CIFAR 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. Your position must include responsibility for leading independent research as a principal investigator, as well as supervising or teaching graduate-level trainees toward the completion of a degree. This position must be secure throughout the full term from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2029. In countries or institutions where the tenure-track system applies, applicants are expected to hold a full-time tenure-track position. 
• Have started your first position, as described above, post-PhD, no earlier than July 1, 2022 and no later than December 31, 2026. 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 2026/2027, the following CIFAR research programs are accepting applications:
    • Boundaries, Membership & Belonging
    • Brain, Mind & Consciousness
    • Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities
    • Healthy Microbiomes in a Changing World
    • Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity
• Be available for a virtual interview on March 23-25, 2027.
• 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, 2027 and concludes on March 31, 2029. 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

Program application deadline

Applications must be submitted online, using the Apply Now button on the CIFAR Global Scholars Website  by: November 4, 2026 at 12:00pm EST [**N.B. this is 11am Alberta time]

Application components:

1. Summary Section 
   1.  A summary of the value you anticipate gaining from the CIFAR Global Scholar experience, aside from the unrestricted research support. (max. 400 words) 
   2. A discussion of three areas of leadership and/or communications skills that you would like to strengthen through your participation in the program. (max. 100 words) 
   3. A short description of your research interests using lay terms for a general audience and public use. (max. 100 words) 
2. Detailed Section 
   1. 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. Describe areas of potential research that you might wish to pursue in collaboration with Fellows and Advisors from different disciplines within the program. (max. 1000 words) 
   2. A discussion of how you have engaged with non-academic communities to extend the impact of your research. If you have not been active outside of academia, discuss the type of activities you would like to pursue. In your response, please identify expert communities (e.g., policy makers, industry, educators, social workers, etc.) who are most relevant to your academic work. (max. 1000 words) 
3. Academic CV 
   1. An up-to-date academic CV, including publication list, must be uploaded as a .pdf file. CIFAR accepts CVs in any standard academic format. 
4. Narrative CV 
   1. A narrative CV is also required. This format reflects CIFAR’s commitment to fair and inclusive research assessment as a signatory of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).  Narrative CVs offer researchers a structured yet flexible format to describe their contributions and achievements, and to highlight a broad range of skills and experiences that extend beyond publications and research funding. 
   2. The narrative CV recognizes disciplinary differences across the academy, enabling researchers to highlight their unique research contributions in different contexts and work environments. 
   3. To create your narrative CV, you may follow the prompts below, adapted from UKRI’s Résumé for Research and Innovation. It may include up to 1,000 words in total. 
5. Reference Letters 
   1. You are required to arrange for two letters of recommendation to be submitted as part of your application.   Referees are asked to comment on one or both of the following: 
      1. Scholarly achievements in terms of research excellence, productivity, creativity, breadth, interest in engaging across disciplines, and potential for future leadership in the field, relative to others at the same career stage. 
      2. Demonstrated leadership capacity within or outside of academic settings, as well as the desire and potential to expand the impact of your research by engaging with communities beyond academia. 
   2. At least one letter must come from someone well-positioned to assess your scholarly contributions and their significance, such as your primary PhD or postdoctoral supervisor, or a close research colleague. If one or more of your primary PhD and/or postdoctoral supervisors are current CIFAR program members, you may request a letter from one of these individuals. 
   3. One letter may also (but is not required to) come from a leader outside academia who can speak to your broader impact or engagement.

Further details on each component can be found here: https://cifar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Global-Scholars-Program-Overview-2026-27-EN.pdf