Sponsor

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Program

Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships

Description

Up to six Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships are awarded annually to recognize early stage academic researchers in the natural sciences and engineering and to enhance their research capacity so that they can become leaders in their field and inspire others. Prior to 2020, Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships were known as the E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships.

Program details and timeline are not yet confirmed. This information will be updated when the program launches.

Eligibility

If you are an early-stage academic researcher, meaning that you have held an independent academic position for 10 years or less as of June 1 of the year of the competition and currently hold a grant from NSERC, you can prepare a nomination for this award.

An independent academic position is a position that:

• is a university faculty appointment (tenured or non-tenured);
• requires that the researcher engages in research that is not under the direction of another individual;
• authorizes the researcher to supervise or co-supervise the research of students registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or postdoctoral fellows.

A candidate submitting a nomination in June 2023 would have been hired on or after June 1, 2013.

Your research must be primarily in the fields of the natural sciences and/or engineering.

As an eligible candidate, you self-nominate; however, institutions are limited to 6 nominations and must certify its support for your nomination. The institution confirms that you are eligible and explains how the institution will fully relieve you of teaching and administrative responsibilities while you hold the award.

Prize

• Each fellow receives a research grant of $250,000 over two years. The award is normally paid in two installments of $125,000 per year.
• The Fellowship normally includes a contribution of up to $90,000 per year to the university toward the fellow's salary.
• As part of the Fellowship agreement, the university is expected to fund a replacement for the fellow's teaching and administrative responsibilities.

Special Notes

The nominations will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• Candidate's stature in the scientific or engineering community—both national and international;
• Importance and scope of the candidate's research and its impact on the field, society and, if applicable, on industry;
• Candidate's specific accomplishments within his or her field;
• Candidate's overall suitability for the award.

If your nomination is successful, you will receive a research grant of $250,000 over two years, held at a Canadian university or affiliated research institution. You will also be relieved from teaching and administrative duties so that you can devote your time and energy to research. In addition, NSERC normally contributes up to $90,000 per year to the university toward your salary. NSERC expects the university to fund a replacement for the McDonald fellow’s teaching and administrative responsibilities, as part of the McDonald Fellowship agreement. NSERC reduces the contribution to the university if the McDonald fellow already holds another federal award that has a salary component, such as a Canada Research Chair or an Industrial Research Chair.

COVID-19

Please note that research activities carried out in the context of COVID-19 need to adhere to the University of Guelph COVID-19 research principles, policies, guidelines and processes as they may be updated from time to time and communicated on the Office of Research web-page [1].

How to Apply

The University of Guelph is limited to 6 nominations. If you wish to be considered for VPR nomination: 

1. We recommend discussing your interest in this award with your College Research Manager and Associate Dean (Research).
2. Secure the support of your Department Chair/School Director as this award involves teaching and service release.
3. Complete the Expression of Interest document [2]. 
4. Send the completed Expression of Interest document, a CV, and the support email from your Department Chair/School Director to research.honours@uoguelph.ca [3] and copy your College Research Manager. 

Career interruptions due to parental leave, family care, extended illness, or community responsibilities will not negatively impact the committee’s assessment of a candidate’s research productivity. These will be taken into consideration when EOIs are assessed.

For More Information

For more information, please contact research.honours@uoguelph.ca [3] or visit the NSERC Prizes-Arthur B. McDonalds Fellowships website [5].