

Applicants must also arrange for three (3) academic reference forms to be completed and emailed by the referees directly to Lyudmila Mansurova at lmansurova@iwh.on.ca. The reference form can be downloaded here.

IWH is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values and promotes diversity. IWH encourages applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous people, women, LGBTQ2S+ persons, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Complete applications, including references, must be submitted by 4:00pm EST on Friday July 19, 2024.

For further details, please read the application instructions.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The online application form cannot be saved. Please have all required materials ready before you begin your online application and save a copy for your records.

Go to application form

Evaluation process and notification of award

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of IWH scientific staff and evaluated based on scientific merit, potential innovativeness, feasibility of proposal and alignment with IWH’s Research Plan.

Successful applicant will be notified in September 2024.

Enquiries

If you have any questions, please contact:

Lyudmila Mansurova
Administrative Assistant, Office of the President
Institute for Work & Health
lmansurova@iwh.on.ca

About the Institute

IWH, guided by a Board of Directors and an international Scientific Advisory Committee, conducts and shares relevant, applicable and high-quality research to protect and improve the health, safety and wellbeing of working people, and to promote their full and inclusive work participation. IWH's research examines the inter-relationships between work and health from worker, workplace and system perspectives. 

IWH supports an active knowledge transfer and exchange program, which implements interactive strategies to transfer research findings to key decision-makers. IWH also trains and mentors the next generation of work and health researchers.

IWH is committed to excellent working conditions, a cooperative team environment for its employees, and transparent, diverse and fair recruiting practices of staff and trainees.

IWH operates with the support of the Government of Ontario. For more information about our organization, visit our web site at www.iwh.on.ca.