The Rotman Institute Visiting Fellows program is designed to facilitate scholarly engagement between the wider academic community and our members. Visiting fellows will have the opportunity to conduct their research in collaboration with one or more members of the Institute. The program is open to qualified candidates pursuing research overlapping with or otherwise complementing scholarly activities currently being pursued in the Institute. Candidates at all career stages are welcome to apply (PhD required prior to appointment), though preference will be given to early career researchers.

Fellowship Benefits

Visiting Fellows are provided with accommodations, an office at the Institute, library access, and some administrative support. In some cases, economy travel to and from London is also considered. During the visit, fellows will take up residence in the Institute and London, Ontario. There are a number of options for accommodations close to campus, including Guest House on the Mount and the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre.

Short-term Visits

Short-term visiting fellows typically stay for a period of roughly two – three weeks. These visitors are usually collaborators who’re already engaged in a research project with Institute members and come for a chance to work together in person. Other short-term visitors will be considered, however, advance agreement from an Institute faculty member to act as host during the visit is required. For short-term visitors, the Rotman Institute covers housing expenses for the duration of the visit.

Sabbatical or Long-term Visits

The Rotman Institute welcomes sabbatical or long-term visiting fellows to stay for a period of one academic term or year. These visitors may be eligible to receive a monthly stipend. Note that for long-term stays the purchase of the University Health Insurance Plan is mandatory; cost varies depending on the length of stay and family size. Please see the UHIP information page for enrollment requirements, current premiums, and further details.

Long-term visitors from outside of Canada will receive guidance from Institute staff and Western’s Office of Faculty Relations to obtain a temporary Canadian work permit. Please note that in accordance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) visitors are required to submit a letter from their home institution verifying that they hold a permanent appointment and will be returning following the end of their stay in Canada.

Visiting Fellow Obligations

Visiting Fellows will participate in the stimulating environment of the Institute. They are expected to offer a lecture on their current research and make themselves available to members of the Institute by holding regular office hours. They are invited to contribute fully to the intellectual life of the Institute by participating in reading groups, seminars, talks, workshops and other activities. They are strongly encouraged to interact with our members, including researchers, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. If desired, visiting fellows may be able to teach an intensive graduate seminar – requests to do so must be coordinated and approved by the relevant department chair well in advance of the visit. Fellows are also invited to take advantage of the activities in the broader university, including colloquia, conferences, and graduate seminars (with instructor permission).

Application Deadlines

Applications for fall-term visits must be submitted by April 15th. Applications for winter-term visits must be submitted by September 15th. Sabbatical or long-term visiting fellows typically need to apply a minimum of 6-months in advance of their planned visit.

A number of fellows with diverse research backgrounds have visited the Institute. Learn more about some of our recent visiting fellows:

Previous visitors have taken part in a variety of events, including colloquium talks, public talks, Rotman Dialogues, work in progress seminars, and graduate workshops.