Administrative Guidelines and Policies

Administrative Guidelines and Policies for Junior Fellow Appointments:
Administratively, the common factor across all CIFAR Junior Fellowships is that they are always held in conjunction with a formal university or research institute appointment. (Throughout this description, “university” should be interpreted broadly as a university or research institute.)

The typical form of university appointment for a Junior Fellow is that of a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. An exception is made for candidates in the social sciences, where postdoctoral appointments are less common. Individuals in those disciplines may apply for and hold a Junior Fellowship as junior faculty members.

Any decisions that may be required concerning the relationship between a university appointment and the Junior Fellowship will be made at the discretion of the CIFAR Vice-President responsible for the Junior Fellow Academy and/or CIFAR’s President and CEO.

Below are the most common university appointment models for CIFAR Junior Fellows, and their associated policies and guidelines.

1. Postdoctoral Fellowship
2. Junior Faculty Appointment
3. Leave of Absence from a Faculty Appointment
4. Disbursement of Junior Fellowship Funds
5. Parental Leave Policy
6. Transition to Junior Fellow Alumni

1) Postdoctoral Fellowship:

The Junior Fellow will hold a formal appointment as a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of one or more CIFAR program member. The Junior Fellow is expected to fulfill all the appointment procedures and responsibilities required by his/her supervisor and university department. The primary supervisor is responsible for the Junior Fellow’s postdoctoral fellow appointment at the university, which normally would start no later than eight months from the time the Junior Fellowship is awarded. The formal Junior Fellowship appointment will normally coincide with the beginning and end dates of the university postdoctoral fellow appointment, usually for a period of two years.

If a Junior Fellow’s postdoctoral fellow position is transferred to another university during the period of his or her appointment, the Junior Fellowship will continue, provided the individual remains under the direct supervision of a CIFAR program member and the transfer is approved by the Program Director(s).

In the event that a Junior Fellow holding a postdoctoral fellow position obtains a faculty appointment during the period of the Junior Fellowship, yet intends to continue interaction with program members, he or she normally will be allowed to complete the full term agreed on at the beginning of the Fellowship so that a successful transition from trainee to independent researcher may be supported. From the starting date of the new faculty appointment, the Fellowship value will transition to the amount normally awarded to junior faculty members for the remainder of the Junior Fellowship term. Funds will be administered through the Junior Fellow’s new department and will be used to enhance his or her research capacity. Funds may be used to secure teaching release or to set up and support the Junior Fellow’s research program. It is expected that the Program Director(s) will serve as the Junior Fellow’s de facto supervisor(s) for the remainder of his or her appointment.

Any other early termination of the postdoctoral fellowship will end the individual’s appointment as a CIFAR Junior Fellow and CIFAR’s support thereof. If the Junior Fellow seeks to end involvement with the CIFAR program, it will be treated as an early termination.
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2) Junior Faculty Appointment:

As outlined above, in the social sciences, where postdoctoral appointments are less common, a Junior Fellow may hold an appointment as an Assistant Professor or Visiting Professor/Researcher. The period of the Junior Fellowship will be up to two years, beginning on a date that is agreeable to the Junior Fellow, his/her university department, the CIFAR Program Director(s) and CIFAR, normally not more than eight months from the time the Junior Fellowship is approved by CIFAR’s Board of Directors. During the Junior Fellowship appointment, CIFAR expects that the Junior Fellow will use the award to enhance his or her research capacity. Funds may be used to secure teaching release or to set up and support the Junior Fellow’s research program. On the advice of the CIFAR program’s Advisory Committee, a Junior Fellow with a junior faculty appointment will have one or more designated mentors or research collaborators within the program during the period of the Fellowship.
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3) Leave of Absence from a Faculty Appointment:

If a Junior Fellow holds a junior faculty position, but believes that his/her research effort would significantly benefit from taking a leave of absence to work under the supervision of a CIFAR program member at another university, he/she may do so with the agreement of CIFAR, the CIFAR Program Director(s) and the relevant universities. The Junior Fellow is responsible for making the necessary arrangements with his/her university department, and the supervising program member is responsible for making formal arrangements for the appropriate visiting academic appointment with his/her own department. In such cases, CIFAR’s Junior Fellowship funds will normally be administered through the supervising program member’s department, and will be used to provide research support for the period of the visiting appointment. The appointment would normally start no later than eight months from the time the Junior Fellowship is approved by CIFAR’s Board of Directors.
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Disbursement of Junior Fellowship Funds:

CIFAR funds to support the Junior Fellow are administered via his or her university department. Junior Fellowship award values and eligible uses are discussed under the section on Fellowship Value. CIFAR will contact the Junior Fellow’s department chair to arrange the transfer of fellowship funds. The taxation treatment of these funds is the sole responsibility of the university.

Interaction costs – i.e., costs of attending CIFAR meetings and other pre-approved CIFAR-related travel – are reimbursed directly to the Junior Fellow by CIFAR. In addition, Junior Fellows may be invited to attend program meetings and/or Junior Fellow Academy events in the interval between the time their Junior Fellowship is awarded and the start date of their university appointment. Associated costs will be reimbursed to the Junior Fellow by CIFAR.
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Parental Leave Policy:

The following policy will apply to Junior Fellows based in Canada. Requests for parental leave by Junior Fellows based in other countries will be considered on an individual basis.

1. CIFAR will provide up to 17 weeks of paid maternity leave at 100% salary, net of any Employment Insurance benefits that the Junior Fellow may be eligible for.
2. CIFAR will allow an additional unpaid parental leave of up to 35 weeks.
3. With the agreement of the Junior Fellow’s supervisor(s) and institution, the Junior Fellow appointment and university postdoctoral appointment will be extended by the length of the overall parental leave taken.
4. In cases where the Junior Fellow holds a tenure-stream or continuing academic appointment, CIFAR normally expects that the home institution’s parental leave policy will apply, with salary funding for any leave coming from the home institution. The Junior Fellow appointment will be extended by the length of the parental leave.
5. During the parental leave period, CIFAR will continue to provide the amount of the Junior Fellowship award normally designated for research support.
6. Requests for parental leave should be made to CIFAR at least four months before the leave is to begin.

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Transition to Junior Fellow Alumni:

Junior Fellows who complete their funded term of appointment (normally two years) will become alumni of the Junior Fellow Academy. Junior Fellow Alumni are invited to attend Junior Fellow Academy meetings for an additional three years after their funding ends. This extended participation will enable CIFAR’s continued mentorship of the Junior Fellow Alumni as they transition to careers as independent researchers. At the same time, the alumni will have the opportunity to provide peer mentorship to new Junior Fellows.

CIFAR will continue to engage the alumni’s participation in the regularly throughout their career development. CIFAR will conduct an annual survey of Junior Fellow Alumni to track their career progression, interaction patterns, and other outcomes.
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