From: Barbara Fallon, Associate Vice-President, Research
Date: March 20, 2024
Re: Call for Nominations – 2025 NSERC Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships

I am pleased to invite internal nominations for the 2024 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships, in anticipation of NSERC’s deadline later this year. These prestigious fellowships recognize outstanding early-stage academic researchers in the natural sciences and engineering and support them to enhance their research capacity. I encourage you to share this information widely and consider encouraging nominations of eligible candidates, taking into account principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in your identification of nominees.

Up to six McDonald Fellowships are awarded annually. Fellows receive a research grant of $250,000 over two years, and are relieved of teaching and administrative duties in order to be able to devote their time to research for the two-year period.

Eligible candidates must have held an independent academic position for 10 years or less as of December 14, 2024, and hold a grant from NSERC. The 10-year eligibility window may be adjusted to take into account eligible delays in research or periods of inactivity (for example, due to parental leave, bereavement, illness, or delays related to COVID-19).

Nomination Process

Candidates may self-nominate for the McDonald Fellowships, but must be endorsed by the University of Toronto in order to go forward for consideration by NSERC. The University may endorse up to six nominations for the Fellowships per year. 

To be considered for endorsement, candidates must:

1. Submit an online Expression of Interest by April 12, 2024.
2. Consult with their divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer to identify any internal deadlines and review processes specific to their academic division or department.
3. Submit an internal nomination package to vpri.awards@utoronto.ca by May 3, 2024, following the documentation guidelines on the Honours & Awards Opportunities page for the McDonald Fellowships.

An advisory committee of faculty from across the sciences and engineering will review nominations and select the University’s nominees, adhering to standards of rigor, fairness, respect and equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the process. My team will work with divisional offices to facilitate the development of full nominations and ensure their submission to NSERC.

Information Sessions and Further Information

Interested candidates and supporting staff are invited to attend Information Sessions on the profile of recent Fellowship recipients, the internal selection process, and the nomination materials, to be held on:
Wednesday, March 27, 1:00-2:00pm
Tuesday, April 2, 1:00-2:00pm

Please note that beginning in 2024, internal nominations that are not selected to proceed to NSERC for two consecutive years will be required to rest one year before resubmission.

For further information, please contact your divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer.