Dear ADRs/RLOs,

I am writing to inform you of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation – 2027 Fellowships competition. The Fellowship recognizes senior scholars who demonstrate exceptional creativity, leadership, and commitment in the humanities and social sciences. Fellows are selected for their contributions to addressing pressing social issues, advancing innovative ideas, mentoring graduate students, and engaging meaningfully beyond the academy. Additional details are available in the attached guidelines.

Program Overview

• Up to four (4) Fellows are elected annually for a three-year mandate.
• Candidates must be nominated by their home university (direct applications are not accepted).
• Canadian universities with one or more doctoral programs in the humanities and social sciences may submit up to three (3) nominations per year.
• The Fellowship is valued at $300,000 per Fellow, including:
• $70,000 as a prize;
• $50,000 as a research grant;
• Up to $100,000 as an additional research grant;
• Up to one (1) year of teaching buy-out ($80,000 paid to the university).

The Fellow’s home institution may retain up to 10% of research grant funds for administrative costs, and annual financial reporting is required. Beyond the active three-year term, the Fellowship remains an honorary lifetime appointment within the Foundation’s community.

Fellowship Expectations and Candidate Profile

Fellows are:

• Senior academics in Canada holding a full-time tenured appointment at or near the rank of Full Professor, with a national or international reputation;
• Scholars in the middle phase of their academic career (recognizing that career trajectories and interruptions vary);
• Leaders addressing socially significant issues aligned with one or more of the Foundation’s four themes:
• Human Rights and Dignity
• Responsible Citizenship
• Canada and the World
• People and Their Natural Environment
• Researchers proposing innovative, socially significant projects that push intellectual boundaries and demonstrate potential for transformative impact;
• Demonstrably committed mentors of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars;
• Scholars with a strong record of academic excellence, including success in research funding;
• Effective communicators prepared to engage diverse audiences and contribute actively to the Foundation’s intellectual community.

The Fellowship is not a lifetime achievement award; in addition to past accomplishments, the Foundation places significant emphasis on the candidate’s future trajectory and the transformative potential of the proposed project.

Fellows are required to participate in the Foundation’s annual summer school and one additional Foundation event per year. Participation in conferences is encouraged but not mandatory. Before the end of their term, all Fellows deliver a P.E. Trudeau Talk on their research.

Deadlines and Nomination Process

• External deadline: May 15, 2026
• Institutional limit (University of Manitoba): Up to three (3) nominations per year

To coordinate nominations, please submit the following preliminary materials to Brent Deere, Associate Director, Research Awards (brent.deere@umanitoba.ca) by March 20, 2026:

• A letter from the candidate (maximum 500 words), outlining their interest in the Fellowship program;
• An outline of the proposed research project (maximum 500 words), including links to prior or ongoing research and the anticipated impact. The research must align with one or more of the Foundation’s four themes and fall within the humanities and social sciences;
• The candidate’s CV.

Following internal review, our office will select up to three (3) nominees to be formally endorsed by the University of Manitoba. Selected nominees will then be asked to provide the full nomination package materials for submission to the Foundation. Selection will ensure alignment with the Foundation’s eligibility criteria and the University’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Please circulate this call within your Faculty and share with appropriate colleagues.

Sincerely,

Brent

The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.