York University is advancing its global research leadership with the launch of an expanded Global Research Excellence (GRE) Fund for 2025-26.
Now entering its second year, the GRE Fund presents a new stream focused on recruiting exceptional postdoctoral researchers through international collaboration, reinforcing York’s role as a leader in globally connected, high-impact research.
“GRE is a testament to the success of York’s Global Engagement Strategy which strengthened institutional coordination and alignment on strategic international priorities,” says Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor. “The expansion of the Global Research Excellence Fund this year to include the joint recruitment of outstanding postdocs with international partners is another step on our path to ensuring that the best and the brightest come to York to put their talents to work for our students, Canada and the world.”
A cornerstone of Engaging the World: York University’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy, the GRE Fund was introduced in 2024 to deepen international research ties, boost global impact and elevate York’s standing among top-tier research institutions.
The inaugural call delivered impressive outcomes, reports York International, including increased research income, new partnerships across priority regions and support for emerging research leaders tackling global grand challenges.
This year’s expansion is Stream B: Global Post-Doctoral Researcher Award, co-developed with York’s Faculty of Graduate Studies. This new stream enables York researchers to jointly recruit exceptional postdoctoral talent from Canada and abroad, with international partners.
“York has a long history of attracting top globally diverse talent from around the world,” adds Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “We believe in fostering global collaboration – showing that openness to working with the world, even in times of great uncertainty, creates win-win outcomes for all.”
The GRE program continues to offer Stream A: Strategic Partnership Exploration & Development, providing seed funding for York-led initiatives that build new international research collaborations and expand existing ones. Stream A also supports partnerships with the global South and Indigenous communities overseas.
“Continued investment in GRE reflects York’s commitment to inclusive, equitable partnerships that deliver impact for Canada and the world. At a time when some countries are stepping back, York is choosing to lead,” says Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic.
The GRE Fund is managed by the Global Strategic Initiatives team within York International, in close partnership with the offices of the Vice-President Research and Innovation, Provost and President.
Learn how to apply to the GRE Fund.