Forge the Future of Learning: The Jacobs-CIFAR Research Fellowship 2027-2029

 

 Forge the Future of Learning: The Jacobs-CIFAR Research Fellowship 2027-2029

This is more than a fellowship. It’s a catalyst. Imagine your research not only publishing in prestigious journals but actively shaping classrooms, influencing policy, and redefining how the world supports every child’s potential. The Jacobs Foundation and CIFAR are not just offering funding; they are inviting you into a vanguard of scholars dedicated to one of the most urgent questions of our time: How can we unlock the unique potential in every child, everywhere?

If you are a pioneering early- or mid-career researcher whose work bridges disciplines and challenges conventions in child and youth development, this is your call to ascend. Join a curated global network where your science finds its voice and its impact.

Application Deadline: February 2, 2026, 12:00 PM EST.

Click Here to Access the Application Portal & Full Details

Why This Fellowship is a Watershell Moment for Your Career

Forget siloed academia. The Jacobs-CIFAR Research Fellowship is engineered for the translational thinker—the researcher who sees the direct line from neural circuitry to educational equity, from cognitive science to community intervention. With CHF 150,000 in flexible funding, this is your resource to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas that traditional grants might overlook.

But the true value lies beyond the financial investment. This is an intellectual and professional forge.

You Will Gain:

A Strategic Partnership: Collaborate with the Jacobs Foundation, a global leader in leveraging science for societal change, and CIFAR, renowned for its boundary-less research programs. This is a partnership that believes in your vision.

An Elite Global Network: Gain immediate entry into an interdisciplinary community of Fellows and Alumni—neuroscientists, economists, educators, developmental psychologists—all committed to systemic change. This is your lifelong brain trust.

A Platform for Influence: Move from the lab to the limelight. We provide dedicated media and communication support to translate your findings for policymakers, practitioners, and the broader public, ensuring your work drives meaningful conversations in the real world.

Space for Genius: This fellowship is intentionally structured to provide the intellectual freedom and “white space” necessary for breakthrough innovation. It supports not just your project, but your growth as a scientific leader.

Are You Our Ideal Fellow?

We seek exceptional minds who meet the following formal criteria:

Hold a PhD or equivalent degree awarded within the last 10 years (on or after January 1, 2016).

Are employed at an accredited institution of higher education or a research institute.

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to engaging fully with the Jacobs-CIFAR Fellowship Network.

More importantly, we are looking for:

The Connector: Your work naturally integrates insights from disparate fields—perhaps blending AI with developmental psychology, or economics with early childhood education.

The Pathfinder: You are driven by questions of learning variability, cognitive development, educational equity, and the systems that affect youth outcomes. Your research has clear, transformative potential for practice and policy.

The Communicator: You are not content with discovery alone. You possess the desire and potential to articulate complex scientific concepts to those who can apply them: teachers, parents, and leaders.

Your Journey as a Fellow: A Three-Year Transformation

Year 1: Integration & Ignition

Immerse yourself in the network. Participate in the inaugural fellowship meeting, connecting with peers and senior mentors. Begin using the dedicated online platform to spark cross-disciplinary collaborations. The funding empowers you to launch ambitious pilot studies or acquire key data.

Year 2: Deep Dive & Dissemination

Present emerging findings at a leading international conference supported by the fellowship. Engage in virtual workshops with network members to refine methodologies and tackle challenges. Begin crafting policy briefs or public-facing content with our communications team, seeing your ideas resonate in new arenas.

Year 3: Synthesis & Legacy

Your research culminates in high-impact outputs. More importantly, you solidify your role as a nexus within the global network, mentoring incoming fellows and shaping the fellowship’s future direction. You transition from Fellow to Alumni, carrying forward a permanent identity as a leader in the science of learning.

Answer the Call

The most groundbreaking insights into child and youth development will not come from incremental steps within a single discipline. They will emerge at the intersection of ideas, cultures, and methodologies. The Jacobs-CIFAR Research Fellowship is designed explicitly to create those intersections—and to place you at their centre.

This is your opportunity to:

Accelerate your most ambitious work with significant, unrestricted funding.

Amplify your impact by connecting with shapers of policy and practice.

Belong to a purpose-driven community that will champion your career for years to come.

Deadline for Transformation: February 2, 2026.

Do not let this moment pass. If you are ready to elevate your research from influential to indispensable, we urge you to apply.

Take the First Step:

Review the comprehensive application guidelines and prepare your materials. We strongly recommend initiating your proposal well before the deadline to craft a narrative as compelling as your science.

Ready to forge the future?

Access the Application & Complete Information Here

The Jacobs Foundation & CIFAR: Investing in Minds, Transforming Futures.