The John Charles Polanyi Prizes, 2009

In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of the Province of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to post-doctoral studies at an Ontario university. In 2009, the prizes have a value of $20,000 each and are available in the areas broadly defined as Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Economic Science.

Conditions:

1. Any person who is planning to continue to post-doctoral studies (or has a faculty appointment) in a recognized Ontario university who meets the following criteria may apply for one of the prizes:

(i)

is normally resident in Ontario and has completed or is near completion of doctoral studies in any recognized university in the world, or has completed or is nearing completion of doctoral studies in an Ontario university; and

(ii)

has received the doctoral degree between September 1, 2005 and April 30, 2009, or if the doctoral degree has not yet been awarded, will have completed all the requirements for the doctoral degree by April 30, 2009. Applicants holding faculty appointments within these time limits may apply.  (Note: Applicants who have been on parental leave between the time of completion of the doctorate and the time of application may have their period of eligibility extended by six months.)

2. The prizes are awarded to assist the recipients in their research and professional development.

3. The prizes may be held along with any other financial support or research funds received by the winners.

4. It is hoped that the prizes will be conferred by September, 2009. No prize will be awarded without the successful applicant's having completed all requirements for the doctoral degree.

Application Procedure:

(Application forms are available in the offices of the Deans of the Graduate Schools in Ontario universities, and at the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, 180 Dundas Street West, 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z8.)

Each applicant must be sponsored by the Dean of the Graduate School at which he/she is proposing to undertake post-doctoral study. Twelve copies of a letter of sponsorship from the Dean, which among other things should clarify the nature of the position which will be held, should accompany each application.

Each applicant must submit to the Dean twelve copies of the following documents by January 15, 2009:

1.	The completed application form.
2.	A curriculum vitae (including information concerning condition 1).
3.	A brief summary of the doctoral thesis.
4.	A statement of research (or writing) to be undertaken during the period of post-doctoral study. This must also include a non-technical summary (maximum 500 words). These statements must be written by the candidate.
The candidate must also provide:
5.	Confidential letters from four assessors. These appraisals should focus on an evaluation of the applicant's research (or writing) to date, and the research (or writing) being undertaken during the post-doctoral period. The applicant must obtain the appraisals and transmit them in a sealed letter bearing the evaluator's signature across the seal. Two of the assessors should preferably be from another university and must not have been associated with the candidate as either a supervisor, or a member of the candidate's supervisory committee, or a co-author.

Before January 30, 2009, the complete application package is to be forwarded by the Dean of Graduate Studies of the sponsoring university to:

Dr. John ApSimon
Ontario Council on Graduate Studies
180 Dundas Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8
Tel: (416) 979-2165 (x 235)

The Selection Committee: The Selection Committee consists of ten members, two each from the five areas indicated in the Announcement. Committee members are nominated by the Deans of the Graduate Schools in the Province of Ontario, and selected by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies.

For more information contact OCGS