Mathieu Quesnel-Vallières

The Université de Sherbrooke, in collaboration with the new Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards, is offering unique opportunities for international PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to join cutting-edge research in gene regulation, RNA splicing, and cancer immunotherapy. Led by Assistant Professor Mathieu Quesnel-Vallières, the research group focuses on both computational and experimental approaches to understand fundamental biological processes and develop innovative therapies. The Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards, announced in Budget 2025, are designed to attract top international talent to Canadian institutions. With a total investment of $133.6 million over three years, the program will provide 600 doctoral scholarships (valued at $40,000/year for three years) and 400 postdoctoral research awards (valued at $70,000/year for two years). These awards are fully funded and target eight priority research areas, including health, advanced digital technologies, clean technology, environment, food and water security, democratic resilience, manufacturing, and defence technologies. Applicants interested in gene regulation, RNA splicing, or cancer immunotherapy—especially those with experience in computational biology or experimental biology—are encouraged to reach out. Candidates must be international students or researchers and will need to be nominated by a Canadian researcher holding an active grant from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC. The application process involves institutional nomination, followed by eligibility review by the funding agencies. The first phase of nominations will be submitted in early 2026, with results announced by April 1, 2026. A second phase will begin on April 1, 2026, for redistribution of unused nominations. This initiative is part of a broader Canadian effort to strengthen research capacity and innovation by recruiting exceptional international talent. For more information, contact Assistant Professor Mathieu Quesnel-Vallières at Université de Sherbrooke or visit the official program announcement. This is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about biological research and its applications in health and medicine to advance their careers in a supportive and well-funded environment.