Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards

The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards are a one-time initiative designed to recruit international or returning Canadian postdoctoral researchers to Canada. These awards support the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers in priority areas, helping build capacity, strengthen the research ecosystem and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness.

Priority Research Areas

These new awards will invest in eight priority research areas:

  • Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, and cybersecurity)
  • Health, including biotechnology
  • Clean technology and resource value chains
  • Environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic
  • Food and water security
  • Democratic and community resilience
  • Manufacturing and advanced materials
  • Defence and dual-use technologies

Please visit the Government of Canada Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards website for more information: https://nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/canada-impact-research-training-awards-qa.

Value

$70,000 per year for two years

Applicant Eligibility and Nomination Procedure

Applications from postdoctoral researchers are only accepted through a nomination process from a potential faculty supervisor. Please contact the appropriate faculty supervisor(s) to apply for this award.

  • Nominees can be of any citizenship, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected people.
  • Nominees cannot have a current affiliation with a Canadian institution and must be currently studying or working abroad.
  • Nominees must be qualified to undertake postdoctoral research at the nominating institution in Canada as of the award activation date.

Nomination Application Requirements

The Nomination Application must include the following documents:

  • Nomination Form (fillable pdf).
  • Required signatures on the Eligibility Attestation Checklist.
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominee.
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominator.
  • Nominee proof (unofficial) of holding a PhD degree, or proof of completing a PhD prior to the start date of the Award (latest start date of the Award is March 31, 2027).

A faculty nominator may submit one postdoctoral researcher nomination.

Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026 at 12 noon (no exceptions)

Please submit your complete Nomination Application (pdf) to sgpswesternu@uwo.ca.

Application Timeline

  • February 9, 2026: Nomination Applications submitted to SGPS for adjudication.
  • March 4, 2026: Nomination Applications submitted to Tri-Agencies.

Evaluation Criteria

Nomination Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Academic and research excellence of the nominee.
  • Quality of the proposal, nominee’s academic and research alignment with the priority research area, and the potential to carry out the proposed research.
  • Nominator’s expertise in the proposed research topic and the ability to facilitate and support the nominee conducting the proposed research.

Other Considerations

  • Representation from a wide range of disciplines, from across the three funding agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC).
  • Consideration of a variety of Priority Research Areas, where possible.

Please note that no more than one nomination package per nominator will be forwarded to the Tri-Agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC).

Resources

The following resources are available for nominators to assist with completing the Nomination Application:

Contact

For more information, please email sgpswesternu@uwo.ca.