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 Undergraduate Students, 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).

Individuals should apply for awards on their own. If you know of someone deserving of one of these awards, please encourage them to apply. Your encouragement can give someone the confidence they need to apply!

The deadline for submissions is November 16th at 11:59 PM.  has been extended to: November 23rd at 11:59 PM. 

 

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 16th, 2025
  • Individuals will only be permitted to apply for one award category, so please choose accordingly.

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