The Killam Trusts, the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2021 to transition the Killam program to the NRC.
The new partnership marks an exciting development and a promising new era for the program. The program assumed the banner of the National Killam Program after transitioning to the NRC in spring 2022. The National Killam Program includes the Killam Prizes and the Dorothy Killam Fellowships (formerly the Killam Research Fellowships).
In April 2022, the NRC assumed Program delivery responsibilities in time for the 2023 program cycle. The new Dorothy Killam Fellowships align with the vision, mission and values of Dorothy J. Killam as set out in her Will. With a strong commitment to research excellence, the NRC is well positioned to work alongside the Killam Trusts and CCA to administer the National Killam Program in 2023 and thereafter. The NRC is committed to long term engagement with key stakeholders to support program delivery and continuous improvement.
The redesigned Dorothy Killam Fellowships provide 5-8 mid-career researchers with release time support amounting to $80,000/year for two years. A Dorothy Killam Fellow is a leading researcher whose superior, ground-breaking and transformative research stands to positively improve the lives of Canadians. They are also someone whose work reflects one or more of the Killam attributes listed below:
- Inclusive Collaborator – whose work exemplifies inclusion and understanding of people, cultures and needs with participation among economic, social and cultural backgrounds
- Barrier Breaker – whose original, transformational, future focused generation of knowledge and technology stands to change the way we live
- Research Leader – who activates thoughtful cooperation among scholars, disciplines and institutions
The redesigned program also includes refined selection processes, a giveback model for recipients, and proactive program monitoring to guide program delivery.
The NRC is also committed to making a positive difference for its stakeholders and serving Canada with integrity, accountability, and openness. In support of the National Killam Program, the NRC developed a robust conflict of interest management procedure and governance framework to manage potential, real or perceived conflict of interest. The NRC’s role is to administer and deliver the National Killam Program. The NRC has no role in decision making regarding winners of the Killam Prize and the Dorothy Killam Fellowships. Clear policies, responsibilities and decision-making authority were implemented to ensure that the National Killam Program is administered and delivered by the National Killam Program Office (NKPO) at the NRC with integrity and transparency.
In addition, the National Killam Program Advisory Board (NK PAB) and the National Killam Selection Committee (NKSC) were created to enable the administration and delivery of the National Killam Program by the NRC. These bodies uphold the vision of Dorothy Killam and champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the program:
The NK PAB is an external advisory board providing input on strategy and program operations. The NK PAB is comprised of senior members chosen from among Canada’s research excellence stakeholder community who offer strategic advice and serve as champions for the National Killam Program.
The NKSC is a standing committee responsible for recommending winners for both the Killam Prizes and the Dorothy Killam Fellowships. Members are recognized experts with national and/or international stature who support the National Killam Program definition of research excellence, and are committed to upholding Killam values in their deliberations.
Should you have any questions, please contact the NKPO at KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
National Killam Program Advisory Board
Board Role/Responsibility
The National Killam Program Advisory Board (NK PAB) was established in October, 2021. The NK PAB is comprised of executive-level representation from the Canadian research community and provides strategic advice on matters relevant to the National Killam Program.
Board members advise on program redesign, outreach, promotion and profile building to ensure the program serves as a national asset for the Canadian research community.
Board Members
Co-chairs
- Elizabeth Cannon, O.C. President Emerita, University of Calgary
- Suzanne Fortier, President and Vice-Chancellor Emerita, McGill University
Members
- Barbara Sherwood Lollar, Professor, University of Toronto
- Catalina Lopez-Correa, Chief Scientific Officer, Genome Canada
- John Hepburn, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Mitacs
- Kevin Hewitt, Professor, Dalhousie University
- Mike DeGagné, President and Chief Executive Officer, Indspire
Full biographies here.
National Killam Selection Committee
Committee Role/Responsibility
The NKSC is a standing committee responsible for recommending winners for both the Killam Prizes and the Dorothy Killam Fellowships. NKSC members are recognized experts with national and/or international stature who support the National Killam Program definition of research excellence and are committed to upholding Killam values in their deliberations.
Committee Members
Chair
Maydianne C.B. Andrade
Members
- Jennifer Clap
- Walter Herzog
- Sophia L. Stone
- Nathalie Tufenkji
- Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux
- Jonathan Dewar
- Carl E. James
- Louis Taillefer
- Bilkis Vissandjée
Full biographies here.
National Killam Program
Killam Prizes
The Killam Prizes are awarded annually to distinguished Canadian scholars in the fields of health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Each Killam Prize is worth $100,000 and is awarded in the expectation that the scholars will continue to contribute to the Canadian research community.
Dorothy Killam Fellowships
The newly designed Dorothy Killam Fellowships are valued at $80,000/year for two years to 5-8 scholars per year. Like its predecessor program, the Dorothy Killam Fellowships provide support to scholars of exceptional ability by granting them time to pursue research projects of broad significance and widespread interest within the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering or studies linking any of these disciplines.
News
- November 15, 2021 – Inaugural Program Advisory Board announced for the National Killam Program
- April 26, 2022 – The 2023 National Killam Program cycle launches today
- May 4, 2022 – The National Killam Program is pleased to release its first newsletter
- March 15, 2023 – The National Killam Program announces the 2023 Killam Prize and Dorothy Killam Fellowship winners
- March 31, 2023 – National Killam Program Newsletter
- For up to date information after April 1, 2023, please go to the News & Events page.
