Call for Applications: Research Leadership Chair

The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences welcomes self-nominations and nominations for the University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair.

Research Leadership Chair full details (PDF)

  1. Intent
  2. Value and Duration
  3. Eligibility
  4. Conditions of the Award
  5. Recruitment
  6. Self-nomination and nomination process
  7. Anticipated timelines
  8. Evaluation Committee Membership
  9. Evaluation Criteria
  10. Evaluation Matrix

Intent

The intent and objective of the Research Leadership Chairs is to provide an additional tool by which to recognize faculty members who achieved significant research recognition both nationally and internationally, acknowledging the UG commitment to enhance diversity in research leadership.

These faculty may already be recipients of external honours, and the Research Leadership Chair further recognizes their contribution to both University reputation and advances within their discipline. CSAHS anticipates that the holders of these chairs will develop and sustain a community of practice in research collaborations, mentorship, and/or community engagement.

CSAHS will hold up to two Research Leadership Chairs at any given time, at least one of whom must be a person who self-identifies with an equity-seeking group including women, Black, Indigenous, persons of colour, persons with disabilities and persons who self-identify with a minority gender identity or sexual orientation.


Value and duration

$15,000 per annum in research funds for a period of 3 years. See list of eligible expenses. The DOE for a Research Leadership Chair in CSAHS will be 60% (research) 20% (teaching) 20% (service).


Eligibility

  • Must minimally hold the title of Associate Professor. It is anticipated that many Research Leadership Chairs will be Full Professors.
  • Have a DOE of at least 40% effort for research.
  • Must have a track record of research excellence, impact and leadership.
  • Must not have previously held a University of Guelph Research Leadership Chair.
  • Must not hold a Canada Research Chair Tier I or II

Conditions of the Award

Each recipient will provide two public lectures, organized by the Office of Research, for a general audience, based on their research.

Each Research Leadership Chair will be expected to submit a one-page annual report indicating how the research funds and teaching releases were used in support of the research objectives of the Chair. This report is due July 15th of every year the award is held.


Recruitment

Self-nominations and nominations will be encouraged from all CSAHS departments through multiple channels:

  1. At least one direct posting by the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies and College Research Manager through Microsoft Teams – CSAHS Researchers.
  2. At least one direct communication by Department Chairs through departmental faculty listservs and at department faculty meetings.
  3. Permanent posting of the award announcement on the CSAHS website.

Department Chairs will be encouraged to proactively promote this opportunity to members of underrepresented groups in their department through email and informal dialogue.

If, by the internal deadline, the pool of applicants does not include members of underrepresented groups, then the internal application deadline will be extended, and additional communications of the award will be distributed using the channels described above.


Self-nomination and nomination process

Eligible applicants can self-nominate or be nominated by a current CSAHS faculty member.

Self-nomination or nomination packages should be sent to the Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies (csahsadr@uoguelph.ca) and should include:

  1. Self-nomination or nomination case letter (2-3 pages) that provides clear and specific evidence of research excellence, national and international recognition and impact, and research leadership (see evaluation criteria below). The letter should also include:
    • A statement on whether the nominee considers themselves a member of an equity-seeking group including women, Black, Indigenous, persons of colour, persons with disabilities and persons who self-identify with a minority gender identity or sexual orientation.
    • A statement of any conflict of interest that exists between the nominator and nominee, or between the nominee and any member of the Evaluation Committee that may unfairly favour a nominee.
    • If applicable, the letter should include a description of any career interruptions or other personal circumstances that delayed research productivity including, but not limited to, maternity, parental, medical, or family leaves. An approximate length of time for which productivity was reduced should be included (e.g., a one-year parental leave may have reduced productivity for up to two years).
  2. Nominee’s CV, preferably formatted using the UNIWeb system.
    • For up to 10 of the most impactful contributions, nominees are encouraged to provide a brief statement on excellence, recognition, impact and leadership.

Anticipated timelines

Self-nominations/nominations are due to the Office of the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies by Monday, November 6th.

Selected nominations will be forwarded to the Vice-President (Research) and the Provost & Vice-President (Academic) by Friday, December 1st.


Evaluation Committee Membership

  • Uwa Idemudia
  • Paula Barata
  • Francesco Leri
  • Carina Lang
  • Ryan Broll
  • Stephanie Craig
  • Dalia El Khoury
  • Leah Levac
  • Deborah Stienstra

Evaluation Criteria

The Research Leadership Chair recognizes research excellence of mid- to late-career-stage faculty who have a proven record of distinguished and sustained scholarly work.

Research excellence is recognized as scholarly output that is demonstrably internationally impactful within the nominee’s discipline. This may include published works, but may also comprise other forms of scholarly output, research-related knowledge mobilization, research-derived innovation, and training of highly qualified personnel.

