The 2023-24 CSPF call is on hold until further notice.

ATTENTION: The Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program will not run in 2023-24.

To learn more about Mitacs programs and opportunities available for 2023-24, please visit this page.

October – March: Open call for host applications

  • Prospective host offices submit their position descriptions to Mitacs
  • All applicants will receive an automated email confirming receipt of their application

November – February: Open call for fellow applications

  • Prospective fellows submit their applications and letters of reference to Mitacs
  • All applicants will receive an automated email confirming receipt of their application

March – April: Adjudication

  • All submitted applications are reviewed to ensure that prospective fellows and host positions meet the program eligibility criteria
  • Applicants will be notified of their application status in April, once adjudication is complete

May: Interviewing

  • Host offices review shortlist of semi-finalist applications and select fellows for interviews
  • Mitacs will contact the selected fellows and share the host office position description in advance of the interview
  • Hosts and fellows will set up a remote interview based on mutual availability. Travel costs for in-person interviews are not covered as they can be conducted remotely.
  • Hosts and fellows complete ranking survey to submit preferences

June – July: Matching

  • Mitacs confirms matches
  • Fellows prepare to relocate, where applicable
  • Hosts prepare an employment agreement with their HR department in accordance with the CSPF eligible position requirements
  • Fellows negotiate and sign an employment agreement with their host office

August – September: Fellowships begin

  • Fellowships begin; hosts and fellows attend CSPF Orientation and training program commences

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

Program Details

The call for hosts is now closed.

The call for fellows is now closed.

The Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship places PhD holders in government host offices for a 12-month immersion into the policy-making process. Fellows apply their academic training, critical thinking, and analytical skills to support evidence-informed decision-making that addresses policy challenges within participating federal host offices. Hosts gain valuable science-based knowledge and build the professional skills of participating fellows.

We welcome application submissions from prospective fellows and hosts on an annual call cycle running from fall throughout winter.

The fellowship aims to:

  • Create mutually beneficial relationships between government decision-makers and academic researchers in support of policy challenges in Canada
  • Enhance science communication, collaboration, and capacity in support of evidence-informed policy-making
  • Equip academic researchers with skills to address policy challenges while learning about government
  • Contribute to a national network of science policy expertise across academia, government, not-for-profit organizations, and industry

By participating in the fellowship, fellows get the training and first-hand experience needed to address challenges of national public importance. Through the fellowship, fellows:

  • Work full-time in a participating host office for 12 months (September-August) at an annual salary of $70,000-$80,000
  • Attend professional development training and networking opportunities with their peers throughout the year
  • Learn about policy-making in the public service through professional hands-on experience
  • Apply their academic expertise and skills to public issues of concern

Host offices provide positions to fellows that support key policy challenges in their departments. By participating, hosts:

  • Provide a range of policy tasks to their fellows, such as policy development, stakeholder engagement, and creating and maintaining key policy documents
  • Grow their access to specialized expertise and the most up-to-date knowledge available in academia
  • Increase the policy capacity within their department
  • Support a growing body of researchers uniquely trained to address key policy challenges

Want to learn more about science policy? Refer to the Science Policy Briefing included in the downloadable General Mitacs Terms, Conditions & Policies zip file, found in the How To Apply section.

Curious about our past CSPF fellowships? Review our Look Book (included in the downloadable Application Package zip file, found in the How To Apply section) for examples of how participants have contributed to the Canadian science policy landscape.

You can also read about our past cohorts in our yearly news releases:

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

Eligibility

Eligible CSPF positions must:

  • Offer a full-time 12-month fellowship to a PhD holder in a host office location
  • Provide remuneration and employee benefits to the fellow in the range of $70,000-$80,000 through an employment contract
  • Be a policy-focused position addressing a clearly defined challenge that requires the advanced competencies and skills of a PhD holder
  • Demonstrate a clear reporting and mentoring structure for the fellow
  • Outline the processes of the host office (accountability practices, mentorship, or other professional opportunities, etc.) that can support the success of the fellowship

NOTE: A sample host position is included in the downloadable Application Package zip file, found in the How To Apply section

To host a CSPF fellow, host offices must:

  • Be an eligible provincial or federal government office
  • Provide remuneration and employee benefits to the fellow, in the range of $70,000-$80,000 annually through an employment contract
  • Physically host the fellow at the appropriate office space (Note: if COVID-19 restrictions remain in place in September 2021, arrangements to carry out the fellowship virtually may be required)
  • Accommodate fellow participation in Mitacs professional development opportunities, including travel costs should the fellow be located outside of Ottawa
  • Provide mentoring and guidance to the fellow throughout the fellowship, particularly during the onboarding phase

See the How to Apply section for more information on how to apply for a fellowship.

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

How to Apply

We welcome application submissions from prospective fellows and hosts on an annual call cycle running from fall throughout winter.

Applications are received through a concurrent, double-blind process. Fellows apply to the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, and host offices apply to host a fellow for the upcoming cohort year running from September to August.

Fellows and hosts must submit an application through an online form. All applicants will receive an automated email confirming receipt of their application submission.

The call for hosts is now closed!

Hosts

In order to be considered for the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, you must submit a complete application through the online CSPF Host Application form by the deadline.

Please note that the online form for host applications does not allow you to save your work and come back to it. Please ensure your answers are fully developed before starting the form.

Preparing the position description 

Your CSPF Host Application form must include a position description for the year-long fellowship, stating:

  • The policy issue/challenge and general scope of work
  • Policy processes that the fellow will be involved in (e.g., problem framing, policy formulation, supporting decision-making, policy implementation, monitoring & evaluation)
  • Policy activities that the fellow may support (e.g., preparation of briefing and speaking notes, senior decision-maker briefings, supporting work of committees, stakeholder meetings and/or consultation management)
  • Competencies and professional expectations of the fellow
  • Reporting structure for the fellow
  • Processes in your office (accountability practices, mentorship, or other professional opportunities, etc.) that can support the success of the fellowship

Review the Guidelines for a Successful Host Application (found in the downloadable Application Package zip file) for a checklist and other helpful details to consider for your application.

Please note that fellows will not see your position description until you have contacted them for an interview during the interview stage of the process.

Canadian Science Policy and Fellowship (CSPF) downloads

All necessary CSPF and Mitacs forms, templates, terms, policies, etc., may be downloaded via the following zip files:

Mitacs Terms, Conditions & Policies
Mitacs Academic Institution Acknowledgement form
Download
Mitacs Confidentiality Policy
Download
Mitacs Conflict of Interest Policy
Download
Mitacs Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
Download
Mitacs Diversity Policy
Download
Mitacs Indigenous Research Policy
Download
Mitacs Intellectual Property Policy
Download
Mitacs Intern Eligibility & Conflict of Interest form
Download
Mitacs Participant Expectations
Download
Mitacs Responsible Conduct of Research Policy
Download
Mitacs Privacy Policy
Download
Mitacs Travel Subsidy
Download
Mitacs Use of Funds Policy
Download
Mitacs Virtual Interactions Guide
Download
Mitacs Website Privacy Statement
Download
Mitacs Whistleblower Policy
Download
All Files.zip

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Program Administration

Adjudication Matching

All submitted applications are reviewed to ensure that prospective fellows and host positions meet the program eligibility criteria.

Once fellow applications and host positions are adjudicated, all shortlisted semi-finalist applications will be presented to eligible host offices to select fellow candidates for interviewing. Following the interview period, selected fellows and host offices will rank their choices for Mitacs to facilitate fellowship matching. Please see the Matching section for more information on the matching process.

Fellow adjudication (March-April)

Fellow applications are adjudicated as part of a competitive call cycle through winter and spring in advance of the fellowship cohort start date in September.

