This year, we have the privilege of celebrating the University of Alberta 2026 Killam Laureates, a remarkable cohort of 28 doctoral students, postdoctoral scholars and academics who have made outstanding contributions to the university through their teaching, research and creative endeavours.
Since 1967, the Killam awards have recognized outstanding academic achievement, leadership and extraordinary success in teaching and research at the U of A. The support of the Killam Trusts plays a vital role in advancing research and excellence across the U of A and among its Killam Laureates.
This year, we also celebrate winners of the inaugural Killam Grand Challenges Scholarship for Interdisciplinary Research. This award is given to exceptionally talented doctoral students undertaking research which combines two or more diverse disciplines, to resolve “wicked problems” and contribute to solutions to grand challenges.
Congratulations to the U of A’s 2026 Killam Laureates!
Dorothy J. Killam Memorial Graduate Prize
- Patricia DeKeseredy, Nursing
- Ryaan EL-Andari, Surgery
- Junyi Yang, Mechanical Engineering
Killam Grand Challenges Scholarship for Interdisciplinary Research
- Eleyan Sawafta, Political Science
Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship
- Andrea DeKeseredy, Sociology
- Patricia DeKeseredy, Nursing
- Shanda Duggleby Wenzel, Rehabilitation Medicine
- Ryaan EL-Andari, Surgery
- Maged Kharouba, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Jamie Leckie, Medical Genetics
- Kelsey Lindquist, Native Studies
- Javiera Navarrete, School of Public Health
- Laura C. Petrich, Computing Science
- Amir Rahmati, Dentistry
- Andrew Simon, Biological Sciences
- Junyi Yang, Mechanical Engineering
Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Natasha Klappstein, Biological Sciences
- Dr. Oyeyemi Ifeoluwa Bamidele, Campus Saint-Jean
- Dr. Sebastian De Line, Music
- Dr. William D. O’Connell, Political Science
Killam Award for Excellence in Mentoring
- Dr. Hao Wang, Mathematical & Statistical Sciences
- Dr. Evelyn Steinhauer, Education
Killam Accelerator Research Award
- Dr. Persephone Blue (PB) Berge, Women's and Gender Studies
- Dr. Tamzin Blewett, Biological Sciences
Killam Annual Professors
- Dr. Christopher Lupke, East Asian Studies
- Dr. Sandra T. Davidge, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Dr. David Scott Wishart, Biological Sciences, Computing Science
- Dr. Lisa Y. Stein, Biological Sciences