This award is designed to honour a remarkable CSEP member who has secured a Ph.D. or M.D. degree within the last decade and has made significant contributions to the field of exercise science. The recipient will have the opportunity to share their groundbreaking research in a 30-minute presentation at the CSEP Annual Conference, highlighting their contributions to the advancement of our field.

  • Applicants must have been placed in a faculty position within 10-years of receiving their Ph.D. or M.D. degree.
  • Time taken for medical or parental leave post-appointment will be excluded from the 10-year eligibility period.
  • Applicants must  be CSEP members in good standing at the time of application and have maintained their membership over the past year.
  • Candidates should have a distinguished reputation in Canada and notable recognition internationally.
  • Evidence is required of sustained research funding beyond the initial grant cycle, impactful publications in peer-reviewed journals affirming the applicant’s independence as a scientist, and a track record of mentoring highly qualified personnel.
  • Applicants are encouraged to present evidence of their early research program’s impact, demonstrating recognition, influence in their field, community, or policy.
  • Research alignment with CSEP’s vision and mission should be clearly demonstrated.
  • Include the following in your submission:
    • Contact information.
    • Details of Ph.D. or M.D. acquisition and first faculty appointment.
    • A list of up to four significant publications with a brief commentary on their importance.
    • A letter of support (max two pages or ~600 words) endorsing the nomination.
    • The applicant’s CV in the standard common CV format.
    • Copies of the listed publications.
  • Unselected applicants can choose to remain in the nomination pool for one additional year.
  • Submissions may be updated and resubmitted within three years, provided eligibility criteria continue to be met.
  • Nominations are open to self-nomination or can be made by another CSEP member.
  • Apply between April 1 – May 1, 2025, to be recognized for your contributions to exercise science and kinesiology.
Apply Today
  • A selection committee, including the Vice Chair of Research, Director Academic, Director Student (or their designee) and a CSEP member, will evaluate applications received by the deadline.
  • The selection committee may reach out to nominators for further details about the applicants.
  • The CSEP Chair will notify the award recipient of their selection at least two months before the CSEP Annual Conference.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.
  • The award recipient is required to deliver a 30-minute research presentation at the CSEP Annual Conference.
  • The recipient will also receive an invitation from APNM to write a review, with Canadian Science Publishing providing free open access for the publication.
  • The recipient will be awarded a framed citation and complimentary registration for the CSEP Annual Conference.
  • Following the conference, the recipient will be reimbursed for travel expenses up to $1,000 (CAD).

2024

  • Dr. Chris McGlory, Ph.D., Queen’s University

2023

  • Dr. Julia Totosy de Zepetnek Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Regina
    • Physical Activity and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Axis in Health and Disease.

2022 

  • Vladimir, Ljubicic Ph.D., Associate Professor, McMaster University
    • Exercise biology: movement, muscle and molecules

2021 

  • Valerie Carson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Alberta
    • Start them young: Optimal movement for optimal health

2020 

  • Jonathan Little, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of British Columbia Okanagan
    • Learning immunology and nutrition through the lens of exercise physiology

2019 

  • Jennifer Reed, Ph.D., RKin, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
    • HIIT-ing Heart Disease: The Science of My Journey as a Young Investigator

2018

  • Jordan Guenette, B.H.K., M.Sc., Ph. D., Director of the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Physiology Lab, University of British Columbia
    • Respiratory Exercise Physiology: From Elite Athletes to Chronic Respiratory Disease

2017 

  • Todd Duhamel, Ph.D., University of Manitoba
    • Exploring physical activity in patients undergoing physical activity

2016 

  • Jean-Philippe Chaput, Ph.D., Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO), Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
    • From Zzz to Intense Exercise: My Journey as a Young Scientist

2015 

  • Kristi Adamo, Ph.D., University of Ottawa
    • Are the early years the key to long term health?

2014 

  • Antony Karelis, Ph.D., Université du Québec à Montréal
    • Current issues in the identification and treatment of metabolically healthy but obese individuals

2013 

  • Michael Stickland, Ph.D., University of Alberta
    • Bad lungs, or good engineering? – Investigating pulmonary gas exchange impairment with exercise

2012 

  • David Wright, Ph.D., University of Guelph
    • Exercise Makes Fat Fit

2011 

  • Gianni Parise, Ph.D., McMaster University
    • Muscle Stem Cell Regulation: Insights from Cells, Mice, and Men

2010 

  • Philip Ainslie, Ph.D., University of British Columbia Okanagan
    • The Highs and Lows of Human Brain Research

2009 

  • Darren Warburton, Ph.D., University of British Columbia
    • A Cardiovascular Physiologists Journey: a Transdisciplinary Approach to High Performance and Clinical Exercise Physiology

2008 

  • James W. E. Rush, Ph. D., The University of Waterloo
    • Breaking down two solitudes: Sometimes vascular cells and muscle cells speak the same language during exercise and disease.

2007 

  • Ian Janssen, Ph. D., Queen’s University
    • Role of physical activity in assessing health risk in children and youth.

2006 

  • Michael Tschakovsky, Ph. D., Queen’s University
    • Control of exercising muscle blood flow: lessons from integrative human studies.

2005 

  • Robert Boushel, Ph. D., Concordia University
    • Localized measures of muscle oxygen transport and uptake.

2004 

  • Keven Shoemaker, Ph. D., The University of Western Ontario
  • Neurovascular Control from Head to Toe.

2003 

  • Stuart Phillips, Ph. D., McMaster University
  • The Regulation of Muscle Mass in Humans: a Balancing Act.

2002 

  • Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph. D., Queen’s University
  • Physical Activity and Obesity: From Basic Science to Public Health.

Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion Statement

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the Society’s business. This includes, but is not limited to, applications for membership, awards and grant review, and employment and volunteer positions. CSEP welcomes applications and participation from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. In its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, members of the Society, its committees and employees and/or any award/grant recipients are expected to uphold the same policies in their work related to the Society.