Earth Sciences Department, University of Toronto

The Department of Earth Sciences is internationally regarded for research in fundamental geoscience, having given rise to major advances in ore deposits geology, geophysics, Precambrian geology, marine geology, Quaternary geology and sedimentary basin analysis. The links below provide information on research interests, research facilities, and research areas in the Department.

Homepage: https://www.es.utoronto.ca/research

The Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada, invites applications for the Roger E. Deane Postdoctoral Fellowship in any field of the Earth Sciences. The Department is interested in supporting innovative research and excellent early career geoscientists to work in collaboration with one or more faculty members.

Applicants must contact potential supervisors in advance to discuss areas of common interest and proposal ideas. Applicants must obtain approval from a proposed supervisor to apply. Only applicants who have secured a potential supervisor willing to supervise will be considered. Eligible supervisors are those faculty whose primary graduate appointment is in Earth Sciences. Please visit our website for details.

https://www.es.utoronto.ca/people/faculty/

Note that not all supervisors are taking on new lab personnel. Contact potential supervisors prior to applying.

About this award:

This endowed award was created thanks to a bequest from Dorothy M. Deane, widow of the late Prof Roger E Deane, an alumnus of the Department of Geology, University of Toronto (U of T). Prof Deane obtained a PhD in 1949 under the supervision of Prof Alexander Maclean, and returned to U of T as a faculty member in 1955, pursuing research in the areas of glacial geology and Pleistocene paleoenvironments. Prof Deane served as the inaugural Director of Research at the U of T Great Lakes Institute which eventually contributed to the founding of the U of T School of the Environment. Prof Deane died in a tragic boating accident near Tobermory, Ontario in 1965 while undertaking field work.

Salary

CAD $65,000 per year

Term

The term is 1 year, with the possibility of renewal for 1 additional year. This is a full-time, in-person position.

Expected start date

Start date is flexible between July 2026 and December 2026.

Application deadline

April 2, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern time

Selection criteria

Applicants must have a PhD in Earth Sciences, Geology, Environmental Science or closely related field at the time of taking up the appointment.

The winner will be selected on the bases of academic excellence, merit of the proposal, and potential to contribute to the geosciences. Applications will also be evaluated on how the proposal merges the specialties of the applicant and the proposed supervisor, so submitted proposals should cover greater scope than a reiteration of the applicant’s doctoral work. Bringing new perspectives to the Department, and bringing experiences and meaningful plans for connecting to groups that have been historically marginalized in the geosciences, are also criteria that will be considered in our evaluation of excellence.

How to apply:

A complete application includes:

• Cover letter with the potential supervisor(s) name clearly stated (1 page maximum)
• Research proposal (2 pages single spaced at most, including references)
• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• The names, addresses, email addresses and institutional affiliations of three referees. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates.
• Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate throughout the application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment. Separate EDI statements are not required.

Please combine your files into one PDF file, and submit electronic applications to: jobs.earthsci@utoronto.ca (subject line: Deane Postdoctoral Fellowship)

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous /Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.