All fellow applications are reviewed through a two-stage process:

1. Applications are reviewed for minimum eligibility requirements

Please refer to the Eligibility section for more information on fellow eligibility requirements

2. Fellow applications are then sent to a Fellow Adjudication Committee to shortlist candidates as semi-finalists

  • The Fellow Adjudication Committee is made up of past Canadian Science Policy Fellows
  • All applications are vetted for any potential conflict of interest with adjudication committee members
  • Each application is reviewed by at least two separate members of the adjudication committee
  • Adjudication committee members are asked to evaluate fellow applications based on research distinctions, leadership attributes, communication skills, and a commitment to the fellowship’s professional development opportunities and objectives
  • Prospective fellows are evaluated using points-based criteria and review scores are calibrated to ensure consistent scoring is applied across members of the adjudication committee
  • Based on the review scores of the adjudication committee, a shortlist of fellow applicants is presented to participating host offices to select candidates for interviewing

Host adjudication (March)

All host applications are reviewed by an internal Mitacs committee to ensure that prospective fellowship positions meet the program requirements. Applications are reviewed in accordance with the following adjudication criteria:

1. Is the focus of the policy position clear?

  • Are the policy issues, questions or challenges that the fellow will be working on clearly defined?
  • Does the position involve policy processes? (e.g., problem framing, policy formulation, decision-making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation)
  • Does the position include policy activities? (e.g., preparing briefing and speaking notes, senior decision-maker briefings, supporting the work of committees, stakeholder meetings, and/or consultations)

2. Is there a clear added value for the position?

  • Are the fellow’s key responsibilities clearly defined?
  • Is the work appropriate for someone at a PhD level?
  • Is there an added value for the fellow in terms of skills development or exposure to government work?

3. Is there adequate support for the fellow to be successful in the position?

  • Does the application reference mentoring or guidance throughout the fellowship, with a specific person in mind?
  • Is there a clear accountability/reporting structure for the fellow in the application?
  • Does the application reference any opportunities to engage in a wide range of internal and external activities, professional development, government training, etc.?

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

The matching process begins with host-fellow interviews. Following adjudication, all shortlisted fellow applications will be presented to eligible host offices to select candidates for interviewing.

1. Selecting interview candidates

Eligible host offices will select candidates that they wish to interview by filtering through a list of shortlisted fellow applications.

Host offices may choose to narrow their selection of suitable candidates by filtering for (e.g.):

  • Location
  • Working ability of language(s) spoken
  • Academic specialization
  • Policy skills and competencies

Host offices will have access to the complete fellow application forms, and may wish to review the academic awards, past research experience, leadership experience, communication skills and statements of interest, among other fields, for potential candidates. Mitacs encourages hosts to be flexible on required expertise, as the success of fellowships is less dependent on academic discipline and more on broader skills that can be applied in the public service environment.

2. Interviewing (May-June)

Host offices are invited to request an interview with the shortlisted fellows they have selected. There are no restrictions on how many interviews a host office can request, however, we recommend selecting a minimum of three (3) candidates, where possible, to maximize potential matches.

Mitacs will contact the shortlisted fellows and share the host office position description in advance of the interview

Hosts and fellows will set up an interview at mutual availability. Hosts must be prepared to accommodate virtual interviews for fellows that may be outside of the host office city. Hosts and potential fellows should note that there are no funds available from Mitacs to accommodate travel for in-person interviews.

The interview is an opportunity for each party to learn more about the other. Host offices are encouraged to use their established HR processes for the interviews. It is important for hosts to accommodate questions from fellow applicants, as this is the fellow’s opportunity to evaluate the host office and fit from their perspective.

Fellow applicants should treat the interview process as they would any professional interview. We suggest that fellows discuss how their expertise relates to the policy area of the host and to science policy in general and prepare any questions they may have about the role. As each host department has their own HR processes, the interview process will vary from host to host.

