The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in collaboration with the University of Toronto (U of T) Temerty Faculty of Medicine, offers a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program focused on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The program reflects the institutions’ shared commitment to advancing global health research and strengthening research capacity through international collaboration and training.

The fellowship is part of the collaborative MASLD research project led by Dr. Herbert Gaisano at the University of Toronto. The project utilizes precision-cut human liver slices from bariatric surgery to investigate the mechanisms underlying MASLD and to assess the effects of diabetes therapeutics such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors. It will also explore how MASLD manifests in the Philippine context.

Through this program, early-career scientists with recent MD-PhD or PhD degrees will have the opportunity to train in a research-intensive environment abroad for one (1) year. The fellowship aims to strengthen research expertise and support the development of future leaders in health research.

The program also seeks to contribute to the development of a pool of researchers with advanced knowledge and technical expertise in MASLD and related fields, who will help strengthen collaborative initiatives such as the Philippine Liver Research Network.

Capacity

For 2026, there will be one (1) available postdoctoral fellow position focused on Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) at the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Canada.

Eligibility

The applicant must:

1. Be a Filipino citizen;
2. Not be more than 50 years old at the time of application;
3. Be in good health condition;
4. Hold an MD-PhD or PhD degree in a field relevant to health and molecular biology;
5. (For previous DOST-PCHRD scholars) have completed at least two (2) years of return service in the country before applying for a postdoctoral fellowship abroad;
6. Pass the interview and other screening procedures conducted by DOST-PCHRD and the host institution at the University of Toronto;
7. Not avail of or enjoy any other scholarship/fellowship grant;
8. Be willing to render the required service obligation (two years of service for every year of scholarship/fellowship); and
9. Have a full-time commitment to the fellowship and must not engage in any form of employment during the fellowship period.

Scholarship Privileges

1. Living/Subsistence Allowance
2. School fees (i.e. bench fees, permits, etc.)
3. Health and accident insurance
4. One (1) round-trip economy airfare from the Philippines to Ontario, Canada (start and end of the fellowship period only)
5. Pre-departure allowance (one-time only)

*DOST-PCHRD will provide a maximum of ₱1.5 million (approximately CAD 35,000) financial assistance for the one-year fellowship while the University of Toronto will provide a counterpart fund of CAD 16,000 to meet the minimum postdoctoral salary requirement in Canada.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Note: Applicants who are currently enrolled in  their studies abroad prior to application to the fellowship program can no longer apply.

2026 TIMELINE 

HOW TO APPLY

Please check the eligibility criteria of this Call before submitting your application. Interested applicants must submit their CVs to fellowship@pchrd.dost.gov.ph. The application form must be submitted to DOST-PCHRD on or before April 27, 2026 and all application requirements on or before May 11, 2026. Only eligible applicants will be contacted for further screening and interview.

Eligible applicants will be asked to submit the following application requirements: 

1) Application Form with recent ID pic

2) Re-Entry Action Plan (narrative)

3) Certifications for all qualifications undertaken (i.e. Diploma/Certificate of PhD or MD-PhD degree)

4) Transcript of records (Certified true copy)

5) Recommendation letters from two (2) former professors in the PhD/MD-PhD program

6) If employed, 

• Certificate of Employment
• Endorsement letter from Head of Agency
• Permission to take a leave of absence (LOA) while on scholarship

For any other inquiries, please email us at fellowship@pchrd.dost.gov.ph.