Research Chairs & Awards
Canada Research Chairs
Canada Research Chairs are prestigious national appointments that recognize scholars whose work is shaping the future of research in Canada and beyond.
These faculty members lead groundbreaking studies in areas such as Indigenous well-being, public banking, mental health, and applied econometrics – advancing knowledge and policy through excellence and innovation.
Irene Botosaru
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Applied Econometrics | Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Chelsea Gabel
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Indigenous Well-Being, Community Engagement, and Innovation | Associate Professor, Departments of Health, Aging & Society and Indigenous Studies
Thomas Marois
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Public Banking | Professor, Political Science | Director Public Banking Project
Vanessa Watts
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Colonial Histories and Indigenous Futures | Associate Professor, Departments of Indigenous Studies and Sociology | Paul R. MacPherson Chair in Indigenous Studies
Marisa Young
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Mental Health and Work-Life Transitions | Associate Professor and Graduate Chair, Department of Sociology
Research Chairs & Professorships
Endowed and named chairs at McMaster’s Faculty of Social Sciences honour scholars whose research has made a lasting impact on society.
These appointments support leadership in fields like urban health equity, aging and mental health, global labour issues, and educational achievement – strengthening McMaster’s reputation as a hub for transformative research.
Michelle L. Dion
Senator William McMaster Chair in Gender & Methodology | Professor, Department of Political Science
Jim Dunn
PhD
Senator William McMaster Chair in Urban Health Equity | Professor, Health, Aging & Society | Associate Dean, Research - Office of the Associate Dean | Director, McMaster Institute for Health Equity | Director, Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative
Anthea Innes
Gilbrea Chair in Aging & Mental Health | Professor, Department of Health, Aging & Society | Director of the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Ameil Joseph
Holder, Faculty of Social Sciences Professorship in Equity, Identity and Transformation | Associate Professor and Graduate Chair School of Social Work | Academic Director, Community Engaged Research and Relationships, Office of Community Engagement
Jeffrey S. Racine
Senator William McMaster Chair in Econometrics | Professor, Department of Economics | Professor, Graduate Program in Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics | Fellow, Journal of Econometrics | Associate Editor, Econometric Reviews
Karen Robson
Ontario Research Chair in Educational Achievement and At-Risk Youth | Professor, Department of Sociology
Stephanie Ross
LIUNA Enrico Henry Mancinelli Chair in Global Labour Issues | Associate Professor, School of Labour Studies | Associate Professor, Social Science, York University
Arthur Sweetman
Ontario Research Chair in Health Human Resources | Professor, Department of Economics | Co-Editor of Canadian Journal of Economics
Liyakat Takim
Sharjah Chair in Global Islam | Professor, Department of Religious Studies
Vanessa Watts
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Colonial Histories and Indigenous Futures | Associate Professor, Departments of Indigenous Studies and Sociology | Paul R. MacPherson Chair in Indigenous Studies
Faculty Research Awards
Faculty members are recognized for their outstanding contributions to scholarship, community engagement, and knowledge mobilization. These awards celebrate the diverse ways research creates impact – whether through mentorship, public discourse, or policy change.
Early Career Researcher Award Explore
Recognizes exceptional research contributions by early career faculty in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Awardees demonstrate originality, scholarly excellence, and a commitment to mentoring students and engaging with broader audiences. This award celebrates emerging leaders whose work is already shaping their fields and communities.
Impact Award Learn More
Honours faculty whose research has led to significant and lasting change – whether through policy influence, public engagement, or shifts in societal thinking.
The award highlights knowledge mobilization and outreach efforts that extend academic research into real-world impact. It celebrates those who bridge research and practice, showing how scholarship can catalyze transformation across sectors and communities.
Scholar-In-Community Award View More
Supports collaborative research between faculty and community organizations, locally or internationally.
This award celebrates projects that are co-designed and co-governed, emphasizing mutual benefit, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of community-engaged scholarship.
Fulbright Scholars See More
Welcomes distinguished U.S. researchers to McMaster through the Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chairs program.
These scholars contribute to key areas such as democracy, housing policy, and Indigenous scholarship, enriching the university’s research culture through international collaboration and public engagement.