3. Matching

Following the interview period, selected fellows and host offices will confidentially rank their choices for Mitacs to facilitate fellowship matches. We encourage all participants to provide as many rankings as possible to maximize potential matches.

Once all fellow and host rankings are submitted, Mitacs will facilitate matches to maximize the number of fellowship opportunities and to generate top-ranking matches, where possible. Please note that fellows and hosts may not be matched with their first choice.

We will attempt to match all semi-finalists to host offices. Should any host offices not find a match in the first round, the process allows for a second round of matching. Unmatched semi-finalists will be given the remaining host office position descriptions and will have the opportunity to write a 500-word “pitch” describing why they would be a good match for the host office. After reviewing the pitches, hosts can decide if they’d like to interview additional candidates.

In order to maintain the confidentiality of the ranking process, fellows and host offices should not discuss their ranking decisions.

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

Responsibilities

Hosts Mitacs

Host offices must provide full-time 12-month fellowship at a host office location within the fellowship annual cohort cycle (September – August), in accordance with the approved Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship position.

Hosts offices must:

  • Provide remuneration that reflects the qualifications of a PhD holder and is commensurate with comparable employment within the public service, typically in the range of $70,000–$80,000 per year
  • Provide any additional benefits that are afforded to employees
  • Provide the necessary management, support, and resources to ensure success and appoint a designated host supervisor to guide the fellow
  • Accommodate the fellow’s participation in program activities, such as professional development and networking sessions which will require time off from their daily duties
  • If the fellow is working in a location other than Ottawa, the host must make arrangements to facilitate the fellow’s participation in the cohort model where virtual options are not available.

Hosts may also be invited to participate in some of the fellowship activities including Orientation in September and the final capstone event, Presenting with Impact, in July of the following year.

Additionally, hosts are expected to respond to the program surveys sent by Mitacs and provide any required documentation as laid out in the Terms and Conditions of the program.

Mitacs is responsible for the design and delivery of the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, including managing the call cycle, supporting the annual fellowship cohort, and reporting.

In delivering the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, Mitacs will:

  • Administer the calls for host and fellow applications
  • Manage the adjudication for all applications
  • Facilitate the matching process
  • Communicate program information and requirements to participants during the fellowship cycle

Working with our partners, Mitacs also designs and delivers the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program’s professional development training and networking events.

Throughout the fellowship cycle, Mitacs expects all program participants to participate in program evaluation, by completing surveys and submitting a Final Report, where applicable. The findings from these tools are used to monitor the program’s success and identify areas for improvement.

Government host offices must submit routine reporting throughout the fellowship cycle, including:

  • Completing three surveys for feedback collection: a pre-fellowship survey, mid-fellowship survey and end-of-fellowship survey
  • Providing Mitacs with fellow salary information three times per year: once prior to fellowship start, once within 30 days of fiscal year-end (March 31), and once within 30 days of the end of the fellowship confirming the total amount paid to the fellow

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

If you have any questions about the Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, please email the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

FAQs

Before You Apply When You Apply After You Apply During Your Fellowship

Yes, students are eligible to apply if all the requirements of their PhD are complete before September of the fellowship year. In certain cases, a successful fellow may negotiate a later start date with the host office if a thesis defence is scheduled in early September.

No, the program is open to all PhD holders from any discipline, including faculty affiliated with a Canadian university.

One of the key aspects of the program is the cohort model in which the fellows move through the fellowship experience together. We work with our federal government partners on an annual basis to offer fellowships as a cohort that allows fellows to build a network of peers. We also occasionally have host offices who pilot the program in cities new to the CSPF program. While some locations may change from year to year, in general the host cities are determined based on the current participating partners in order to facilitate the cohort model.

Mitacs encourages applicants to read all sections of the CSPF webpages and application form to ensure an understanding of the program, the eligibility requirements, and the application process. Applicants should allow enough time to develop comprehensive, well-presented statements of interest, and other documents that are free of errors and typos. We suggest contacting references as early as possible so that they have time to prepare thoughtful letters of reference. Any submitted documents or filled in text fields should not exceed the mandated page or word limit. Fellows can refer to the Guidelines for a Successful Fellow Application (found in the downloadable Application Package zip file in the How To Apply section) for more detailed information.

