The National Killam Program, funded through Dorothy J. Killam’s contribution, supports advanced study in Canada. It includes the Killam Prizes, Dorothy Killam Fellowships, and Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships.

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, the Dorothy Killam Fellowships, and the Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships. Clear policies, responsibilities and decision-making authority were implemented to ensure that the National Killam Program is administered and delivered by the NRC with integrity and transparency.

The NRC is committed to long term engagement with key stakeholders to support program delivery and continuous improvement.

For the Killam Prize, five prizes are awarded annually, typically one per domain: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences and Engineering. For the Dorothy Killam Fellowships, between 5 and 8 fellowships will be awarded annually in any research domain. For the Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships, up to 3 are awarded each year in any research domain that aligns with NRC challenge programs.

On our website, under the eligibility section, you will find the criteria for the Killam Prize, the Dorothy Killam Fellowship, and the Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship.

Grounded in the National Killam Program's definition of research excellence and developed in alignment with the Killam values, the Killam attributes are:

• Inclusive collaborator - whose work exemplifies inclusion and understanding of people, cultures and needs with participation among all economic, social and cultural backgrounds.
• Barrier breaker - whose original, transformational, future-focused generation of knowledge and/or technology stands to change the way we live.
• Research leader - who activates thoughtful cooperation among scholars, disciplines and institutions to create a multiplier effect within the research ecosystem.

Non-traditional research outputs may include:

• media interviews, videos, blogs, podcasts, performances,
• evidence of influence on policy,
• patents,
• article preprints,
• making datasets available, development of software and protocols,
• mentorship program, advancement of trainees,
• community engagement,
• contributions to the advancement of equity in the research ecosystem.

For the Dorothy Killam Fellowships and Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships, we ask applicants to identify at least one (1) and up to five (5) disciplines (based on the Canadian Research and Development classification system) relevant to their project proposal during the application process. This will help us match your application with peer reviewers.

For the Killam Prizes, the nominator identifies the discipline(s) in which to consider the nominee for the Killam Prize.

Nominees identify at least one (1) and up to five (5) research categories (based on the Canadian Research and Development classification system) relevant to their research career as part of their acceptance of the nomination. This will help us match the nomination with peer reviewers.

The primary site for submissions to the National Killam Program is the portal: National Killam Program Portal. The Killam Trusts also have a website which provides information on the Killam Trusts and highlights programming at all Killam institutions in Canada. Lastly, as administrators of the National Killam Program, the NRC's website provides a brief overview of program governance and offerings.

For the National Killam Program, Research Excellence is defined as research with consequence and impact, setting precedents and yielding transformative results to increase the scientific and scholastic attainment of Canadians.

The concept of Research Excellence also embodies integrity. Therefore, the National Killam Program is committed to processes that are inclusive of various lived experiences, consider non-linear career paths and interdisciplinary work, and acknowledge non-traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems.

The program is privately funded by the Killam Trusts by means of a gift and bequest from Dorothy J. Killam in memory of her husband, Izaak Walton Killam, and his outstanding achievements.

The Killam Prize is valued at $100,000 CAD. It is intended to honour distinguished Canadian scholars who have been engaged in research in universities, hospitals, research or scientific institutes, or other similar institutions.

Dorothy Killam Fellowships are valued at $80,000 CAD per year for a total of up to $160,000 CAD for 2 years. The fellowships are awarded to individuals, but the funds are paid to and administered by the Canadian university or research institute where the individual is employed.

The Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships provide support to distinguished scholars, granting them time to pursue a novel project in collaboration with an NRC researcher, leveraging NRC facilities. 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.

The National Killam program will launch on March 25, 2026 for the Dorothy Killam Fellowships, Killam Prizes, and Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowships. The next program cycle guidelines are now available on the portal.

Applicants must complete the online application form and provide all the required documents in English or French by 23:59 your local time on May 21, 2026.

Nominators must complete the online nomination form, provide all the required documents in English or French, and submit by 23:59 your local time on May 28, 2026.

Applicants must complete the online application form and provide all the required documents in English or French by 23:59 your local time on June 9, 2026.

All Dorothy Killam Fellowship, Killam Prize, and Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship recipients will receive notification of their results by telephone and email by March 2026.

In the event that a candidate is unsuccessful, the National Killam Program will contact the candidate directly via email and will not notify the candidate’s institution. For successful candidates, both the applicant and institutional contact associated with their submission will be contacted. In the case of the Killam Prize, successful nominees are contacted by telephone and in writing before the end of February. The program office will also notify the nominator and the president of the nominee’s organization by email. For all successful candidates, the good news remains under embargo until the official winner announcement is made.