2026 Competition
The program aims to continue growth at the leading edge of breakthroughs in science, technology and innovation priority areas that are expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians and others around the world. CERCs are among the most prestigious research positions globally, and the program’s future is as much about recruiting the best global talent to Canada as it is about supporting the next generation of leaders, making them integral parts of ambitious core research teams, so they can chart their own paths forward. The social and economic benefits of this chairholder program will, in addition, have global impact through the commercialization, knowledge translation and mobilization generated by the research.
Â鶹´«Ã½ is currently welcoming applications from world-leading researchers to the 2026 CERC competion, offering chairholders the opportunity to launch ambitious and impactful research programs at Canadian universities, building a critical mass of expertise to further Canada’s growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. As part of a national initiative to attract the world’s top scholars, each CERC position awards $8 million or $4 million over eight years, empowering researchers and their teams to launch bold, high-impact programs that align with
Queen’s will nominate up to two candidates from the following three research areas to become designated nominees for the 2026 Canada Excellence Research Chair competition. Successful nominees will build upon over 180-years of research excellence at Queen’s, with the opportunity to expand their own research program to advance the frontiers of research on a global scale.
The University invites nominee applications from all qualified individuals. Selected nominees will work in partnership with Queen’s to submit an application package for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs competition. Interested applicants are invited to .
Research alignment
We welcome applications from outstanding and established scholars in the following three areas of strategic focus:
Advancing next-generation computing and analytics
CERC in Artificial Intelligence and Exascale Computing
Queen's is strategically positioning itself to lead the next computing revolution in Canada, helping the country achieve secure and sovereign supercomputing power to support bold innovation and research goals across disciplines.
Our strong team consists of experts in generative artificial intelligence (AI), supercomputing infrastructure and capacity, natural language processing, human-machine interactions, robotics, wearable computing devices, intelligent communication systems, and software engineering. Many of them are hosted at the , created in 2018 as a hub for cross-disciplinary collaboration. This team will shape Canada's competitiveness on the global scene and create the infrastructure to allow Canadian researchers to ask bigger and more complex questions.
To complement this team, we welcome applications from world-class researchers focused on one or more of the following areas related to AI: Agentic AI, Reinforcement Learning, AI Reasoning, Multimodal AI, Generative AI, Biologically Inspired Models, or AI in Robotics.
View opportunity detailsDelivering materials for the future
CERC in Precision Materials Chemistry
Queen's researchers are at the forefront of developing innovative materials for several applications. A key part of this effort is carried out at the , where chemistry, physics, engineering and medical researchers explore the use of thin carbon layers to protect and extend the lifespan of critical metals. This interdisciplinary research has potential applications across industries, including cancer care, electrochemical energy conversion and storage, and corrosion protection of renewable energy infrastructure in extreme environments.
C2MCI was founded in 2022, bolstered by a $24 million New Frontiers in Research Fund grant. In the upcoming years, we expect to see the impact of this fundamental research unfold, saving billions across infrastructure and manufacturing costs, and improving medical imaging and healthcare worldwide.
We welcome applications from researchers with internationally recognized, world-leading programs focused on Precision Nanomedicine and Nanomaterials, Micro Materials and Innovations, and Innovative Advanced Materials for Macro Applications.
Unravelling the mysteries of the universe
CERC in Astroparticle Physics
Through research elucidating the fundamental building blocks of the universe to the nature of dark matter, Queen’s researchers in astroparticle physics are world leaders in the field. Building on Arthur B. McDonald’s Nobel-Prize winning discovery on the properties of neutrinos, the team pursues questions that lie at the intersection of astrophysics and particle physics: What is the nature of dark matter and dark energy? How have the properties of particles, like the neutrino, shaped the evolution of the universe? Are there additional space-time dimensions?
Queen’s is uniquely positioned to respond to these questions with its leadership of the and the major national research facility . An underground facility, SNOLAB is the deepest and cleanest laboratory of its kind and is a world leader in neutrino and dark matter research. Hosted at Queen’s, the McDonald Institute is the cross-Canada network for astroparticle physics researchers, uniting experimental, theoretical, and technical expertise within one organization. Through this leadership Queen’s is positioning Canada at the forefront of breakthrough global-scale experiments in astroparticle physics, cosmology, and astronomy.
Opportunity details will be posted soon.
An inclusive and equitable research community
Queen’s University is committed to excellence in research and research training for the benefit of Canadians and to achieving a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Canadian research enterprise. The research community at Queen's is committed to and recognizes that building a culture of diversity is a socially responsible approach that actively removes discrimination and barriers to inclusion to provide benefits that reach beyond Â鶹´«Ã½. At Queen’s, we recognize that diversity advances research for the greater good by valuing alternate perspectives, thereby unlocking creative potential, and stimulating novel collaborations. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority and Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.
Â鶹´«Ã½ Queen’s University
Research at Queen’s
From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, our university is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.
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