About the program
The Industry Postdoctoral Fellowship (IndPDF) Program matches outstanding postdoctoral researchers with leading ocean organizations to deliver the best talent to accelerate innovation and foster new partnerships. Postdoctoral fellows have the opportunity to increase the impact of their research through broad industry, government, or non-governmental organization opportunities while gaining meaningful professional development experiences. Partners get access to top minds and university resources through an efficient matching and placement program.
- Quantifying polar and subpolar carbon cycling and transport.
- Assessing land-sea/air-ice-sea interactions and biological pumps.
- Investigating sedimentary carbon burial.
- Assessing changes to AMOC and associated water-column carbon storage.
- Automating continuous monitoring and prediction of climate impacts on biodiversity.
- Testing active Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, including Alkalinity Enhancement and algal sequestration.
- Developing data-driven monitoring, verification, and reporting protocols for carbon uptake.
- Mapping pathways to reduce marine industry greenhouse gas footprints via carbon capture and storage.
- Advancing sustainable renewable energy while mitigating marine animal risks and securing community support.
- Developing equitable adaptation frameworks to reduce social exclusion and vulnerability.
- Documenting and preserving coastal identities, heritage, and collective memories.
- Advancing informational justice, ocean-climate literacy, and youth civic agency.
- Addressing food/water sovereignty and regional land-use planning for sea-level rise.
- Mapping climate displacement, migrant worker protections, and supply chain rights.
Benefits of the program
This postdoctoral fellowship offers benefits to industry and postdoctoral fellows.
For industry partners
- Highly Leveraged Funding: Maximize your R&D budget with co-funded, competitive salary support to attract top-tier talent.
- Direct Talent Pipeline: Gain immediate access to a curated pool of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) ready to solve industry challenges.
- Innovation & Technical Excellence: Drive commercialization, social enterprise, and competitive advantage using cutting-edge scientific insights.
- World-Class Assets: Tap into state-of-the-art university infrastructure, labs, and specialized research networks.
For postdoctoral fellows
- Competitive Compensation: Secure well-paid, high-impact employment opportunities that bridge academia and industry, government or not-for-profit sectors.
- Professional Growth: Accelerate your career with hands-on business experience, industry-led projects, and professional development.
- Expansive Networks: Build cross-sector connections that open doors to diverse career paths in both corporate and public sectors.
- Versatile Career Paths: Strengthen your profile for leadership roles, whether you choose to stay in academic research or transition to industry R&D.
Eligibility
Project & fellow requirements
- Fellowship projects must be hosted at one of the Transforming Climate Action (TCA) partner institutions: Dalhousie University, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université Laval, or Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- The maximum allowable time post-PhD varies depending on the host institution and specific funding program guidelines.
- Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international fellows/students who are over the age of 18.
Industry partner requirements
- For-profit corporations and eligible not-for-profit corporations.
Funding and duration
- Contract Term: Proposals for both one- and two-year project durations will be considered.
- Time Allocation: Fellows are expected to divide their time collaboratively, between the academic partner and industry partner's facilities.
- Expense Eligibility: Certain administrative and relocation costs, such as long-term accommodation and visa application fees, are ineligible expenses under this program.
Submit an expression of interest
Expressions of interest will be evaluated and matched with collaborators and considered on an ongoing basis.
Industry Engagement & Institutional Partners
To facilitate impactful industry engagement and build strong research partnerships, the Ocean Frontier Institute works closely with the specialized commercialization and research services teams across all our member institutions. If you are looking to collaborate with university researchers or establish cross-sector connections, these offices provide the institutional support and network access needed to advance your project.
Embracing respectful engagement
Transforming Climate Action (TCA) partner institutions are committed to fostering a research and collegial culture grounded in respectful engagement and balanced representation. We encourage applications from Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals, Black individuals, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, including trans and non-binary individuals.
University-industry research partnership philosophy
Scientific integrity and transparency always serve as guiding principles for university-industry collaboration.
Our researchers and industry partners are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of honesty, objectivity, and academic freedom.
