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At a time when universities worldwide are competing for top research talent, Queen’s is reinforcing its role as a destination for leaders whose work drives discovery, innovation, and societal impact. That momentum is reflected in the Queen’s National Scholars Program (QNS), a long-standing institutional initiative that supports the recruitment of scholars in areas of established strength. This year, four QNS positions are open across quantum science, neuroscience, cancer epidemiology, and artificial intelligence, signalling continued investment in people as the foundation of research excellence.

“Building research excellence requires a long-term view,” says Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Dr. Matthew Evans. “The National Scholars Program helps us build on existing strengths while welcoming new leaders who will shape research and training well into the future.”

The roles reflect areas where research questions are both technically complex and nationally relevant, supported by established expertise, facilities, and collaborative networks.

The Queen’s National Scholar in Quantum Optics, Quantum Simulation, and Photonics for Artificial Intelligence, based in the Faculty of Arts and Science, advances light-based technologies that underpin next-generation computing, sensing, and information processing. Research in this area draws on strengths in photonics and quantum science, with work that connects fundamental physics to emerging applications in artificial intelligence. The role builds on existing national and international collaborations and specialized facilities that support nanofabrication, advanced computing, and quantum-enabled discovery.

The Queen’s National Scholar in Social and Affective Neuroscience, also in the Faculty of Arts and Science, focuses on how brain processes shape emotion, social behaviour, and mental health across diverse populations. Research in this area combines advanced neuroscience methods with social and clinical perspectives, contributing to a deeper understanding of wellbeing, social connection, and mental health. Strong ties across psychology, neuroscience, and health research support work that bridges laboratory findings with real-world contexts.

Within the Faculty of Health Sciences, the advances population-level research that informs cancer prevention, early detection, and care. Through the Cara and Murray Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, this work integrates epidemiology, clinical trials, and cancer biology, enabling research that contributes to standards of care, health policy, and cancer control efforts in Canada and internationally. The role reflects a focus on translating large-scale data into meaningful improvements for patients and health systems.

The , based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, works at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, with a focus on understanding complex brain function and informing the development of responsible AI. This research brings together experimental and computational approaches, including expertise working with non-human primate models, to study learning, decision-making, and brain dynamics. The research is supported by specialized facilities and interdisciplinary initiatives that connect neuroscience, engineering, and translational health research.

Applications for these roles are currently open, with deadlines in January 2026. Appointments are expected to begin July 1, 2026. 

Established in 1985, the Queen’s National Scholars Program was created to strengthen teaching and research in both emerging areas of inquiry and long-standing disciplines. Over the past four decades, the program has supported more than 100 appointments across a wide range of fields, reflecting evolving research priorities and the university’s commitment to academic leadership.

“The global competition for research talent is intensifying, and Canada is very much part of that landscape,” says Vice-Principal (Research) Dr. Nancy Ross. “Through the National Scholars Program and several other recruitment-targeted initiatives, we are making a clear commitment to investing in people and ideas that foster collaboration, inclusion, and meaningful impact.”

Learn more about the open Queen’s National Scholars positions.