CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program

Eligibility

CIFAR welcomes applicants from all countries and is committed to building a diverse, international community of scholars. To be considered for the CIFAR Global Scholars program, you must:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent).
• Hold a full-time position at an institution of higher education or research. Typically, an eligible applicant is a tenure-track Assistant Professor (in the North American context). This position must:
  • include responsibility for leading independent research as a principal investigator and supervising or teaching trainees toward their attainment of a degree
  • be secure throughout the full term from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028
• Have started your first position, as described above, post-PhD, no earlier than July 1, 2021 and no later than December 31, 2025. Special consideration may be given to applicants who have taken parental leave or faced exceptional circumstances.
• Engage in research that complements the themes and goals of a recruiting CIFAR research program.
  • In 2025/2026, the following CIFAR research programs are accepting applications:
    • Child & Brain Development
    • CIFAR MacMillan Multiscale Human
    • Future Flourishing
    • Humanity’s Urban Future
    • Learning in Machines & Brains
    • Quantum Materials
• Be available for a virtual interview on March 24-26, 2026.
• Hold a valid passport, and if applicable, be able to obtain travel visas to attend CIFAR meetings globally, approximately two to three times per year.
• Be fluent in spoken and written English.

Note: Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply.

See the detailed program overview for full eligibility requirements

Summary

The CIFAR Global Scholars Program offers early-career researchers the opportunity to develop and lead high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research, expand their professional networks and receive focused leadership training in their pivotal first years as independent investigators. These experiences accelerate the rise of research leaders who are positioned to drive new discoveries and open new fields of inquiry.

CIFAR welcomes applications from candidates across the natural, biomedical, and social sciences, as well as the humanities. Successful applicants join one of CIFAR’s interdisciplinary research programs, collaborating with global research leaders to advance transformative knowledge and address some of the most important questions facing science and humanity.

CIFAR Global Scholars hold an active term of two years.  The next cohort’s term begins on April 1, 2026 and concludes on March 31, 2028. At the end of their term, Scholars retain the title ‘CIFAR Global Scholar’ and are encouraged to stay connected through CIFAR’s Next Generation Initiatives and research programs.

What you receive as a CIFAR Global Scholar:

• A two-year opportunity to collaborate and receive mentorship within a close-knit, interdisciplinary network of leading global researchers in a CIFAR research program.
• $100,000 CAD in unrestricted research support. These flexible funds can be used for research expenses, teaching release, student or postdoc support, conference travel, and more. They are not tied to a specific project or proposal.
• Opportunities to apply for CIFAR seed funds. These time-limited funds support high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary collaborations with Fellows, Advisors and other Global Scholars.
• Membership in the extended community of CIFAR Global Scholars. This network of creative and like-minded peers across cohorts and diverse disciplines offers invaluable support and further opportunity for collaboration.
• Targeted training in essential areas of research leadership, including team leadership, trainee mentorship, science communication and science advocacy.

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Applications must be submitted online, using the Apply Now button on the CIFAR Global Scholars Website

Application components:

1. Summary section: A summary of the value you anticipate gaining from the CIFAR Global Scholar experience, A discussion of three areas of leadership and/or communications skills that you would like to strengthen through your participation in the program, A statement on how your skills and knowledge will contribute to advancing CIFAR’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, A short description of your research interests using lay terms.
2. Detailed section: A detailed discussion of your research background and proposed future directions, how this agenda would contribute to the themes and goals of the CIFAR research program to which you are applying, and how participating in the program would advance your research. And a discussion of how you have engaged with non-academic communities to extend the impact of your research
3. Academic CV: CIFAR accepts CVs in any standard academic format.
4. Narrative CV
5. Reference Letters (2)

Further details on each component can be found here: https://cifar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Global-Scholars-Program-Overview-2025-26.pdf