Faculty Funding and Research Opportunities

Join the UDesign Justice Initiative for Housing Day 2025 - a convening to address housing inequities and co-design practical, community-led solutions for a more equitable and inclusive city. ​This event is hosted by the UDesign Justice Initiative (UDJI) in partnership with the City of Calgary, Calgary Quality in the Built Environment, Calgary Public Library, and Bridge to Oasis Foundation.

​Event Highlights:

• ​Panel Discussion: Hear from leaders advancing justice, equity, and housing for marginalized communities
• ​School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
• Architecture Student Exhibition: View design justice-driven research and creative works on housing and homelessness
• ​Action Dialogue and Workshop: Participate in co-creating next steps and identifying shared commitments for systemic change
• Be part of shaping Calgary’s equitable housing future.

Register now to attend and contribute your voice.

CIHR has launched the 2025 REDI Award to support postdocs, clinicians, and research associates from underrepresented groups as they move toward independent research careers. The 2025 program expands eligibility to include racialized gender-diverse people and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis scholars.

Info Sessions
• December 15 at 11:30 a.m. (MT), French

The award provides up to 6 years of mentored and independent funding, including research allowances, salary support, and faculty mentorship. Two streams are available based on applicant self-identification.

For full details, deadlines, and UCalgary support, visit ResearchNet and the CIHR REDI program page.

Map the System is now accepting applications at UCalgary. This global program, delivered with the University of Oxford, invites students to investigate social and environmental challenges using systems thinking. Participants map root causes, explore complexity and highlight existing efforts rather than pitching quick fixes.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, plus alumni within one year. Teams of one to five are welcome.

Students gain research, systems mapping and communication skills through workshops, coaching and peer learning. Compete for $5,000 at the UCalgary campus finals, with the top team advancing to the Global Finals at Oxford.

Key Dates
• Virtual Info Session: January 20, 2026
• In-person Info Session: January 27, 2026
• Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Program Starts: February 3, 2026
• UCalgary Campus Finals: April 7, 2026

Learn more and apply: Program Link
Register: Virtual Info Session | In-person Info Session

This CIHR opportunity supports youth-engaged research teams generating evidence in at least two of Canada’s Youth Policy priority areas: leadership and impact, health and wellness, innovation and skills, employment, truth and reconciliation, and environment and climate action.

Key Dates
• Webinar: January 29, 2026, 10–11:30 a.m.
• Registration (ResearchNet): April 28, 2026, 6 p.m.
• RSO Internal Deadline: June 11, 2026

Learn more 

The call for abstracts is now open for the 2026 Joint World Congress of IASSW/IFSW/ICSW, happening in Nairobi, Kenya from July 26–29, 2026. Hosted by the Kenya National Association of Social Workers, this global gathering will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre under the theme “Harambee for Sustainable Shared Futures.”

Rooted in East African values of unity and collective action, this congress invites educators, practitioners, and researchers to contribute to advancing global social work.

Learn more and submit your abstract: Call for Abstracts – SWSD 2026

Save on Registration: Faculty from IASSW member institutions benefit from discounted rates. Questions about membership? Contact Dr. Janestic Twikirize at janestic@iassw-aiets.org.

Please share with colleagues and encourage submissions!

Graduate students are invited to submit proposals for the 2026 Peer Beyond Graduate Research Conference, held February 18–19 at the University of Calgary. This interdisciplinary event offers a space to share your work, connect with peers and build presentation experience. Participants receive meals, snacks, swag and an opportunity to publish in the conference proceedings and attend a career fair.

Deadline: January 16, 2026

Presentation Formats
• Classic research talk (10 minutes + Q&A)
• Poster session (5-minute talk + Q&A)
• Workshop (90 minutes)

Learn more and apply

Destination Horizon Grants support researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other “associated countries” researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to Horizon Europe—Pillar II calls for proposals.

Amount: up to $15,000 CAD for one year (matching funds of $15,000 cash required)

RSO Internal Deadline for iNOI Submission: December 10, 2025 at noon

RSO Internal Deadline for Full Application: January 19, 2026 at noon

Contact: Marissa Montgomery-James

Horizon Europe: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/horizon-europe

Learn more

This funding opportunity will catalyze discovery in digital health, advance pivotal research, and inform applications or interventions relevant to CIHR-IMHA's broad mandate areas. This funding opportunity also seeks to benefit the continued integration of technology into healthcare in Canada. These grants are reserved for early and mid-career researchers, and Indigenous Health researchers at any career stage.
Registration: due directly to CIHR by December 16, 2025

Full application: RSO Internal Deadline is noon on March 11, 2026
Contact: Lindsey Hritzuk        

Learn more

Accelerate your collaborative research with enhanced funding — for a limited time

Amount: Up to $75,000 CAD for three years

Internal Deadline: December 19, 2025

Eligibility: Available to postdoctoral fellows at Canadian academic institutions conducting applied research with a Canadian company, not-for-profit, municipality, or hospital      

Learn more

Amount: $60,000 CAD for 1 or 2 years 

Internal Deadline: December 31, 2025

Eligibility: Postdocs are eligible to apply no more than 5 years post PhD (some exceptions applicable).          

