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The National Killam Foundation – Dorothy Killam Fellowship

*Please notify Ewa Stewart as soon as possible if you are interested in applying

Sponsor/Agency: National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and The Killam Trust 

Program: Dorothy Killam Fellowship

Description:

The 2026 Dorothy Killam Fellowship competition will open on March 26, 2025 (applications are May 22, 2025).

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships provide support to scholars of exceptional ability by granting them time to pursue research projects of broad significance and widespread interest within the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering or studies linking any of these disciplines. These Fellowships are now specifically targeted to mid-career researchers in need of relief from teaching and administrative duties to focus on their research career. Between 5 and 8 fellowships will be awarded annually. The fellowships are awarded to individuals, but the funds are paid to and administered by the Canadian university or research institute where the individual is employed.

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships are valued at $80,000 CAD per year for a total of up to $160,000 for 2 years (beginning no later than January 1, 2027). A Dorothy Killam Fellow is relieved of teaching and some administrative duties for the period of the fellowship. The funds are intended to assist the institution to cover the costs of replacement of the applicant while still paying regular salary and benefits during the 2-year fellowship period. Recipients must obtain support for research and laboratory costs from other sources.

 

Deadlines:

March 31, 2025: Mandatory internal notice of intent deadline (send email to Ewa Stewart, Grants Officer, and notify your Faculty Dean)

April 30, 2025: Mandatory preliminary research abstract must be submitted through the application portal to facilitate expert review.

May 1, 2025: Mandatory internal deadline for Comprehensive Review

May 22, 2025: Agency deadline 

Value:

$160,000 (Paid to the university to cover costs of your release time)

Duration:

2 years

How to Apply:

  1. Notify Ewa Stewart and your Faculty Dean as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.
  2. Review the program guidelines 
  3. Request two letters of support: one letter that speaks to the importance, the impact, and the quality of the proposed research; and the other focuses on the quality and impact of the researcher themselves, and their alignment with the Killam Attributes.
  4. Create an application in the online portal.
  5. Submit your completed application package to Ewa Stewart by email by May 1, 2025, for a comprehensive review.

Submit your completed application form including supplementary documents (e.g., curricula vitae, letters of support) in the online portal by May 22, 2025.

Eligibility:

A Dorothy Killam Fellow is a leading researcher whose superior, ground-breaking, best-in-class research stands to have significant impact on a national or global scale. A Fellow is someone who also reflects some of the Killam attributes:

  • Inclusive collaborator – whose work exemplifies inclusion and understanding of people, cultures and needs with participation among economic, social and cultural backgrounds
  • Barrier breaker – whose original, transformational, future focused generation of knowledge and technology stands to challenge the way we live
  • Research leader – who activates thoughtful cooperation among scholars, disciplines and institutions

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships support scholars who:

  • demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
  • are mid-career researchers who usually completed their PhD no more than 15 years prior, though special circumstances may result in applicants being more or less than 15 years post-PhD;
  • are employed at a Canadian research institution.

To be eligible, applicants:

  • demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
  • must be an individual living and working in Canada at a Canadian institution(s) in the mid stage in their career (typically no more than 15 years since the completion of a PhD)
  • must be employed by a university or other research institute for the duration of the fellowship (2 years) and will submit a proof of employment
  • may not have already been awarded a fellowship from the Killam Program of the Canada Council for the Arts. Please note that National Killam Program Office employees, members of the National Killam Program Advisory Board, or the Selection Committee may not apply.
  • consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.

Resources:

For more information:

ORS Grants Officer - Ewa Stewart 
Killam Program Officer - KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca  
 
Killam Program Webinar
February 26 at 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Please RSVP to the National Killam Program Office at KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca