The Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowships aim to foster the development of occupational health and safety (OHS) research expertise in Canada. They support recent PhD graduates who are training for careers as independent researchers in academia related to occupational health and safety or work disability.

Named in honour of Ralph McGinn, former chair of the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors and a lifelong advocate and leader in the field of occupational health and safety, these fellowships were established in 2021 to commemorate his contributions to the field and support the next generation of researchers.

Eligibility criteria

Applicant must:

• Hold a postdoctoral position at an eligible Canadian host institution (recognized university or research institution) for the duration of the award (minimum of one year).
• Have completed their PhD within the previous four years.
• Be primarily engaged in research during the award period.

Applicant must not:

• Have previously held a Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowship.
• Have held more than one other postdoctoral fellowship.
• Hold an academic position as an independent investigator.

Other eligibility criteria:

• Have a supervisor with an academic appointment at a Canadian university or a role as a researcher or scientist at a recognized research institution.
• Proposed research topics must align with WorkSafeBC’s research priorities.

Funding amount and duration

$50,000 per year for two years.

Other funding details:

• Recipients can apply to renew their award for an additional year.
• Applicants may hold another major salary award. In these cases, WorkSafeBC will provide a top-up instead of the full award, based on the value of the other award.

Key dates and deadlines

Funding opportunity status

Applications for this funding opportunity will be accepted from October 26, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Applicants should refer to the application form and supporting materials for submission requirements and instructions.

How to apply

1. Download and review the Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowships application form to confirm you meet all the eligibility requirements and have all the materials needed to apply.
2. Complete the application form (fillable Word document).
3. Submit your application package, with all required documentation by the application deadline and follow the instructions in the application form.

As you put together your application, you may find it helpful to review the Research Training Awards and Fellowships Funding Conditions for details about the funding conditions for this grant.

Important information:

• Incomplete application packages will not be acepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required materials are submitted.
• If your project involves human subjects or biological materials, you are responsible for observing all ethical guidelines concerning experimentation. Successful applicants must submit ethics approval certificates before we can release grant funds. Approval certificates are not required at the time of application. 

Recently funded projects

Select a year below to view the list of previous award recipients: