Student Excellence
Recognizing the research leaders of tomorrow
July 15, 2025
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Queen's Vanier Scholars and Banting Fellowship recipients: [clockwise from left] Anne-Marie Veillette, Peter Norris, Myanca Rodrigues (photo credit: Paulina Rzeczkowska), Edem (Roberta) Abbeyquaye (photo credit: King-David Olajuwon), Trinity Tooley-Macarandang, Tristan Austin, Marco Buttigieg, Haley Smith (photo credit: Andy Vathis).
Canada is making a significant investment in the next generation of research leaders as part of a announced last week. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, made the announcement of $1.3 billion in research support across the federal government’s funding agencies. This included crucial funding and prestigious recognitions for Canada’s graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. More than 100 members of the Queen’s community are among this distinguished group recognized not only for their academic excellence but also their exceptional leadership potential. This includes the announcement that five Vanier Scholars and three Banting Fellows, considered among Canada’s most prestigious awards for emerging scholars, have chosen Queen’s to pursue their research. ֱ $6.6 million has been awarded to incoming and current Queen’s students and postdocs to support their studies and research projects.
“Good research supports good health. And today we are investing in the education and training of Canada’s brightest doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers whose great research will lead to the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow in health and many other fields. Together, their exceptional work will help build a stronger, more innovative Canada and a healthier future for us all."
– The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
The Canada Graduate Scholarships are designed to provide crucial financial support for students as emerging scholars contributing to Canada’s research landscape. The helps develop research skills and assists in the training of highly qualified students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. It provides $27,000 in support for one year. The allows scholars to fully concentrate on their doctoral studies, to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields, and to contribute to the Canadian research ecosystem. It provides $120,000 in support over three years. A total of 100 Queen’s students have been awarded this competitive national funding for the upcoming academic year.
“We are delighted to welcome this year’s Banting Fellows and Vanier Scholars to Queen’s. These outstanding emerging scholars will further enrich our vibrant research community, and we are deeply committed to supporting their growth through a culture of inquiry, excellence, and impact. I look forward to witnessing the ways in which their work will explore critical questions, advance new knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to our local, national, and global communities- thus helping to shape a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.”
– Dr. Fahim Quadir, Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs
Learn more about Queen’s latest Vanier Scholars and Banting Fellows below. To read more about the Queen’s research funded as part of this announcement, read “More than $20 million awarded to advance Queen’s research” in the Gazette.
Vanier
The program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. Recipients are awarded $150,000 over three years in recognition of their academic excellence, research potential, and leadership potential across the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health. Among the 2025 cohort, five students will hold their scholarships at Queen’s.
CIHR
Marco Buttigieg (Pathology and Molecular Medicine): Characterizing Clonal Hematopoiesis-Induced Changes in the Tumour Microenvironment to Improve Immunotherapy Efficacy
NSERC
Trinity Tooley-Macarandang (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences): Modulation of Cellular Endoplasmic Stress Responses by Hepatitis C Virus and Dengue Virus: A Comparative Study
Tristan Austin (Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy): Real-time Neuromorphic Control of Quantum Dot Spectral Diffusion
SSHRC
Edem (Roberta) Abbeyquaye (Film and Media): #WeAreAllGhanaians: Using Alternative Media to Facilitate Counter Publics in Ghana
Haley Smith (School of Kinesiology and Health Studies): The State of Youth Sport: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Investigation of (Mis)alignments Between Research-based Guidelines, Participation Demands, and Parent and Youth Perspectives
Banting
The program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to Canada’s economic, social, and research-based growth. Fellows receive $140,000 over two years to support their development as research leaders of tomorrow. Three Fellows will be joining Queen’s to pursue their research as part of this year’s cohort.
CIHR
Peter Norris (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences): How Neutrophil Clearance in the Bone Marrow Shapes Tissue Injury Repair with Paul Kubes (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences)
Myanca Rodrigues (Psychiatry): Beyond Overdose: Exploring the Predictors and Long-term Health Impacts of Fentanyl Use in People with Opioid Use Disorder with Zainab Samaan (Psychiatry)
SSHRC
Anne-Marie Veillette (Geography and Planning): From Fear to Terror and Back Again: Women Transforming the City from Marginalized and Peripheral Neighborhoods in Latin America with Carolyn Prouse and Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin (Geography and Planning)
