NSERC CHAIRS PROGRAM
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Chairs for Women in Science & Engineering (CWSE)
Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE)
The Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) Program was launched in 1996 with a goal to increase the participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and to provide role models for women active in, and considering, careers in these fields. The CWSE Program is regional—with one Chair for each of the Ontario, Prairies, and British Columbia/Yukon regions.
The Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) Program was launched in 2024 with the Atlantic Region forming a team of three individual Chairs to represent their region. Quebec joined the CISE program in 2025, moving from a CWSE program. Together, the CWSE and CISE Chairs form the NSERC CWSE-CISE Chairs Network.
In September 2006, the five regional Chairs were formally linked through the creation of a National Network Grant, funded by NSERC. The CWSE network provides mechanisms to facilitate interactions among the five Chairs in order to:
Objective 1
Increase the effectiveness of the five Regional programs across Canada
- Sharing information and resources
- Enhancing communication among Regional Chairs
- Convening face-to-face annual meetings
- Acive participation in virtual monthly meetings
Objective 2
Increase “The Network” visibility through joint projects
Objective 3
Lead research and activities to identify and remove barriers, elevate, and advance, inclusion in STEM
Objective 4
Provide support for, and commitment to, the Network to elevate National goals
BC/Yukon CWSE Chair
Dr. Jennifer Jakobi (2021 – )
School of Health and Exercise Science,
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Prairies CWSE Chair
Dr. Laleh Bejhat (2020 – )
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
University of Calgary
Ontario CWSE Chair
Dr. Shohini Ghose (2020 – )
Department of Physics & Computer Science
Wilfrid Laurier University
Quebec CISE Chairs
Dr. Kulbir Kaur Ghuman – Institut national de la reserche scientifique (2025 – )
Dr. Claire M. Brown – McGill University (2025 – )
Dr. Marie-Eve Paquet – Université Laval (2025 – )
Atlantic CISE Chairs
Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie – Cape Breton University (2023 – )
Dr. Kevin Hewitt – Dalhousie University (2023 -)
Dr. Svetlana Barkanova – Memorial University of Newfoundland (2023 – )
Funding Opportunities
The Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour National Conference Grant Award
The Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour National Conference Grant is administered by the NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE) and Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) National Network. The Dr. Margaret Ann Armour National Conference Grant has been established to provide funding for non-profit national conferences and events (both virtual and in-person) that contribute to the advancement and retention of people identifying as women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) in Canada.
CWSE-CISE Network Inclusion in STEM Award
The CWSE-CISE Network Inclusion in STEM Award has been established to provide funding for individuals to attend non-profit conferences and events (both virtual and in-person) that contribute to the advancement and retention of people from equity seeking groups (women, gender-diverse, Indigenous, BIPOC, immigrant, 2SLGBTQAII+, and other underrepresented persons) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) in Canada.
Intake periods
January 1 to January 31
May 1 to May 31
September 1 to September 30
For details and how to apply: