Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards

The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards are a one-time initiative designed to recruit international or returning Canadian doctoral students to Canada. These awards support the recruitment of doctoral students 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

$40,000 per year for three years

Applicant Eligibility and Nomination Procedure

Applications from doctoral students 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 eligible to enrol in a doctoral program at the nominating institution in Canada as of the award activation date.
  • Nominee must have applied for admission to their proposed doctoral program.

Nomination Package Requirements

The Nomination Package 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 transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

A faculty nominator may submit one doctoral student nomination. Nominations will be adjudicated based on application alignment with the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards, Western's research priorities, quality of the training environment, supervisory track record, and demonstrated research excellence of the nominee.

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

Please submit your complete Nomination Package (pdf) to Adrian Aguirre Jurado via email at aaguirr@uwo.ca.

Application Timeline

  • January 23, 2026: Expression of Interest (to be submitted by the Faculty nominator only).
  • February 9, 2026: Nomination Applications submitted to SGPS for adjudication.
  • March 4, 2026: Nomination Applications submitted to Tri-Agencies.

Resources

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

Contact

For more information, please contact Adrian Aguirre Jurado via email at aaguirr@uwo.ca.