CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE in RESEARCH

Research Awards

Research at MacEwan spans many topics—from local community issues to pressing global questions. Through research awards, we recognize faculty whose scholarship, creativity and leadership contribute new knowledge and meaningful change in their fields.

Distinguished Researcher Award

Excellence in scholarship is its own reward, but the MacEwan community takes great pride in acknowledging our scholars with the annual Distinguished Researcher Award. MacEwan’s tenured or tenure-track faculty members are invited to apply for the award.

Application dates and details

Past recipients

  • Dr. Aidan Forth (Humanities), 2025
  • Dr. Trevor Hamilton (Psychology), 2024
  • Dr. Kevin Judge (Biological Sciences), 2023
  • Dr. Nicolae Strungaru (Mathematics and Statistics), 2022
  • Dr. Samuel Mugo (Physical Sciences), 2021
  • Dr. Christopher Striemer (Psychology), 2020
  • Dr. Tricia Lirette (Human Services and Early Learning), 2019
  • Dr. Sandy Jung (Psychology), 2018
  • Dr. Shelley Boulianne (Sociology), 2017
  • Dr. Robert Hilts (Physical Sciences), 2016
  • Dr. Allan Gilliland (Music), 2015

Emerging Scholar Award

The Emerging Scholar Award recognizes early-career researchers for their contributions and potential future impact on academia and the community. Recipients must use the funding to engage MacEwan students by providing research assistantships and developing external funding proposals to further strengthen their research programs.

Application dates and details

Chancellor’s Research Chairs

The Chancellor’s Research Chair program supports MacEwan’s Tactical Plan for Scholarship by recognizing and supporting faculty members who demonstrate exceptional achievement and leadership in research and creative scholarship. Each year, select faculty members are appointed to a two-year term as Chancellor’s Research Chairs in recognition of their outstanding contributions to scholarship and their role in strengthening MacEwan’s culture of scholarship. Research Chairs are leaders in their fields of expertise and are granted a reduced teaching load to allow them to dedicate more time to their scholarly work.

Tenured MacEwan faculty members (at the time of application) are invited to apply for a Chancellor’s Research Chair position.

Application dates and details

Current research chairs

  • Dr. Sandy Jung (Psychology) - Tier 1 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Fernando Ruiz-Angulo (International Business, Marketing, Strategy and Law) - Tier 1 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Katie Biittner (Anthropology) - Tier 2 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Mohammed Elmorsy (Computer Science) - Tier 2 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Emilie LeBel (Music) - Tier 2 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Murli Muralidharan (International Business, Marketing, Strategy and Law) - Tier 2 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Ross Shaw (Biological Sciences) - Tier 2 Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2026
  • Dr. Sarah Copland (English) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2025
  • Dr. Brian Franczak (Mathematics and Statistics) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2025

Past research chairs


  • Dr. Joshua Toth (English) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2024
  • Dr. Trevor Hamilton (Psychology) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2024
  • Dr. Melissa Hills (Biological Sciences) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2024
  • Dr. Benjamin Garstad (Classics) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2023
  • Dr. Michael MacDonald (Music) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2023
  • Dr. Nicolae Strungaru (Mathematics and Statistics) - Chancellor’s Research Chair, 2023
  • Dr. Emily Milne (Sociology) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2022
  • Dr. Albena Pergelova (International Business, Marketing, Strategy and Law) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2022
  • Dr. Christopher Striemer (Psychology) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2021
  • Jacqueline Baker (English) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2021
  • Dr. Cristina Anton (Mathematics and Statistics) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2020
  • Dr. Fernando Angulo-Ruiz (International Business, Marketing, Strategy and Law) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2020
  • Dr. Erin Walton (Physical Sciences) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2019
  • Dr. Shelley Boulianne (Sociology) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2019
  • Dr. Sandy Jung (Psychology) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2018
  • Dr. Samuel Mugo (Physical Sciences) - Board of Governors Research Chair, 2018

Past grant awards recipients