The number of fellowships available varies based on the number of host applications received. Mitacs has offered an average of 20-25 fellowships per year since opening the program to both the federal and provincial governments. Please refer to the Matching section under Program Administration for a detailed breakdown of the number of fellowships each year.

Due to the concurrent double-blind call cycle process, hosts submit their applications at the same time as fellows, and therefore Mitacs is unable to provide information about open CSPF positions. Fellows will be given a copy of the position descriptions in advance of any interviews that they have been selected for by the host office.

Fellows and hosts can also review the Look Book (found in the downloadable Application Package zip file in the How To Apply section) for examples of the kind of work fellows may participate in. Fellows are also encouraged to read through our news releases from past years to see which hosts have participated, as we often have repeat hosts:

Hosts may apply to the program and learn about budgetary or priority changes later in the process affecting their ability to continue with the fellowship. Hosts also occasionally do not find a candidate who meets their needs and do not continue with the fellowship, or their chosen candidate may decline the fellowship offer for various reasons.

Mitacs collects self-identification information to be able to report to funders, for program planning and development, and for an accurate understanding of equitable representation of underrepresented groups. Answering these questions is optional, and applicants can choose all items that apply. The information is reported in aggregate and not linked to individuals. It will not be used as part of the adjudication process.

Our definitions are drawn from federal and provincial government offices, such as Statistics Canada, government legislation such as the Employment Equity Act, as well as associations representing underrepresented groups, such as the National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). If you have questions or concerns, please contact policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

• Gender refers to the gender that a person internally feels (“gender identity” along the gender spectrum) and/or the gender a person publicly expresses (“gender expression”) in their daily life, including at work, while shopping or accessing other services, in their housing environment or in the broader community. A person’s current gender may differ from the sex a person was assigned at birth (male or female) and may differ from what is indicated on their current legal documents. A person’s gender may change over time.
• An Indigenous person in Canada is a person who identifies with First Nations (Status/Non-Status), Métis or Inuit, cultural, and/or ancestral background.
• A person in a visible minority group is someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
• A person with a disability refers to impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which one lives. Overcoming the difficulties faced by people with disabilities may require interventions to remove environmental and social barriers.

Yes. Mitacs does not impose a limit on the number of times an eligible candidate may apply to the program. If you have not been selected as a fellow, you may apply again in a subsequent application call.

Fellow applications are adjudicated through a competitive call cycle through winter and spring in advance of the fellowship cohort start date in September. Please refer to the Adjudication section under Program Administration for more information on how fellow applications are adjudicated.

Applicants will receive an automated email that their applications have been received. The applications will undergo a comprehensive adjudication process and those who have submitted an incomplete application will be notified.

All required documents must be submitted by the competition deadline. Applications with one or no letters of reference are incomplete and will not be considered for this round of fellowships. A Mitacs representative will contact applicants if their letters of reference have not arrived by the competition close.

Fellow adjudication completes in April. Fellows will be notified of their application status during that month. Please note that not every applicant on the semi-finalist list will be contacted for an interview.

No. Due to the individualized nature of the adjudication and matching processes, Mitacs cannot provide specific timelines about application status or feedback on the application itself. All fellow applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted as semi-finalists to the program as soon as practicable.

Yes. These opportunities provided by Mitacs are an integral element to the program and build on the hands-on learning of the host office position.

All successful fellows are required to work from the location of their host office during their fellowship. The cohort model of the program is a crucial part of the fellowship. If COVID-19 restrictions remain in place as of September 2022, we will work with hosts and fellows to see if virtual fellowships are possible.

No. Successful fellows must assume the cost of relocation.

No. Mitacs requires that the fellowship cycle is conducted in a single cohort per year.

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