What if your next research fellowship came with CAD $100,000 in unrestricted research support — plus access to a global network of leading researchers?
The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program brings exceptional early-career researchers into CIFAR’s international research community for a two-year fellowship.
Beyond funding, scholars receive mentorship, leadership development and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and countries.
Program Overview & Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: Research Fellowship
- Organization: CIFAR
- Cohort: 2027–2029
- Duration: 2 years
- Research Support: CAD $100,000
- Application Fee: $0
- Nationality: International / researchers worldwide
- Career Stage: Early-career researchers
- Degree: PhD / doctoral degree required, subject to the current eligibility window
- Research Area: Must align with an eligible CIFAR research program
- Age Limit: No specific age limit stated
- Work Experience: Early-career research experience required; exact eligibility is based on the candidate’s PhD and research-position timeline
- Deadline: November 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST
What Is the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program?
The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program is designed to support exceptional researchers at an early stage of their independent careers.
Selected scholars join one of CIFAR’s research programs and become part of a global interdisciplinary network of researchers.
The goal isn’t simply to provide funding. The program is designed to help researchers develop their careers while creating opportunities for international collaboration, mentorship and interdisciplinary research.
What Do Scholars Receive?
The headline benefit is:
CAD $100,000 in Unrestricted Research Support
Each Global Scholar receives CAD $100,000 in research support over the two-year program.
Because the funding is unrestricted research support, scholars have flexibility in how it can be used to advance their research and collaboration.
Possible uses can include:
- Research expenses
- Conference participation
- Research-related travel
- Collaboration
- Other eligible research activities
Important: This is not a CAD $100,000 personal stipend or salary. It is research funding provided to support the scholar’s research activities.
Additional Benefits
The fellowship also provides access to:
- CIFAR’s international research network
- Leading researchers across disciplines
- Professional mentorship
- Leadership development
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Research and networking opportunities
- International research community events
For an early-career researcher, the network and mentorship can be just as valuable as the financial support.
Who Can Apply?
The program is aimed at early-career researchers from around the world whose work fits within one of the eligible CIFAR research programs.
You should generally be:
- An early-career researcher
- Within the program’s specified post-PhD career window
- Conducting research aligned with an eligible CIFAR research program
- Working toward an independent research career
- Able to participate in CIFAR’s research and networking activities
PhD Requirement
This is not a general scholarship for PhD students.
The program targets researchers who have completed their doctorate and are at an early stage of their research careers. The exact PhD completion and research-position dates are important for determining eligibility.
So for Potenue’s matching engine, PhD completion date / years since PhD should be treated as a hard eligibility field rather than simply storing “PhD required.”
Is There an Age Limit?
No specific age limit is the main eligibility filter.
CIFAR’s eligibility is primarily based on career stage and the timing of the candidate’s doctoral degree/research appointment, rather than a simple maximum age.
This is important because someone older than the typical early-career age range may still be eligible if they meet the program’s defined career-stage criteria.
Do You Need a Specific Research Field?
Yes.
This isn’t an open-ended fellowship for every academic discipline.
Your research must align with one of the CIFAR research programs accepting applications for the relevant cohort.
Applicants should therefore check the current program areas before applying.
Is the Application Free?
Yes — there is no application fee.
There is also no tuition or program fee associated with participating in the fellowship.
Deadline
November 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST
Applications must be submitted through the official CIFAR Global Scholars application portal before the deadline.
How to Apply
Before applying:
- Check whether your research aligns with an eligible CIFAR research program.
- Confirm that you fall within the required early-career/PhD timeline.
- Prepare your research materials and supporting documents.
- Highlight the significance and potential impact of your research.
- Submit your application through the CIFAR Global Scholars portal before the deadline.
Don’t Miss the Next Hidden Gem
CAD $100,000 in unrestricted research support + global mentorship + an international research network makes this one of the more attractive opportunities for early-career researchers.
If you’re an early-career researcher whose work fits a CIFAR research program, this is definitely one to put on your high-priority fellowship list.
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