2026 Gairdner Early Career Investigator Competition

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Competition

The Canada Gairdner Awards invite applications from early career investigators (ECIs) at the assistant professor or equivalent level across Canada. The 2026 Gairdner ECI Award winners will have the opportunity to present their research, connect with this year's Laureates, and become an active member of the Gairdner scientific community. Up to six investigators will be selected, one for each of the areas being recognized by this year's awards.

ECI Award winners will speak alongside 2026 laureates at Gairdner Science Week events taking place October 19-23, 2026, and will have the opportunity to connect with current and past laureates, leading international researchers, and outstanding peers in the lead up to attending the 2026 Awards Gala in Toronto on October 22, 2026. They will also have to opportunity to attend a unique scientific networking meeting in May 2027 alongside past laureates, post graduate students and other early career investigators. Travel and accommodations are provided by the Foundation. 

This is a competitive process, with initial evaluation by a pool of Gairdner committee members and  finalists being selected by the laureates themselves.

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Application:

  • Contact information
  • Selected laureate/laureate group match. Applicants must indicate one of the following laureate options as their intended match:

Ruedi Aebersold/ Matthias Mann/ John Yates

Proteomics/mass spectrometry
Jeffery Kelly

Protein aggregation/misfolding, amyloid disease therapeutics

Wolfgang Baumeister

Cellular/molecular imaging developments, cryo-ET, structural bio

Karen Maxwell

Phage biology, antimicrobial resistance

Aaron Phillips

Spinal cord injury, blood pressure regulation, neuromodulation

John Clemens/ Jan Holmgren

Cholera, infectious disease population epidemiology, vaccinology, global health funding and capacity development

  • Summary of current research and future directions (150 words)
  • Statement on connections between applicant's research and that of the laureate(s) (150 words)
  • Short CV highlighting key experience and accomplishments (4-5 pages)
  • 2 minute elevator pitch video on your research and its current or potential impact. Up to two slides can be used in the presentation if desired.  

Info sessions will be held in April and May to review the submission process and answer any questions from interested applicants.

 You can sign up here for a session.

 

Only one submission allowed per individual.

Submission Due Date:         Friday, May 15, 2026            11:59 PM PDT

If you have any questions or have any accommodation requirements, please contact Sarah Devonshire at sarah@gairdner.org  


Learn more about the next generation of researchers leading Canadian innovation and investigation through interviews and presentations from the Canada Gairdner Early Career Investigator Award winners. 

 

 

The Gairdner Foundation confirms its strong commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Throughout the activities associated with the Canada Gairdner Awards program and associated Canadian and Global outreach programs, Gairdner strives to engage and promote the active participation of individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities and embraces diverse perspectives in research.