CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program 2020

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) invites applications for CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program 2020 from researchers having a PhD or equivalent degree. The program supports exceptional early-career researchers with funding, mentorship, a global network, and professional skills development. The selected scholars will receive CAD 100,000 and other benefits.

The scholarship is being offered by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).

The following are the eligibility requirements of the program: 

• The candidate should hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) 
• The candidate should be employed at an institution of higher education or research 
• The candidate should be within the first five years of a full-time academic position 
• The candidate should be available to attend a two-day in-person interview on June 18-19, 2020 in Toronto, Canada
• The applicant must have a valid passport 
• The applicant should be fluent in written and spoken English

Note- Postdoctoral students are not eligible for the program. Contact global.scholars@cifar.ca for any queries on eligibility.

The scholars will receive: 

• An amount of CAD 100,000 in unrestricted research support 
• An opportunity to be a fellow at CIFAR research program for a term of 2 years 
• A chance to network and collaborate with a gamut of people constituting diverse disciplines 
• Mentorship from a senior researcher at CIFAR research program
• Special training to develop leadership and communication skills along with how to put the concerned skills into action

The applicant needs to follow the steps to apply: 

Step 1- Register on the CIFAR portal.
Step 2-  Activate the account through the registered email.
Step 3- Apply for the scholarship.
Step 4- Attach the necessary documents.
Step 5-  Submit the application.

The documents required are:

• A summary section 
• A detailed section
• Two Letters of Recommendation directly submitted by the referees

For any more information on the documents mentioned above click here.

The application review process and criteria include:

• An application review by the CIFAR Fellows and/or advisors for each program analyzing the application on the basis of following criteria and will shortlist 5 candidates for each program:
  • Research excellence
  • Potential to contribute to their program 
  • Leadership potential 
• Final in-person selection interview to evaluate and assess candidates' capacity, potential and desire to actively participate and engage with the diverse amount of disciplines and have a broader impact.

Application deadline: 30th October 2020

Q. If an applicant does not have the title of Assistant Professor, would he/she be eligible?
A. CIFAR recognizes that different academic systems around the world assign different titles to junior faculty positions. The junior faculty members from all over the world are welcomed to apply. Applicants requiring assistance to determine their eligibility may contact via email at global.scholars@cifar.ca.

Q. If the applicant is an early career researcher based in a country outside of Canada, would he/she be eligible?
A. CIFAR is seeking to develop a diverse and global cohort. There are no geographical restrictions on who may apply to this program.

Q. If the applicant is unable to attend the in-person interview on June 18-19, 2020 in Toronto due to a prior commitment, should he/she apply?
A. The interview consists of a series of activities among invited candidates, taking place over a day and a half. In-person participation is required to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. Applicants unable to attend will not be considered. 

For more information, click here.

• The CIFAR research program is accepting applications in 2020 for the following topics:
  • Child and Brain Development
  • Learning in Machines and Brains
  • Quantum Information Science
  • Quantum Materials
• The active term for the scholarship is 2 years long, beginning in July 2020.
• The fund provided to the scholar must only be used for his/her research purposes.
• All Letters of References must be uploaded through the online application system.  

For more information, click here.