News & Events
October 2, 2025
HQP Excellence Awards (HExA)
The McDonald Institute Highly Qualified Personnel Advisory Committee (HQPAC) is launching the HQP Excellence Awards (HExA) program to recognize strong contributions of individual HQP (Highly Qualified Personnel) in three key areas: Research Achievement, Community Building/Leadership, Teaching & Science Communication.
Awards will consist of a $1,000 honorarium.
Each category has multiple awards based on career stage, with applications open to master’s students, PhD students, and Postdoctoral Researchers (e.g. the Research Achievement Award will have one separate award for each of MSc/PhD/Postdoc). A fourth award is exclusively for current undergraduate students for excellence in one or more of the listed categories.
Individuals may apply independently. Nomination applications will also be accepted. Please include a note at the bottom of the submission form if you making a nomination.
The deadline for sumbissions is November 15th.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be considered for an award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Applicant must have been enrolled or otherwise affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution at any point during the 2024/2025 calendar years
The applicant’s contributions must have benefited (or be likely to benefit) a portion of the Canadian Astroparticle Physics community beyond the applicant themselves.
The significant work or achievement must have occurred between September 1st 2024 and November 15th 2025
Individuals will only be permitted to apply for one award category, so please choose accordingly. Details of all award categories can be found HERE
Further details of the award categories are as follows:
Award Categories
Research Achievement Award
For outstanding progress in thesis work, publications, or contributions to collaborative research. Eligibility: MSc, PhD, Postdoc
Submission form
Community Building/Leadership Award
For fostering an inclusive, supportive, and engaged community (e.g., organizing events, mentoring, peer support).
Eligibility: MSc, PhD, Postdoc
Submission form
Teaching & Science Communication Award
For excellence in TA work, science outreach, workshops, and/or educational video/podcast creation. Eligibility: MSc, PhD, Postdoc
Submission form
Undergraduate Excellence Award
For contributions in one or multiple categories listed above
Submission form