Call for Nominations — NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships 2020

To: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs
From: Professor Vivek Goel, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives
Date: April 23, 2020
Re: Call for Nominations — NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships 2020


The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has released its call for nominations for the 2020 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships. I encourage you to share this information widely and consider preparing nominations, taking into account principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in your identification of nominees.

         Up to six (6) Steacie Fellowships are awarded annually to enhance the career development of outstanding, highly promising scientists and engineers who are earning a strong international reputation for original research. 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. 

NSERC has updated the Steacie Memorial Fellowships, please review the program information carefully. Key changes include: new eligibility and selection criteria, requirements related to the promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion, changes to the nomination process and nomination materials.

        Eligible candidates must have held an independent academic position for 10 years or less as of June 1, 2020 and hold a grant from NSERC. The 10-year eligibility window is adjusted to take into account eligible delays in research or periods of inactivity (for example, due to parental leave, bereavement or illness). 

Nomination Process

Candidates must now submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) by May 8, 2020 in order to be considered by the U of T internal review committee.

Candidates may now self-nominate or be nominated by senior members of the Canadian science and engineering community. However, all nominees must participate in the U of T internal process and complete an EOI, submit an internal nomination, and be endorsed by U of T to go forward for consideration by NSERC.

To submit an internal nomination for consideration by the University of Toronto internal committee, please consult with your divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer to identify any internal deadlines and review processes specific to your academic division or department. Please arrange to submit a nomination package to vpri.awards@utoronto.ca by June 1, 2020.

Review the new criteria and new documentation requirements on the NSERC Steacie Fellowship website as well as our Honours & Awards Opportunities page.

The University of Toronto may endorse up to six (6) nominations for the Fellowships per year. As such, I am establishing a small advisory committee of representatives from across the sciences and engineering divisions to review nominations and select the University’s six nominees for 2020, adhering to standards of rigor, fairness, respect and equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the process.

Once six nominees are selected for endorsement, my team will work with divisional offices to facilitate the development of full nominations and ensure their submission to NSERC by its extended deadline of July 7, 2020.
For further information, please contact your divisional/faculty awards coordinator or officer.