Sponsor
1907 Research
Program
Trailblazer Award
Description
The 1907 Trailblazer Award was established to encourage high-impact, step-change approaches to research in the brain and mind sciences for mental health. In addition to supporting a specific research project, the Award intends to increase the size of the talent pool of early career investigators researching causes and cures for mental illness. Each winner will be invited to two annual meetings to present interim findings (year 1) and final findings (year 2), where they can form scientific relationships with other Award winners, our advisory board directors and research directors. We aim to build community and provide value to the scientist in excess of the monetary element.
Each year, 1907 Research provides the 1907 Trailblazer Award to early career MDs and PhDs. The award is $120,000, comprised of the following:
- $100,000 unrestricted gift for research & administrative costs
- $20,000 prize directly payable to the award recipient (50% after year 1, 50% after year 2)
- Annual Meeting travel & expenses for two years
The award is public to all research institutions (universities and hospitals) in the US, UK and Canada. Each Research Institution nominates two candidates and the advisory board selects three Fellows from this candidate pool through a software-enabled selection process. The Fellows convene each year with our advisory board to collaborate in pushing knowledge of the collective for the benefit of the individual.
Institutions are required to select the two most appropriate applications for submission to 1907 Research, decided via internal competition.
Program details and timeline are not yet confirmed. This information will be updated when the program launches
Eligibility
A nominee must:
- be within ten years of the date when PhD/MD degree was awarded (with exceptions for career breaks including maternity and paternity leave).
- be currently employed by a university or public research institute in the UK, the US, or Canada, with full-time employment guaranteed for the duration of the project (tenure or tenure-track and international equivalents). Applicants must already work in a supervisory role (PhD, MD, Postdoctoral supervisor primary or secondary).
- have demonstrated independence from senior colleagues. They must be able to initiate and direct their own research as principal investigator, have full responsibility for running their labs and full control of their research funds. Postdoctoral fellows or adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply.
- have a strong track record of scientific publications relevant to their research program.
- not have research applications identical to any other currently funded projects, although they can be related.
- be in an eligible discipline such as; neuroscience, neurology, psychology, psychiatry, cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, computational neuroscience, neuroimaging, genetics and engineering (including novel technologies and devices).
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | If you wish to be considered for VPR nomination:
Career interruptions due to parental leave, family care, extended illness, or community responsibilities will not negatively impact the committee’s assessment of a candidate’s research productivity. These will be taken into consideration when EOIs are assessed. | |
External Deadline | If your nomination will be submitted by a nominator other than the VPR, please submit directly to the sponsor by the external deadline. Please also submit a copy of the full nomination and OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca. |
How to Apply
The Vice-President (Research) encourages nominations for this prestigious award, and will serve as nominator for those nominees recommended by the Honours and Awards Advisory Committee. If you wish to nominate a colleague or to be considered for VPR nomination:
- We recommend discussing your interest in this award with your College Research Manager and Associate Dean (Research).
- Complete the Expression of Interest document.
- Send the completed Expression of Interest document and a CV to research.honours@uoguelph.ca and copy your College Research Manager by the internal deadline.
As this is an international prize, the University may engage the Global Excellence Initiative to coordinate external review of nominations.
Career interruptions due to parental leave, family care, extended illness, or community responsibilities will not negatively impact the committee’s assessment of a candidate’s research productivity. These will be taken into consideration when EOIs are assessed.
If your nomination will be submitted by a different nominee, and therefore does not require the Vice-President's endorsement, please submit a complete nomination and signed OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca by the external deadline.
For More Information
For more information, contact research.honours@uoguelph.ca or see the 1907 Research Award web-page.