Terms and conditions

Killam Prize  - Conditions


If the application/nomination is successful, the terms and conditions will be fully outlined in the notification letter.

Recipients of the Killam Prize:

* must confirm acceptance of the prize and agree to keep the results confidential until the National Killam Program Office makes its official announcement.

* consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.

* must agree to allow their photographs and public information to be used for promotion of the prize and in other National Killam Program promotional material.

* are expected to participate in prize-related events and activities, which could include, but are not limited to: news conferences, award ceremonies and receptions, and to make themselves available for media interviews.

* are also asked to provide copyright permission for the use of reproductions or clips of their work on collateral and press materials associated with the Killam Prize, and on the Killam Trusts’, the National Research Council of Canada’s and partner websites and social media channels.


An individual may receive this award only once in a lifetime.

Dorothy Killam Fellowship  - Conditions


The Dorothy Killam Fellowships are valued at $80,000 CAD per year for a total of up to $160,000 for 2 years. A Dorothy Killam Fellow is relieved of all teaching and administrative duties for the period of the fellowship. The funds are intended to assist the institution to cover the costs of replacement of the applicant while still paying regular salary and benefits during the 2-year fellowship period. Recipients must obtain support for research and laboratory costs from other sources. All fellowship dispersals are administered to the existing research institution of the applicant. Dorothy Killam Fellows may be recognized at the annual National Killam Celebration of Excellence event.

Dorothy Killam Fellows are expected to continue contributing to the Canadian research community after completion of their fellowship. There are mandatory giveback activities whereby recipients are expected to participate in community engagement and/or knowledge mobilization activities. Giveback will provide Fellows with mentorship and networking opportunities, facilitate speaking opportunities to encourage the next generation of career researchers, and engage Fellows in brand promotion. Fellowship winners are expected to attend award-related events which can include, but are not limited to, news conferences, award ceremonies and receptions, and to make themselves available for media interviews. They have to allow photographs, videos and public information about themselves be used to promote the fellowship, as well as to provide copyright permission for the use of reproductions or clips of their work on collateral and communications materials associated with the Fellowship and on the Killam Trusts’, the National Research Council of Canada’s and partner websites and social media channels.

Individuals that receive funding from the National Killam Program must appropriately acknowledge the support of the National Killam Program, and, where applicable, key partners in any promotional materials associated with the funded activities. The Killam logo, branding representing the Killam visual identity and/or a written message acknowledging Killam support should be included on event signage, on social media and web content, on news releases and other promotional material. Recognition must be equal to that given to corporate funders or other sponsors or donors for similar support.

A Dorothy Killam Fellowship provides 2 full years of release time typically beginning no later than January 1, 2027, following notification of the fellowship in early 2026. Support may not be requested for less than the full 2-year fellowship period. The support for the second year depends on provision and approval of an interim research report.

A Canadian university or research institute must agree to accept and administer the Dorothy Killam Fellowship funds under the terms set out by the National Killam Program. Institutions that receive the fellowship funds are expected to relieve the Fellows of all teaching and/or administrative responsibilities for the duration of the fellowship (up to 2 years). The institution must continue paying the Fellow’s full salary and benefits during the entire period of the fellowship.

Proof of ethics review and approval is required prior to full release of funding for all applicants proposing research involving human participants, including interviews and access to documents affecting the privacy of individuals, and must comply with the conditions set out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. This requirement applies whenever living persons or communities may be affected by the proposed research, whatever the discipline(s) involved, and could include such areas as oral history and biography.

Research involving human participants in research requiring proof of ethics review and approval also includes:

  • when the actions or opinions or responses of human beings are studied in natural or staged environments;
  • or when human biological materials (e.g., organs, tissues, cells, body fluids or excreta) obtained from living humans, cadavers, embryos or fetal tissues are studied;
  • or when personally identifiable, de-identified information or private documents, data or other materials including images of the body and personal health data, that have not been placed in the public domain with the consent of the person directly affected, are studied;
  • or when research involving a secondary use of human biological materials or data from human participants as described above, when individual or combined information is identifiable or de-identified since it’s collection.

For proposed research involving animals, applicants must also provide proof of ethics approval from an Animal Care Committee certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), and must follow the standards established in the CCAC’s Guide to Care and Use of Experimental Animals.

Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship - Conditions


Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships provide release time from employment for national and international scholars who have demonstrated outstanding research ability and are proposing collaborative research with an NRC researcher.


Fellowships are valued at $100,000 CAD per year in the form of a grant that is paid to the institution of each Fellow to cover release time. An additional grant of up to $50,000 CAD is available to accommodate travel and knowledge dissemination costs of the Fellow, based on budget estimates provided in the proposal.


Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellows and NRC co-PI are expected to participate in community engagement and knowledge mobilization activities, as well as the interdisciplinary Killam Laureate Network. While activities will vary for each Laureate, one core activity that is consistent for all Laureates is participation in the Killam Laureate Network.


Proof of ethics review and approval is required prior to full release of funding for all applicants proposing research involving human participants, including interviews and access to documents affecting the privacy of individuals, and must comply with the conditions set out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

For proposed research involving animals, applicants must also provide proof of ethics approval from an Animal Care Committee certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), and must follow the standards established in the CCAC’s Guide to Care and Use of Experimental Animals.

Proposed research must follow the Government of Canada’s Policy of Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern.

To be eligible, Fellowship applicants must:

  • be willing and able to travel to an NRC location or locations in Canada to collaborate with an NRC co-PI as required;
  • obtain a reliability status personnel security clearance;
  • demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
  • agree to participate in community engagement and knowledge mobilization activities. This may include: participation in the Killam Laureate Network, participation in a Fellows lecture series and invited lectures, and/or participation in dissemination activities with relevant University departments, or with other organizations or appropriate scientific societies.
  • demonstrate commitment to knowledge exchange with their NRC co-PI;
  • be a mid-to-late career researcher, although researchers at earlier career stages may be considered in some cases;
  • receive release time to conduct the proposed research, and will continue to be employed by the same institution for up to 12 months from the start of the Fellowship; and,
  • consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.

To be eligible, the NRC co-PI must:

  • be employed by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) at any stage of career;
  • hold a reliability status personnel security clearance at the NRC;
  • demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
  • demonstrate commitment to collaborate with the Fellow at one or more NRC sites as required for the project;
  • receive release time to conduct the proposed research from the NRC, and continue to be employed by the same institution for up to 12 months from the start of the Fellowship;
  • demonstrate commitment to knowledge exchange with the Fellow;
  • agree to participate in community engagement and knowledge mobilization activities which may require travel; and,
  • consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.