The Banff International Research Station has a Scientific Director who is appointed for a renewable 5-year term by the Board of Directors of BIRS.

The Scientific Director is responsible for the overall functioning of the scientific and intellectual activities of BIRS. These include:

1. Ensuring that all scientific activities of the Station are run at the standards and with the integrity expected by its sponsors, granting councils and foundations;
2. Acting as an ambassador and public representative of BIRS;
3. Chairing the Scientific Advisory Board and the Programme Committee;
4. Reporting to the Board of Directors on all administrative and intellectual aspects of the Station.

The current BIRS Scientific Director is Malabika Pramanik.