AXA Chairs 2026

Eligibility

The chairholder must:

• Hold a PhD obtained at least 10 years prior to the application deadline (May 2026)
• Be of the highest academic caliber, with an outstanding track record of publications and international recognition
• Have demonstrated experience in transdisciplinary work across multiple disciplines
• Have a strong record of engagement with non‑academic stakeholders (e.g. public authorities, NGOs, communities, practitioners).
• Hold a full‑time academic position at the host institution for the full 5‑year duration of the Chair

For the 2026 AXA Chair campaign, proposals must respond to the Global Category, which supports international, transdisciplinary research networks that address major risks and challenges related to: 

• Risks to People Health and Human Wellbeing,
• Risks to Societies, and/or
• Risks to the Planet.

Projects must: 

• Integrate at least two academic disciplines, including one from social sciences / humanities / economics and one from natural sciences / engineering / technology;
• Involve at least one non-academic partner (e.g. public authority, NGO, community organization, public hospital, professional association) as a co-design and co-implementation partner;
• Adopt a network-based approach with clear international collaboration (e.g. partners, data, or impact across multiple countries);
• Show how the Chair will help build a durable research network beyond the 5-year funding period;
• Demonstrate scientific originality and excellence;
• Adopt an innovative transdisciplinary research design, with genuine co-production with non-academic partners;
• Show clear relevance and contribution to at least one of the three overarching domains supported by the AXA Foundation for Human Progress: People Health and Human WellBeing, Societies, and the Planet.

Summary

The AXA Chairs of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress are 5-year, high-profile grants supporting senior researchers to build and lead ambitious transdisciplinary research networks. The AXA Chair is a highly selective funding scheme designed to foster transformative, transdisciplinary research networks, at the intersection of multiple fields and societal actors. It is grounded in the belief that protecting what matters, today and for future generations, requires both scientific excellence and meaningful engagement with society. 

Each AXA Chair:

• Funds a Chairholder (PI) and a network of academic and non‑academic partners.
• Supports research at the intersection of human health and well‑being, Societies, and the Planet.
• Aims to deliver both excellent science and concrete societal impact (e.g. policy change, tools, pilots, capacity-building).
• Seeks to establish durable collaborations that continue beyond the end of AXA funding.

The Chairholder is expected to act as a network leader and catalyst, coordinating a multi-partner consortium that co‑designs, co‑produces, and co‑implements the research and its applications.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

UCalgary may submit only one candidate per campaign. If more than one EOI is received, an internal selection process will determine which candidate will progress, with final decisions resting with the VPR. 

For the Expression of Interest, provide 3 separate documents with the following:

1. Candidate details (date of birth, date of PhD defense).
2. A short CV of the prospective Chairholder (max. 3 pages).
3. The title and description of the research program (max. 3,000 characters including spaces), including:
   • the long‑term vision of the Chair and its intended impact;
   • the main disciplines involved and how they will be integrated;
   • initial academic and non‑academic partners;
   • the overall approach to stakeholder co‑production and network governance.

Only 1 internally selected EOI will be submitted to the AXA Chair Program.

Institutional and agency milestones are listed below; additional instructions will be shared with the candidate selected to proceed in the competition.

Timeline

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) - internal
   • PI submits EOI to Research Services at IPD@ucalgary.ca, including short CV (3 page max.)
   • No RMS entry is required.

       Deadline:  By noon April 2, 2026

2. Expression of Interest (EOI) – agency (for internally selected candidate)
   • UCalgary submits EOI to AXA via  online application platform 

      Deadline:  By 8:00 am April 9, 2026

3. Full Application - internal (for shortlisted candidates only)
   • PI submits full application to Research Services at IPD@ucalgary.ca  

       Deadline:  Before May 14, 2026 (TBD)

Overhead

not applicable

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

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

Principal Investigators: a Research Management System (RMS) record is not required.

RESOURCES

AXA Chair Application Guidelines

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.