Early Career Researcher Award

Early Career Researcher Award

The Faculty of Social Sciences Early Career Researcher Award recognizes the research excellence of an early career Social Sciences faculty member. 

Research excellence is demonstrated through contributions to one’s field of study, an ability to provide a stimulating and challenging research environment that incorporates students and mentoring, and an ability to communicate research results effectively to relevant audiences. 

Winners receive a prize of $1000. 

Geraldina Polanco headshot

Early Career Researcher Award Winners

Dr. Geraldina Polanco

Congratulations to Dr. Geraldina Polanco of the Department of Sociology, winner of the 2025 McMaster Faculty of Social Sciences Early Career Researcher Award.

Information Box Group

Past Winners

2026 – Dr. Zhifan Luo, Department of Sociology
2024 – Dr. Jessica Maxwell, Department of Health, Aging & Society
2023 – Dr. Jonathan Zhang, Department of Economics and Dr. Jennifer Ma, the School of Social Work
2022 – Dr. Nathan Andrews, Department of Political Science and Dr. Nicole Dalmer, Department of Health, Aging & Society
2021 – Dr. Clifton van der Linden, Department of Political Science
2020 – Dr. Vanessa Watts, Department of Sociology and Dr. Adam Lavecchia, Department of Economics
2019 – Dr. Ameil Joseph, School of Social Work
2018 – Dr. Matthew Thiessen, Department of Religious Studies 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Early Career Researcher Award a nominee must be a member of McMaster University’s Faculty of Social Sciences: 

  • with a teaching or tenure-stream appointment 
  • within 10 years of completion of their PhD or 10 years from the start of their first tenure track appointment 

Self-nominations are eligible. 

Application Timeline

  • Notice of Intent: Monday March 9, 2026 – Email your brief NOIs to: Nour Wassim wassimn@mcmaster.ca
  • Full Nomination: Monday March 30, 2026 – Full nominations due to: Nour Wassim wassimn@mcmaster.ca
  • Results Announced: May 2026

To Apply

Notice of Intent: Monday March 10, 2025

Please send an email to Nour Wassim at wassimn@mcmaster.ca by 4:00 p.m. that includes the name of the nominee. 

Full Nomination: Monday, March 31, 2025

Please send an email to Nour Wassim at wassimn@mcmaster.ca by 4:00 p.m. and must include the full nomination package outlined below. 

The full nomination will consist of: 

  • A maximum two-page letter justifying the nomination 
  • The nominee’s McMaster CV 
  • Optional: maximum one-page free form supplement. Information included in the supplement can include, but are not limited to: relevant activities not demonstrated in the CV, additional explanation of the significance of research, links to online materials, images, links to video material etc. 

Evaluation Criteria

The Selection Committee will evaluate the candidates’ nominations using the following criteria: 

  • Originality and significance of the research within the nominee’s field 
  • Excellence of research impacts including those in the broader community and scholarly accomplishments, such as research monographs, peer-reviewed articles, grants for scholarship, and creative works 
  • Level of nominee’s integration of research and teaching, training and/or education 

Adjudication

This award will be adjudicated by a selection committee constituted by the Dean of Social Sciences and Associate Dean Research.

If you have any questions, please contact Nour Wassim at wassimn@mcmaster.ca.