To ensure fairness and transparency, and address systemic barriers at each stage of nomination (i.e., at department and/or college levels), the CSAHS Research Leadership Chair Special Evaluation Committee will:

  1. Consider the value and impact of all research outputs (including community engaged practice, datasets, software, artistic and creative works), in addition to research publications, and consider a broad range of impact measures including qualitative indicators of research impact, such as influence on policy and practice.
  2. Define selection criteria prior to screening the applications, to ensure an unbiased, consistent and transparent selection process using an evaluation matrix linked to these criteria.

Criterion 1: Research Excellence

Definition: Scholarly output that is demonstrably nationally and internationally impactful within, and possibly beyond, the nominee's discipline.

  • Quality and quantity of publications (Papers in refereed and/or open access journals, case reports, review articles, research reports, government publications, books, book chapters, monographs, position paper, policy briefing notes, multi-media, artistic or creative outputs, software, reference data, computer generated data, datasets, entries into public research databases)
  • Strong and intentional incorporation of EDI principles in research and HQP training
  • Conference or meeting presentations
  • Invited talks and presentations including plenaries and keynotes
  • Grants and contracts awarded (especially national and international external funding)
  • National and/or international peer or community recognition for research
  • HQP training and excellence (scholarships, awards, positions achieved)
  • Inclusion of students in research teams
  • Membership on external graduate student thesis examinations
  • Major research prizes or awards
  • Patents, innovations, and other forms of intellectual property
  • Visiting Professorships

Criterion 2: Research Impact

Definition: Realized uptake and benefits of the nominee’s research on disciplinary, scientific, industry, community and public groups.

  • Citation of research by national or international bodies/working groups (e.g. United Nations, OECD, governments, Indigenous governments or organizations, non-governmental organizations, community organizations)
  • Citation of research in policy, regulatory, strategy, practice, or other documents
  • Documented changes to guidelines, policy standards, professional standards, or codes of practice.
  • Engagement with research in multimedia, creative and artistic venues
  • Citation by other researchers
  • Sustained collaborations or engagement with community and/or public groups.
  • Measures of improved outcomes, public health, or health services.
  • Invitations to participate in government or NGO debate and discussions (e.g. expert panels, policy committees, advice to government)
  • Consultancies to public or other bodies that utilize research expertise
  • Media engagement, coverage or citations
  • Translation of research into new or improved products, procedures, processes, or services

Criterion 3: Research Leadership

Definition: Influencing the advancement of research and the research enterprise through advocacy and engagement beyond one’s individual research program.

  • Advocates for and engaged in increasing EDI in research, within their department/College, and at their institution.
  • Establishes and/or leads formal or informal research collaborations and networks
  • Advances research in new or emerging fields, including but not limited to, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, participatory, action, translational, community-based, or practice research.
  • Develops research-related initiatives (internal or external)
  • Engages in mentorship with students, early career researchers, community organizations and other researchers
  • Research Knowledge Mobilization activities including contributions to community knowledge sharing (newsletters, conferences, factsheets, knowledge briefs), social media, infographics, policy briefs, op-eds or opinion pieces, delivery of research-related material to student groups, interns, professional associations, and lay public, scientific outreach activities, papers and extension communications published in non-refereed journals
  • Extent and quality of involvement in professional and scholarly scientific organizations
  • Review of manuscripts in refereed and/or open access journals
  • Review of books/chapters
  • Review of internal and external grant proposals
  • Membership on editorial boards of peer reviewed research journals
  • Membership and role on expert committees
  • Provision of expert consultation
  • Organization and/or Chairing of internal and external research conferences, workshops, symposia
  • Leading (PI) on successful multi-investigator or multi-site collaborative research team grant application
  • External graduate student co-supervision
  • Hosting Visiting Professors
  • Promotion and/or advocacy to advance leadership among members of underrepresented communities.
  • Stewardship of large research initiatives (e.g. leading a research centre, network or facility)
 

Evaluation Matrix

Criteria Exceptional Outstanding Very Strong Strong
Research Excellence Contributions presented are of the highest level of quality. Contributions presented are of high quality. Contributions presented are above average in quality. Contributions presented in the application are of good quality.
Research Impact Impact and importance of the work is clearly evident and ground-breaking. Impact and importance of the work is clearly evident and influential. Impact and importance of the work is clearly evident. Impact and importance of the work is evident.

 

Research Leadership Acknowledged as a leader in terms of research excellence, accomplishments, and engagement. Research excellence, accomplishments, and engagement are far superior to others. Research excellence, accomplishments, and engagement are superior to others. Research excellence, accomplishments, and engagement are significant.

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