Early Investigator Award
Nomination Deadline: March 13, 2026
Mandate
The Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Early Investigator Award honours sociologists who have made significant research contributions in the early stages of their career. The award recognises research demonstrating high quality, theoretical rigour or methodological innovation, and future potential. Furthermore, the research should make a significant contribution to the applicant’s field.
Equity Statement
The Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) is committed to the values and principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization. We recognize and honour the intersectionality of equity-based identities. The CSA therefore invites and encourages the nomination (including self-nomination) of members from marginalized groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as women, and/or LGBTQ2+.
Eligibility
Nominees must be CSA members in good standing at the time of application.
We accept nominations in English and French.
Nominees should have obtained their PhD within six (6) years (March 2020 – March 2026).
The CSA understands that a nominee may experience career interruptions due to heath, family or other situations. Therefore, the adjudication committee will consider nominees who have held a postsecondary appointment (includes post-doctoral appointment) for no more than the equivalent of six (6) years between the year they obtained their PhD and March 2026.
Adjudication Rubric
Research output, originality, and contribution to knowledge: Candidate makes original contributions to knowledge: contributions are significant; advance sociology in important ways. Contributions are particularly noteworthy/impressive given the career stage of the candidate. Primary emphasis is placed on the meaningful impact of the nominee’s work on their field of research, not solely volume or flow of output.
Theoretical advancement: Deployment of appropriate theoretical framework(s); rigorous engagement of relevant theories, perspectives and approaches within and beyond the discipline(s) of sociology; theory- building; theoretical synthesis and/or innovation.
Methodology: Rigour of research process, methods, and data; contributions are based on extensive research; provide clarity on the data, methods and methodological choices made in the research process.
Potential: Candidate shows evidence of a stellar and continued top-of-class performance (e.g. best paper prizes, grants, awards, initiatives within and outside academia, etc.).
EDID considerations: Nominee’s work reflects sensitivity to and engagement with equity, diversity, inclusivity, and decolonization. This may be reflected in one or more ways, including choice of research topics, policy thrust, membership of research teams, mentoring of graduate/undergrad students, respectful language in analysing lives of research participants, etc. The list is not exhaustive. The primary emphasis is on how EDID considerations are meaningfully taken up in the nominee’s program of work. However, the committee will also consider EDID issues as part of the context within which nominees work.
Submitting Nominations
Download the nomination instructions and requirements
Applications may be submitted by a colleague or by self-nomination and must be emailed to the CSA office (office@csa-scs.ca) by March 13, 2026.
Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Affiliation |
| 2025 | Rhea Ashley Hoskin | University of Waterloo |
| 2024 | Alan Santinele Martino | University of Calgary |
| 2023 | Tony Silva | University of British Columbia |
| 2023 | Cary Wu | York University |
| 2022 | Yue Qian | University of British Columbia |
| 2021 | Tahseen Shams | University of Toronto |
| 2020 | Paul Joosse | University of Hong Kong |
| 2019 | Jasmin Hristov | University of British Columbia |
| 2018 | Barry Eidlin | McGill University |
| 2017 | Carolina Cambre | Concordia University |
| 2016 | Wendy Roth | University of British Columbia |
| 2015 | Md Saidul Islam | Nanyang Technological University |
| 2014 | Mark Stoddart | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| 2013 | Catherine Corrigall-Brown | University of Western Ontario |