CSMB New Investigator Award

(Formerly GE Healthcare New Investigator Award 2011 – 2015)

This award is offered annually. Application deadline: January 15, 2025

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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.