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CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program

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TOMORROW’S RESEARCH LEADERS, PUSHING BOUNDARIES TODAY

Accelerate your career. Transform your research.

Collaborate across disciplines with leading global researchers. Expand your network and pursue cutting-edge ideas with unrestricted research support. Join our international community of brilliant people advancing transformative knowledge and solving humanity’s biggest problems.

Applications for the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program are accepted once annually.  Applications are now closed for the 2025-2027 cohort.

Contact us for more information.

The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program develops highly talented junior faculty into influential research leaders who shape the direction of boundary-pushing research. It has three core components:


Fostering Interdisciplinary Research Excellence

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars join a CIFAR research program for two years, participating as equals within a small international network of some of the world’s leading researchers, who together are collaborating across disciplines in pursuit of a fundamental research question. Meeting twice yearly in locations around the world, Fellows, Advisors and Scholars in each program share work-in-progress, exchange perspectives across fields, and develop collaborative projects that spark new insights, transform research directions and open up new fields of inquiry.


Developing and Broadening Networks

The program expands Global Scholars’ horizons and potential for impact by broadening and deepening their networks with like-minded researchers for collaboration, support and mentorship.

An Annual Meeting brings CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars from all research programs together for leadership training, networking and community-building. It reserves significant unstructured time to brainstorm creative, cross-programmatic collaborations and develop proposals for seed funding.

CIFAR also facilitates opportunities for Global Scholars to engage with leaders in government, industry, business and civil society to both inform and disseminate their work.


Strengthening Leadership Skills

Even the most accomplished early-career researchers typically enter their roles as principal investigators with little formal leadership training. The program provides training in focused areas of research leadership, including science communication, team leadership, trainee mentorship, science advocacy and more.

CIFAR also supports and facilitates opportunities for CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars to put their leadership skills into action.

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Program Details

Here is what you need to know to apply:

Eligibility

There are no geographical restrictions on who may apply.

To be eligible, you must hold a PhD (or equivalent) and be employed in a full-time position at an institution of higher education or research, with responsibilities that include leading independent research as a principal investigator and supervising/teaching trainees toward the attainment of a degree. Typically, you are a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the North American system, or, in other academic systems around the world, an equivalent position that is designed to lead to a permanent (tenured-equivalent) faculty position.

You must have started your first such position (post-PhD) no earlier than July 1, 2020 and no later than July 1, 2024. Special consideration may be given to those who have taken parental leave or have exceptional circumstances.

Your position must be secure for the duration of the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar active term from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027.

NOTE: Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply to this program.

Your research interests should complement the themes and goals of a recruiting CIFAR research program.

See the detailed program overview for full eligibility requirements.

What you will receive as a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar

A two-year term of interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship in a CIFAR research program, among a global network of leading researchers

$100,000 CAD in unrestricted research support

Opportunities to apply for time-limited seed funding to support new interdisciplinary collaborations

Membership in the extended community of CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars across research programs — creative and like-minded peers from diverse disciplines

Training in focused areas of research leadership, and opportunities to put leadership into action

Statement on equity, diversity & inclusion

CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome is vital to achieving our mission, and embodies our values of diversity, creativity, excellence, risk-taking, respect and collaboration. CIFAR strives to foster the active participation and inclusion of all, including those from underrepresented groups in research, such as but not limited to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of sexual and gender minority groups — across geographic borders, disciplines, and career stage. In the pursuit of excellence, CIFAR embraces diverse ideas and perspectives, and proactively seeks to increase equity, diversity and inclusion within our community. CIFAR aims to create a culture that embodies these principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. For more information, see CIFAR’s Action Plan on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

Programs accepting applications

In 2024/2025, the CIFAR research programs accepting applications are:

Boundaries, Membership & Belonging
Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration
Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities
Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity

Detailed Program Overview
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key dates

October 8, 2024

Call for applications opens.

November 20, 2024

Application deadline
11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time (UTC -8)

By January 24, 2025

Shortlisted finalists are notified and invited to attend a virtual interview. All other applicants will be notified after the finalists have confirmed their attendance.

March 19-20, 2025

The Selection Committee interviews the shortlisted finalists via Zoom. Interviews are generally scheduled between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

By early April 2025

Finalists are notified of the competition results.

May/June 2025

CIFAR publicly announces the 2025 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars.

June 11-13, 2025 in Halifax,
Nova Scotia, Canada

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars annual meeting.

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program allows you to take your work to challenging new places.

Time and again, CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars use words like transformative and profound in describing the program’s impact on their research and career.

Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2022-2024,
Learning in Machines & Brains,
University of the Witwatersrand

CIFAR is unique, in that they do not focus on supporting one of your research projects, but on supporting you as an individual. Through my CIFAR experience, I have grown professionally along dimensions that I would not have even considered before. CIFAR meetings bring together inspiring collections of attendees and speakers from very diverse fields. They encourage you to ask deeper questions, start ambitious projects, and focus on making an impact on society.

Benjamin Rosman CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2022-2024, Learning in Machines & Brains, University of the Witwatersrand
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025,
Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities,
Duke University

Participation in CIFAR has opened my eyes to the potential for my research and expertise to have a much larger impact than I could have envisioned, inspired by collaborative thinking and engagement with problem-solvers from different knowledge backgrounds.

Asiya Gusa CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025, Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities, Duke University
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025,
Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity,
emlyon Business School

The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program has allowed me to connect and stay connected with a world of intellectually ambitious researchers. CIFAR’s institutional and intellectual support has already left a major mark on my career, and I have enjoyed tremendously the connections formed through CIFAR program meetings and the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Annual Meeting.

Christof Brandtner CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025, Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity, emlyon Business School
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025,
Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration,
Queen’s University

As someone just starting my academic career, CIFAR has helped me shape the way I do research. CIFAR has given me the tools, the network, and the means to transcend boundaries that divide fields, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work together with like-minded folks to tackle the key questions humanity is currently facing.

Élise Devoie CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025, Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration, Queen’s University
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2021-2023,
Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity,
Northwestern University

The CIFAR experience has been enriching on multiple dimensions. It has encouraged me to think across borders of discipline, program meetings have been incredibly helpful in presenting work in progress, and the generous mentorship of the leadership is truly a gift. The most notable part of CIFAR has been the opportunity to venture out of my own research field and develop curiosity with an incredible group of scholars. I am grateful for this opportunity to better understand the world.

Ameet Morjaria CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2021-2023, Innovation, Equity & the Future of Prosperity, Northwestern University
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025,
Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Participating in my CIFAR program has profoundly influenced both my thinking and work. The sense of confidence instilled by my involvement with CIFAR has emboldened me to venture into unconventional and bold research avenues, fueled solely by curiosity — the essence of scientific inquiry. Being a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar has not only expanded my intellectual horizons but also inspired me to pursue scientific endeavours with newfound courage and conviction.

Neta Shlezinger CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025, Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Photo of  CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025,
Boundaries, Membership & Belonging,
University of Southern California

CIFAR has been world-expanding in innumerable ways. I know of no other space where scholars across disciplines and the world can join and think together through some of humanity’s most pressing questions. The creativity that blooms from these meetings has changed the way I think about everything from how I approach research design to how I teach and mentor my students.

Hajar Yazdiha CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025, Boundaries, Membership & Belonging, University of Southern California
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This program is generously supported by the Azrieli Foundation.

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The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.

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