Learn more

The World Wide FINGERS (WW-FINGERS) Network, launched in 2017, is the first global network of multidomain lifestyle intervention trials aimed at reducing dementia risk and ultimately preventing cognitive decline.

This initiative applies and optimizes the FINGER model across diverse cultural, geographic, and economic settings for individuals at higher risk as they age.

The Alzheimer’s Association is offering pilot funding to support studies that expand multimodal behavioral interventions incorporating at least three domains (e.g., diet, exercise, cognitive training).

Funding may cover start-up costs, infrastructure development, pilot studies, supplemental support for ongoing trials, or the addition of new measures such as biomarkers.

The program prioritizes accessibility and global representation, fostering collaboration among over 40 countries currently involved in WW-FINGERS. Proposals should demonstrate innovation and potential to advance dementia prevention strategies worldwide. 

RSO Application Deadline: December 31, 2025 - Noon

Pre-submission Inquiries will be welcome at any time; following pre-submission inquiries, applications will be invited for those that meet the program objectives.

Proposed deadlines will be discussed with teams invited to submit full applications.

Learn more

The Canada Foundation for Innovation is expected to launch the next Innovation Fund competition in spring 2026, with funding decisions anticipated in late 2027. In preparation, the University of Calgary is beginning its internal project development and selection process for researchers planning to apply.

The 2027 competition is expected to follow a similar structure to previous rounds, with three streams focused on leading-edge research and the creation or renewal of core facilities. UCalgary will run an internal selection process, beginning with an internal Notice of Intent.

Information Session:
Jan. 7, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 p.m. (online)
Email ipd@ucalgary.ca by 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 7 to register.

Test Your Concept Sessions:
• Jan. 20, 2026 | 2:00–4:30 p.m.
• Jan. 21, 2026 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
RSVP by Jan. 2, 2026. Space is limited.

Full details and internal process information are available through the link.                

Test Your Concept | Support | Innovation Fund (IF)

The SMART Healthy Cities Training Platform supports trainees building skills in implementation science and healthy cities research, from community engagement to computational methods. Thirteen one-year awards are available for 2026–2027. Students with financial need or from equity-deserving groups will be prioritized, though holders of major awards may still apply.

Key Dates
• Applications open: January 2, 2026
• Deadline: February 5, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST)
• Decisions: April 1, 2026

Learn more

The Program will support world-class research projects co-led by three principal investigators: one from Canada, one from Israel, and one from an eligible LMIC (list of eligible countries). The teams will integrate researchers from all three geographies with the intention of strengthening scientific capacity, promoting collaboration, equitable partnerships, and scientific excellence in all its diversity. It is expected that the three principal investigators will work together on an integrated, and cohesive research project equitably contributing to and benefiting from their involvement in the project and the Program.

Amount: up to $500,000 CAD for the principal investigator from Canada for four (4) years
Registration deadline: January 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
RSO Final Review Deadline: February 20, 2026 at noon
Contact: Marissa Montgomery-James

List of eligible countries

Learn more

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award program supports talented early career scientists by facilitating their transition into tenure-track faculty positions.

Amount: $600,000 USD over 3 years (faculty research grant with optional postdoctoral support)
Internal Deadline: January 8, 2026
Eligibility: Postdoc are eligible to apply. Must be in a mentored postdoctoral position while seeking tenure-track faculty positions. The program is intended for scientists whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science, with research advancing SFARI or SCPAB missions.

Learn more and apply

Research Opportunity: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Research Network of Excellence (RNoE) in Women's Heart and/or Brain Health 

Important: You must consult the funding opportunity entry in the Research Opportunities Database for information concerning the submission process: https://research.ucalgary.ca/opportunity/2026-research-network-excellence-rnoe-womens-heart-andor-brain-health

1 grant available at $5M over 5 years

RSO deadline for registration: January 12, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.; RMS record is required

RSO contact: Katie Cupello

Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada are collectively launching a funding opportunity to enable cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that addresses urgent research questions and significant gaps in rehabilitation and recovery for women with heart-brain health conditions The network is expected to bring together interdisciplinary, multi-institutional and multi-provincial health research teams and collaborators to create and mobilize knowledge that improves the health and wellness of women living with heart-brain health conditions, as well as their families and caregivers. The network is expected to build on pre-existing areas of research where there is a proven track record among the network members of demonstrated leadership and research excellence in rehabilitation and recovery as it relates to women’s heart-brain health. The priority research area is rehabilitation and recovery for women following acute heart-brain health events. This funding opportunity aims to support research that expands upon, utilizes, or explores new directions related to women's heart-brain health, rather than duplicating the two existing Research Networks of Excellence (RNoE) in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health grants funded in 2024 in which activities focus on Risk Factors and Diagnosis & Treatment, respectively.

