Thread by @palaeobeth

It’s that time of year when Canadians/aspiring Canadians start thinking about #Banting Postdocs! As a current @SSHRC_CRSH Banting who’s been mulling things over for 2 years, here’s my hot take on the major flaws in this program & what you should know before you apply. 🧵1/12

For those unaware, the Banting is a prestigious postdoc fellowship funded thru the 🇨🇦 Tri-Councils @SSHRC_CRSH @NSERC_CRSNG & @CIHR_IRSC. Started in 2010, it’s intended to help Canada become a global research leader by attracting & developing talent. canada.ca/en/news/archiv… 2/12

Importantly, these agencies have a separate standard postdoc fellowship which are already hard to get. I held a @SSHRC_CRSH postdoc before my @SSHRC_CRSH Banting & was surprised to find basically no diff between them except pay (w the Banting equivalent to most US postdocs). 3/12

Banting problem 1: without a bridge to faculty program, it’s just the ✨fanciest✨ precarious position. This became apparent as part of the lucky May 2020 cohort. With international research/travel prohibited both summers of the postdoc, I reached out hoping for an extension 4/12

… to be denied by both @SSHRC_CRSH, who said there was no additional funding, & @UAlberta who helpfully suggested I apply for tenure track jobs 🙄. While many of my postdoc pals were getting contract extensions & institutional support for research delays, I was on my own. 5/12

Problem 2: Banting experiences are highly variable w no transparency. E.g., colleagues who received @SSHRC_CRSH Bantings at @MemorialU & @uLethbridge received $10k research stipends while I got 0 at @UAlberta. Yet the @UAlberta @NSERC_CRSNG Banting in my cohort also got $10k 6/12

There was no way to know this beforehand. A system where candidates must compete for a university’s endorsement before applying makes it hard to shop between host institutions & negotiate for support. In classic academic fashion, you’re supposed to gratefully accept whatever 7/12

Finally problem 3: with no bridge to faculty positions, after 2 years most Bantings will have to 1) take lower paying precarious jobs, 2) leave academia or 3) go abroad. Ultimately, the program does not help Canada become a global research leader, it funnels talent elsewhere 8/12

SO, TIPS: if you’re thinking abt applying for a #Banting, ask about research stipends, extensions in the event of research delays & other supports up front w prospective mentors/depts. Given the high # of applicants you might not get far, but if you do that’s where to apply 9/12

Mentors/depts: this is equally important for you to attract/host Bantings. While @laharrin has been a wonderful mentor who supported me in so many ways, she lost out as much as I did when we couldn’t do our work. We wish we’d asked more questions & advocated more up front 10/12

Tri-councils & mother 🇨🇦: I’m not sure why we need a 2-tier system for precarious postdocs. Maybe institutions should only get Bantings if they can commit to TT lines in those areas? Maybe the program should be bundled with Canada Research Chairs? This deserves a rethink… 11/12

Although this Banting was a huge disappointment, glad to have had the last 24 months to work from home, albeit on other projects (my 1st @SSHRC_CRSH postdoc was the real MVP). Even more so, glad to now have @laharrin in my academic life & excited for what we get to do next 12/12