Awards for Our Members

The CSM-SCM offers an exclusive variety of awards for students, trainees and researchers in our membership

About CSM Awards

The Canadian Society of Microbiologists offers a variety of prizes, awards, recognitions and honours to its membership annually at different stages in Microbiology training.

We encourage all CSM members to promote and recognize microbiology achievement by applying for and nominating trainees, early career to established researchers and senior scholars annually.

In general, we have three categories of awards geared towards different types of recipients: students and trainees, researchers, and awards specific to travel and events.

The DEADLINE to apply for the following awards: CSM Murray, ThermoFisher, Armand Frappier and Undergraduate Awards is January 19, 2024 (3rd Friday in January).

Awards adjudicated by competitions held during the Annual CSM-SCM Conference are marked with *

Quick Overview of All Awards

A summary of all awards offered by the CSM-SCM is provided below, grouped by audience. Please click on each box to go to a list of applicable awards.

Established Researcher Award

Professor Robert G. E. Murray

CSM Murray Award for Career Achievement

The CSM Award is the Society's Premier award for senior researchers.

Value: $1500 + Free Registration to CSM Annual Conference & Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: Canadian researcher working in the area of microbiology

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

Early Career Researcher Award

Thermo Fisher Logo

ThermoFisher Award

This award is given to stimulate and recognize new researchers in the microbiological science.

Value: $1500 + Free Registration to CSM Annual Conference & Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: Must be CSM/SCM member and either (1) <5 years from 1st independent research position or (2) <10 years from their last degree in the field of Microbiology

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

Post-Doctoral Research Awards

Knowles Postdoctoral Research Prize*

This award is to the best orial presentation in the Postdoctoral Research Symposium at the Annual CSM Conference.

Value: $500 + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: Post-Doctoral Fellow with a CSM membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CSM Ambassador Award

This award supports outstanding graduate students or early career postdocs (within 2 years of graduating) in presenting research at one or more Canadian academic institutions outside their home institution.

Value: Max $1500 ($200 honorarium + $1300 travel expenses)

Frequency of Awards: 2 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

CSM Student / Postdoctoral Travel Award

This award supports students and postdocs who attend the conference. Awards are decided on a lottery basis prior to the conference.

Value: $250

Frequency of Awards: 20 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Graduate Student Awards

Armand-Frappier Outstanding Student Award

This award provides national recognition for outstanding graduate student microbiologists.

Value: $500 + Travel/Registration to CSM Conference + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

Burrows Award for Womxn in Microbiology

This award recognizes a womxn graduate student in microbiology who demonstrates both scientific excellence and commitment to EDI in the field.

Value: $500 + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: Canadian Womxn MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

CSM Ambassador Award

This award supports outstanding graduate students or early career postdocs (within 2 years of graduating) in presenting research at one or more Canadian academic institutions outside their home institution.

Value: Max $1500 ($200 honorarium + $1300 travel expenses)

Frequency of Awards: 2 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

ISME-8 Student Travel Award

This award supports undergraduate and graduate students who attend the CSM Conference. Awards are decided based on quality of abstract submissions.

Value: $400

Frequency of Awards: 5 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CSM Student / Postdoctoral Travel Award

This award supports students and postdocs who attend the conference. Awards are decided on a lottery basis prior to the conference.

Value: $250

Frequency of Awards: 20 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ASM Best Poster Layout Award*

This award recognizes the best poster at the annual conference.

Value: Free ASM Membership (1 Year) + $100 Credit at ASM Bookstore + ASM Plaque

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Terry Beveridge Poster Competition Award*

This award supports excellence in poster presentations at the annual CSM conference.

Value: $500 + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 3 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ISME-8 Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes the best student oral presentation in microbial ecology at the annual conference.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CSP Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes one of the top ranked student presentation at the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Cedarlane Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes the top ranked student presentation as part of the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Plaque

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CCM Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes one of the top ranked student presentations at the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Student Events Support

CSM-SCM provides up to $500 for student-run events at their institutions.

Value: Up to $500 per Event

Frequency of Awards: Varies per Year based on CSM-SCM Executive Decisions

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: October for Events occurring in September - May of the Upcoming Academic Year

Request Support

Undergraduate Student Awards

CSM Undergraduate Award

This award recognizes outstanding promise in an undergraduate student for early career contributions to microbiology.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 6 Per Year

Eligibility: Undergraduate Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: 3rd January of Each Year

Details & Winners

CSM Student / Postdoctoral Travel Award

This award supports students and postdocs who attend the conference. Awards are decided on a lottery basis prior to the conference.

Value: $250

Frequency of Awards: 20 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ISME-8 Student Travel Award

This award supports undergraduate and graduate students who attend the CSM Conference. Awards are decided based on quality of abstract submissions.

Value: $400

Frequency of Awards: 5 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Event Sponsorship Awards

Member Events Support

CSM-SCM provides up to $3000 for member events at their institutions. Priority given to Canadian events that benefit or feature trainees and HQPs with high attendance by CSM members.

Value: Up to $1000 per Event

Frequency of Awards: Varies per year based on CSM-SCM Executive Decisions

Eligibility: Ordinary/Emeritus Members

Request Support

Student Events Support

CSM-SCM provides up to $500 for student-run events at their institutions.

Value: Up to $500 per Event

Frequency of Awards: Varies per year based on CSM-SCM Executive Decisions

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Request Support

Travel Awards

CSM Student / Postdoctoral Travel Award

This award supports students and postdocs who attend the conference. Awards are decided on a lottery basis prior to the conference.

Value: $250

Frequency of Awards: 20 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program or Postdoctoral Fellow with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ISME-8 Student Travel Award

This award supports undergraduate and graduate students who attend the CSM Conference. Awards are decided based on quality of abstract submissions.

Value: $400

Frequency of Awards: 5 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Annual Conference Awards

Knowles Postdoctoral Research Prize*

This award is to the best orial presentation in the Postdoctoral Research Symposium at the Annual CSM Conference.

Value: $500 + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: Post-Doctoral Fellow with a CSM membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ASM Best Poster Layout Award*

This award recognizes the best poster at the annual conference.

Value: Free ASM Membership (1 Year) + $100 Credit at ASM Bookstore + ASM Plaque

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Terry Beveridge Poster Competition Award*

This award supports excellence in poster presentations at the annual CSM conference.

Value: $500 + Framed Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 3 Per Year

Eligibility: MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

ISME-8 Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes the best student oral presentation in microbial ecology at the annual conference.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CSP Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes one of the top ranked student presentation at the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

Cedarlane Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes the top ranked student presentation as part of the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Plaque

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian graduate program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners

CCM Student Symposium Award*

This award recognizes one of the top ranked student presentations at the Student Awards Symposium.

Value: $500 + Certificate

Frequency of Awards: 1 Per Year

Eligibility: BSc/MSc/PhD Student in Canadian program with CSM Membership

Deadline: Coincides with Abstract Submission of Annual Conference

Details & Winners