(Formerly GE Healthcare New Investigator Award 2011 – 2015)
This award is offered annually. Application deadline: January 15.
The Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) New Investigator Award was established by the Society to recognize and support the next generation of scientists in Canada. The award is given on the basis of (i) excellence in research and (ii) demonstration of leadership.
(1) Evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria for CSMB are informed and updated according to best practices and in alignment with Canadian tri-council (NSERC, SSHRC & CIHR) standards. CSMB also supports the following statement (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/51732.html) and the DORA principles.
The quality and impact of research cannot be measured through journal publications alone. Research results and outcomes are multifaceted, can reflect multiple types of knowledge and ways of knowing and must be assessed on their own merit. High-quality research outcomes are achieved in many ways, including but not limited to: publishing research articles; reporting new knowledge (such as presenting at conferences and other venues); developing new technologies, producing software and intellectual property; sharing data; contributing to policy decisions; producing highly trained personnel and working in partnership with various sectors of society. Increasingly, funding agencies, research institutions, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, citizens and patients, and researchers themselves, agree on the importance of including a broader set of research outcomes and adopting assessment processes that recognize their value.
The DORA principles are reflected in CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC’s overall approaches to research assessment, and in their shared commitment to continuous improvement in assessment practices. A number of the Agencies’ initiatives and policies support research excellence and align with the recommendations in DORA, including research data management practices, open access publishing, responsible conduct of research, ethical conduct of research involving humans; and the commitment to re-examine research excellence through the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan.
Nominations will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Excellence in research – 5 points
Nominees will have evidence of significant contributions in the areas of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and/or Genetics and a strong record of research (as defined by – but not limited to – the typical tri-council metrics) in a field of molecular biosciences which demonstrates clearly independent thought and originality.
Significant contributions can include (but are not limited to) peer-reviewed publications, presentations, intellectual property, other knowledge translation activities, etc., Awards, degrees, credentials, etc., clinical practice, policy development, specialized training, strategic employment positions, etc.
- Demonstration of leadership – 5 points
Nominees must demonstrate their commitment to science leadership within the broader community, such as, but not limited to, mentorship, advocacy work, science communication and outreach.
Evidence for excellence in science leadership can include (but is not limited to) academic leadership in science concomitant with their career stage. Examples of leadership activities include (but not be limited) to engagements as a trainee or early career researcher in communities of practice (e.g. science societies at the institutional, regional, national or international level), sustained engagement with policymakers (local, provincial, federal) and decision making bodies (e.g. serving and contributing to boards and councils in a capacity as a scientific leader, serving on advisory committees to government, industry, education, policy-makers in a capacity as an expert scientist, etc.)
(2) Eligibility
Nominees must have at least 4 but not greater than 7 years of independent research experience at the time of application. Time taken for leaves (parental, family, relocation, etc.) will not count towards the 7-year total and should be noted accordingly. The nominee must have lived in Canada and worked at a Canadian research institute for the last 4 to 7 years in an independent investigator position. CSMB acknowledges that the best research comes from a richly diverse community and, therefore, encourages applications from women and members of under-represented groups. The nominee and nominator do not need to be members of CSMB.
Note: Members of the CSMB Board and committees (including at-large members) are not eligible for nomination for CSMB awards while they hold office.
(3) Nomination process
It is preferred that the nominator is at a higher professional rank than the nominee. Self-nominations will also be considered.
Nominations shall consist of
- a letter from a nominator familiar with the nominee’s work, which summarizes the originality and significance of the nominee’s research and leadership contributions, as well as pertinent biographic data, plus a copy of
- the nominee’s curriculum vitae.
If the nominator puts forward more than one nominee, then the nominator needs to rank order the nominees.
The awardee will deliver a lecture at the CSMB Annual Conference and submit a manuscript or review of their related work/career path for publication in the journals Biochemistry and Cell Biology or Genome and in the CSMB Bulletin. Awardees are encouraged to become CSMB members.
Please address nomination letters to :
Dr. Tarik Möröy
General Secretary of the CSMB
Nominations should be submitted via the following form:
Updated 2024-02-27
Previous winners of this award
CSMB New Investigator Award
| 2023 | John C. C. Whitney |
| 2022 | Trushar Patel |
| 2021 | Jean-Philippe Julien |
| 2020 | Greg Fairn |
| 2019 | Jonathan Schertzer |
| 2018 | Katey Rayner |
| 2017 | Martin Schmeing |
| 2016 | Filip Van Petegem |
| 2015 | Vincent Archambault |
| 2014 | John Rubinstein |
| 2013 | P. Roux |
| 2012 | J. Brumell |
| 2011 | G. Ferbeyre |
| 2010 | S. Muthuswamy |
| 2009 | M. Bhatia |
| 2008 | F. Sicheri |
| 2007 | M. Marra |
| 2006 | J. Casey |
| 2005 | M. Glover, E. Brown |
| 2004 | R. Wozniak |
| 2003 | C. Boone |
| 2002 | J. Wrana |
| 2001 | N. Strynadka |
| 2000 | A. Veillette |
| 1999 | M. Tyers |
| 1998 | D. Clarke |
| 1997 | M. Bouvier |
| 1996 | L. Kay |
| 1995 | R.O. Ryan |
| 1994 | D.B. Williams, H.Vogel |
| 1993 | S. Pelech |
| 1992 | A. Klip |
| 1991 | G. Chaconas |
| 1990 | M.P. Walsh |
| 1989 | K.B. Storey |
| 1988 | R. MacGillivray |
| 1987 | S. Grinstein |
| 1986 | P.R. Cullis |
| 1985 | T.W. Mack |
| 1984 | R. Nazar |
| 1983 | J. Greenblatt |
| 1982 | B.D. Sykes |
| 1981 | W.F. Doolittle |
| 1980 | W.A. Bridger |
| 1979 | M.N.G. James |
| 1978 | I.C.P. Smith |
| 1977 | K.J. Dorrington |
| 1976 | M.C. Ganoza |
| 1975 | W.W-C. Chan |
| 1974 | D.H. MacLennan |
| 1973 | J. Himms-Hagen |
| 1972 | J.H. Spencer |
| 1971 | B.G. Lane |
| 1970 | C.M. Kay |
| 1968 | J.F. Henderson |
| 1966 | G.H. Dixon |
Robert Haynes Young Scientist Award
| 2016 | Laurence Pelletier |
| 2015 | Luigi Bouchard |
| 2014 | Bachand, Francois |
| 2013 | Masse, Eric |
| 2010 | Gregory, Ryan |
| 2009 | none given |
| 2008 | Kassen, Rees |
| 2007 | Agrawal, Aneil |
| 2006 | Steward, Bryan |
| 2005 | Xu, J.P. |
| 2004 | Bulman, Dennis E. |
| 2003 | Chippindale, Adam |
GSC Young Scientist Award
| 2002 | Scherer, S. |
| 2001 | Hudson, Thomas |
| 2000 | Boulianne, Gabrielle |
| 1999 | Rancourt, Derrick E. |
| 1998 | Lasko, Paul |
| 1997 | McDermid, Heather |
| 1996 | Rosenberg, Susan M. |
| 1995 | Evans, D.H. |
| 1994 | Ritland, K. |
| 1993 | Sokolowski, M.M. |
| 1992 | Brock, H.W. |
| 1991 | Haughn, G.W. |
| 1990 | Bonen, L. |
| 1989 | Golding, G.B. |
| 1988 | None Given |
| 1987 | Hilliker, A.J. |