Webinar: Heart & Stroke will hold an information webinar on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (MT) for interested applicants to learn more about the grant and application process. 

Register here | Learn more

This CIHR grant supports interdisciplinary teams studying late and long-term toxicities linked to cancer treatments and improving survivorship care. Projects may explore host, lifestyle, environmental, social and other intersecting factors that influence outcomes.

Key Deadlines
• Registration (ResearchNet): February 24, 2026, 6 p.m.
• Full Application (RSO): May 14, 2026, noon

Webinar
• January 13, 2026, 9 a.m. MT (90 minutes)

Questions: Lindsey Hritzuk (lindsey.hritzuk@ucalgary.ca)

Learn more: Program Link

The Postdoctoral Enrichment Program (PDEP) provides $60,000 over three years to support the career development activities and success of underrepresented postdoctoral fellows in a degree-granting institution or affiliate in the United States or Canada whose training and professional development are guided by mentors committed to helping them advance to stellar careers in biomedical or medical research.

Amount: $60,000 USD over 3 years
Internal Deadline: January 14, 2026
Eligibility: Applicants must be underrepresented minorities (American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander) who are U.S. or Canadian citizens conducting biomedical or medical research. 

Learn more

Amount: Up to $25,000 CAD for events; up to $50,000 CAD for outreach activities for one year 

Internal Deadline: January 28, 2026

Eligibility: Postdocs are eligible to apply

Learn more

Amount: $10,000 to $100,000 CAD for 1-2 years

Internal Deadline: January 28, 2026

Eligibility: Postdocs are eligible to apply

Learn more

This CIHR grant supports interdisciplinary teams studying late and long-term toxicities linked to cancer treatments and improving survivorship care. Projects may explore host, lifestyle, environmental, social and other intersecting factors that influence outcomes.

Key Deadlines
• Registration (ResearchNet): February 24, 2026, 6 p.m.
• Full Application (RSO): May 14, 2026, noon

Webinar
• January 13, 2026, 9 a.m. MT (90 minutes)

Questions: Lindsey Hritzuk lindsey.hritzuk@ucalgary.ca

Learn more: Program Link

This CIHR grant supports interdisciplinary, high-impact and community-engaged research focused on the health priorities of 2S/LGBTQI+ individuals and communities in Canada. A broad range of research approaches are eligible, including community-based work, Indigenous methodologies, clinical and epidemiological studies, health systems research, policy analysis and more.

Key Deadlines
• Registration (ResearchNet): February 11, 2026, 6 p.m.
• Full Application (RSO): March 16, 2026, noon

Questions: Lindsey Hritzuk (lindsey.hritzuk@ucalgary.ca)

Learn more: Program Link

Draft calls for the 2026–2027 Horizon Europe Work Programme are now available, including:

• Cluster 1: Health — Calls due April 2026
• Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society — Calls due September 2026
• EU Cancer Mission — Calls due September 2026

Eligibility
Projects require at least three independent partners from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Canadian researchers are fully eligible to participate or lead consortia.

Support Available
Given the 4–5-month preparation timeline for Horizon Europe applications, early planning is strongly encouraged. Our office can help identify opportunities, support application development and budgeting, interpret EU funding requirements and manage administrative processes.

Questions or meeting requests: Mohit Jain

Learn more

Three deadlines per year: Feb 1, June 1, Oct 1.

These grants, offered 3 times per year, intend to support well-defined, early-stage research activities and initiatives that will lead to substantial external funding. Valued between $1,000 - $15,000, these grants last for 6 months.

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Three deadlines per year: June 1, October 1, February 1.

These Grants promote initiatives that enable UCalgary teams to explore societal questions, challenges and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach.

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Get clear guidance on eligible costs, budget categories, and valuing in-kind contributions for your next SSHRC application.

Budget Resources for SSHRC Grants

When preparing your SSHRC budget, it is important to follow the Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration, which outlines what constitutes eligible expenses. SSHRC’s eligibility rules apply to all project costs, whether covered by SSHRC funds or by cash and in-kind contributions. While ineligible contributions may still be highlighted in your application as valuable support, they cannot be included in the formal budget.

To assist you, we have compiled guidance on the main SSHRC budget categories:

1. Personnel costs
2. Travel and subsistence costs
3. Other expenses

Additional information is also available on how to appropriately value in-kind contributions.

UCalgary is now accepting nominations for the Visiting Scholars Program. The program facilitates short-term, medium-term, and longer-term visits by distinguished scholars who will make a significant contribution to the academic life of the university, enriching our research community, raising our institutional profile, and promoting knowledge exchange across countries and continents.

Key program details

• Open to Canadian and international distinguished scholars
• Visit durations range from one week to several months
• Scholars are expected to contribute to the research and teaching activities of the host faculty
• Scholars staying at least one week will receive the honorary title of UCalgary Fellow
• Nominations must be submitted prior to the scholar’s arrival

Funds available

• $5,000 - $20,000 VPRO contribution
• Host must provide matching funding

Learn more about UCalgary Visiting Scholars Program

Submit a nomination