CSMB New Investigator Award

Eligibility

Nominees must have at least 4 but not greater than 7 years of independent research experience at the time of application. Time taken for leaves (parental, family, relocation, etc.) will not count towards the 7-year total and should be noted accordingly. The nominee must have lived in Canada and worked at a Canadian research institute for the last 4 to 7 years in an independent investigator position. CSMB acknowledges that the best research comes from a richly diverse community and, therefore, encourages applications from women and members of under-represented groups. The nominee and nominator do not need to be members of CSMB.

Summary

The Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) New Investigator Award was established by the Society to recognize and support the next generation of scientists in Canada. The award is given on the basis of (i) excellence in research and (ii) demonstration of leadership.

Evaluation criteria for CSMB are informed and updated according to best practices and in alignment with Canadian tri-council (NSERC, SSHRC & CIHR) standards.  CSMB also supports the following statement (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/51732.html) and the DORA principles.

Evaluation criteria

1. Excellence in research – 5 points

Nominees will have evidence of significant contributions in the areas of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and/or Genetics and a strong record of research (as defined by – but not limited to – the typical tri-council metrics) in a field of molecular biosciences which demonstrates clearly independent thought and originality.

Significant contributions can include (but are not limited to) peer-reviewed publications, presentations, intellectual property, other knowledge translation activities, etc., Awards, degrees, credentials, etc., clinical practice, policy development, specialized training, strategic employment positions, etc.

2. Demonstration of leadership – 5 points

Nominees must demonstrate their commitment to science leadership within the broader community, such as, but not limited to, mentorship, advocacy work, science communication and outreach.

Evidence for excellence in science leadership can include (but is not limited to) academic leadership in science concomitant with their career stage.  Examples of leadership activities include (but not be limited) to engagements as a trainee or early career researcher in communities of practice (e.g. science societies at the institutional, regional, national or international level), sustained engagement with policymakers (local, provincial, federal) and decision making bodies (e.g. serving and contributing to boards and councils in a capacity as a scientific leader, serving on advisory committees to government, industry, education, policy-makers in a capacity as an expert scientist, etc.)

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

It is preferred that the nominator is at a higher professional rank than the nominee. Self-nominations will also be considered.

Nominations shall consist of

• a letter from a nominator familiar with the nominee’s work, which summarizes the originality and significance of the nominee’s research and leadership contributions, as well as pertinent biographic data, plus a copy of
• the nominee’s curriculum vitae.

The awardee will deliver a lecture at the CSMB Annual Conference and submit a manuscript or review of their related work/career path for publication in the journals Biochemistry and Cell Biology or Genome and in the CSMB Bulletin. Awardees are encouraged to become CSMB members.

Please send nominations with documentation by email to:

Dr. Tarik Möröy
General Secretary of the CSMB

Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal IRCM
Laboratory on Hematopoiesis and Cancer
110 Avenue des Pins Ouest
Montréal, QC
H2W 1R7
Tel: (514) 987-5501
Email: Tarik.Moroy@ircm.qc.ca

Please cc. Secretary@csmb-scbm.ca