The Vice-Principal Research Portfolio is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the , a central tool in the Foundation's 2025–2028 mission to support academic excellence, societal engagement, and increased intellectual outreach. The award is a public recognition of the fellows' outstanding academic achievements and a promise of future transformative contributions.
This award recognizes research tackling important current issues in social sciences and humanities, intersecting with one or more of the four themes of the foundation:
- Human rights and dignity;
- Responsible citizenship;
- Canada and the world; or
- People and their natural environment.
The foundation nominates up to four fellows per year, chosen among full professors at Canadian universities, for a mandate of three years. Candidates must be nominated by their home universities.
Queen’s is committed to equity and diversity in the workplace and research environment, and nominations of Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity or expression are strongly encouraged.
Award details
Funding for nominee:
- $70K as a prize
- $50K as research grant
- Up to $100K as possible additional research grant
Funding for institution:
- $80K paid in compensation to the university for up to one year of teaching buy-out.
Eligibility
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellows:
- are senior academics in Canada who are leaders in their field;
- hold a full-time tenured appointment in a Canadian university at or near the rank of Full Professor with a national or international reputation;
- propose a research project that is innovative and socially significant, pushing research and thinking in new directions;
- have a demonstrated commitment to supporting graduate students;
- have a proven record of academic excellence, as established by their prior success in obtaining research grants; and
- are effective communicators willing to engage with a range of actors in society.
Application process
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Due March 20, 2026
Submit a CV and a one-page outline of your proposed project on or before the EOI deadline to Mona Rahman (Research Awards Officer) stating your interest in being considered for nomination by the institution. Detailed instructions for preparation of nomination materials are Candidates are strongly encouraged to consult those instructions prior to submitting an EOI.
Queen’s may nominate up to three candidates for consideration by the Trudeau Foundation. Candidates selected to proceed will be notified by March 27 and proceed to prepare a full nomination package. The Research Awards Officer will work with nominees to finalize their full nomination package.
Draft of full nomination package
Internal deadline: April 10, 2026
Candidates who are internally selected by Queen’s for nomination will submit additional materials to create their full nomination package which should include the following:
- a presentation letter from the candidate, explaining their interest in the foundation’s fellowship program;
- a letter of nomination from the candidate’s home university;
- a three- to five-page presentation of the proposed fellowship research project, including links to previous or ongoing research and the expected impact of the fellowship research funding;
- the candidate’s academic curriculum vitae (max. 20 pages);
- three recommendation letters.
Note: Nominations will be sent to the for external review; feedback is given within two weeks of the final submission deadline. This step is recommended, but not mandatory. For those who choose not to take advantage of this service, we will adjust the internal deadline.
Full nomination package
Agency deadline: May 15, 2026 at 4 pm
Nominations will be submitted by Queen's to the Trudeau Foundation.
Adjudication and shortlisting
A selection committee nominated by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation will determine a limited number of short-listed candidates who will be invited for an in person interview in Montréal, QC, in October 2026.
All applicants will be informed of their status in September 2026.
Following the interview, a final decision will be made by the selection committee and forwarded for approval of the Board of Directors of the foundation.
Questions?
Contact the Research Awards officer or e-mail Mai-Gee Hum, Program Director, Trudeau Foundation