Institut Courtois Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Institut Courtois, inaugurated in 2022, is part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Université de Montreal. Funded by a generous donation from the Fondation Courtois, the vision for the Institut Courtois is to promote an environment of creativity and discovery that will lead to fundamental breakthroughs in materials sciences. The Institute brings together leading researchers to accelerate materials research in five main thrusts:

  • Quantum materials
  • Quantum photonics
  • Materials for energy and the environment
  • Development of molecular materials
  • AI for material science and material science for AI

 

Objectives:

  • Attract top-tier researchers for postdoctoral positions at Institut Courtois, enabling them to carry out innovative, high-impact exploratory research in the field of materials;
  • Foster the development of interdisciplinary research projects (chemistry, physics, computer science);
  • Contribute to the Institute’s worldwide recognition.

Calendar :

  • Call opens on: April 17th, 2025
  • Submission deadline : September 22nd, 2025 11:59PM  EDT
  • Results: December 2025
  • Start date: From January 2026, at the lastest September 2026

Amount, duration and additional information:

  • 63 800$ CAD in salary (+ Benefits valued at 76 000$ CAD)
  • Up to 30 000$/yr in travel and research funds
  • Duration : 3 years

Eligibility requirements

  • The candidate must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a postdoctoral program at the Université de Montréal;
  • The candidate has obtained his or her doctoral degree within the last four* years before the start of the proposed funding for the competition, or plans to obtain it before the start of Institut Courtois funding;
  • The candidate’s research program must be an original program proposed by the candidate and related to the expertise and interests of Institut Courtois members.

We encourage the candidate to communicate and exchange with members of Institut Courtois prior to submitting his or her application. The successful candidate will be paired with a member of Institut Courtois. The postdoctoral supervisor must be a regular Institut Courtois researcher.

*People who justify career breaks and special circumstances in their application (e.g. maternity, illness, etc.) may have obtained their doctorate less than 4 years before starting their postdoctoral training.

Application requirements

  • A research project (maximum 6 pages) including :
    • the problematic,
    • the objectives,
    • a literature review,
    • methodology,
    • a justification of how the project fits in with the Institute’s research priorities,
    • a justification of the chosen supervisor,
  • Budget and budget justification (maximum 1 page);
  • Bibliographical references (maximum 1 page);
  • Official doctoral transcripts (specify grading scale for non-Canadian universities);
  • CV, including publications;
  • 3 letters of recommendation (sent directly to us at institut-courtois@umontreal.ca)
  • A support letter from the chosen Institut Courtois supervisor (co-signed if there are co-supervisors).

The application should be single-spaced, using Times new 12 point font, 1 inch margins. It is suggested to consult the Heilmeier Catechism, to write the research project. (https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/heilmeier-catechism)

Applications can be submitted in English or French by e-mail to institut-Courtois@umontreal.ca, naming the file as follows: SURNAME_name_FellowpostdocIC 2025

Institut Courtois is committed to the pursuit of excellence by maximizing the diversity of talent through the widening participation of traditionally under-represented minorities, encouraging applications from all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations and social conditions.

 

Evaluation criteria :

  • Excellence of the candidate:
    • Academic excellence;
    • Scientific publications and presentations;
    • Leadership in the local, national, and international scientific community.
  • Excellence of the proposed research project:
    • Originality and innovation of the proposed project;
    • Feasibility of the proposed project.
  • Integration with the Courtois Institute:
    • Alignment with thematic areas of the Institut Courtois;
    • Collaboration with members of the Institut Courtois;
    • Use of Institut Courtois infrastructure and resources.

The evaluation grid will be available shortly.