Terms of Reference and Conditions

University Research Professor

University Research Professor (URP) honours faculty members who have demonstrated a consistently high level of scholarship in their field, including graduate student supervision and mentoring activities, and whose contributions to their discipline are of a significant international stature. The URP has acquired a designation above the rank of full professor. The title is the most prestigious award the university gives for research and/or creative activity.

In the context of this award, research refers to peer-reviewed, juried, adjudicated or equivalent research/scholarly work including creative activity and performance.

Memorial University is fully committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-AR) and Indigenization. Research activities such as student supervision, mentorship and community partnership/collaboration involving EDI-AR and Indigenization target groups in all its forms are highly valued at Memorial.

(a) Memorial shall establish the position of URP, a position that reflects excellence in research.

(b) The title shall honour the leading scholars in the university and are made to encourage even greater scholarly achievements. Candidates will have a substantially superior and sustained academic record at the rank of full professor. These individuals must have demonstrated a consistently high level of scholarship in their field, including graduate student supervision and other mentoring activities. Their research and/or creative activity is of a truly international stature.

(c) The award carries with it the lifetime designation of University Research Professor and a one-time unrestricted research grant of $25,000 to be expended within a five-year period. The research grant is to be used at the discretion of the recipient with the sole purpose of supporting future research and/or creative activity.

(d) No more than two URPs shall be awarded annually. There shall be no obligation to recommend an award in the absence of suitably qualified candidates. No individual shall receive the award more than once.

(e) It is expected that URPs will, at the very least, maintain the level of scholarship for which they were honoured.

(f) Nominations for URP may be made by any full-time academic staff member (ASM) of the University and shall be co-sponsored by the candidate’s administrative head and three other persons (internal or external) who are fully knowledgeable of the candidate's qualifications. Applications are also accepted but must be accompanied by five sponsors, one of which will be the candidate’s administrative head.

(g) While this award is intended to be based on individual accomplishment, it is recognized that there may be cases where the work of two or more individuals are so intertwined that they can only be considered as a team. Under such circumstances, a team application may be submitted. Each member of the team must meet the eligibility criteria noted below. In the case of team applications, only activities that have been carried out by the team will be considered in the assessment. In addition, any award made to a team will be of the same value as that which would be awarded to a single individual.

(h) Nominations or applications must be submitted to the Office of the Vice-President (Research), by Nov. 30 at 5:00 pm NST. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will automatically be scheduled for the next business day.

(i) Unsuccessful candidates will be automatically reconsidered for one additional year providing they continue to meet the award criteria. Those applicants being reconsidered, and are eligible, will have the opportunity to update their application materials.

(j) The evaluation of nominations/applications shall be undertaken by a diverse adjudication committee, chaired by the Vice-President (Research) or designate, with representation from the Senate Committee on Research (SCOR) who acts as an observer. The mandate of this committee is to review nominations and applications, and to make recommendations to the President.

Eligibility

(a) Designation of the title of URP shall be limited to those ASMs at the rank of full Professor. Applicants from the Marine Institute must hold a permanent or contractual appointment of at least two years at the time of application.

(b) In considering possible nominations, care should be given to the time interval since promotion to full professor. It is essential that nominees have sufficient time to acquire a superior and sustained record of academic performance at that level.

(c) ASMs currently holding research chairs (i.e. Canada Research Chairs) are excluded from this competition. Vice-Presidents and Deans are not eligible for nomination or application during their administrative terms.

(d) Individuals are not eligible for this distinction if they are retired or are not an active faculty member when this honour is awarded (normally December of each year).

Evaluation Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated on the quality, innovation, and importance of their research and/or creative accomplishments. The candidate’s national and international stature as assessed by the peers in their field will play a major role in the adjudication committee’s selection.

Indicators of outstanding performance, reflective of international recognition, that may be considered include:

Evidence of scholarly dissemination (e.g., books, book chapters, journal articles, conference papers, conference proceedings, invited and plenary lectures, juried art shows, invited performances of artistic works, invited leadership performances, music and writing competitions).
High ratings of the publications and other research or creative work as attested, where appropriate, by citations indices, by references in published literature, or in letters from distinguished scholars or critics in the field.
Non-refereed contributions including book reviews, research reports, policy papers, public lectures. This category may also include creative outputs (e.g., exhibitions of candidates’ work, curated exhibits, film, video, audio recordings and websites).
Other contributions to research and the advancement of knowledge to non-academic audiences (e.g., general public, policy-makers, private sector and/or not-for-profit organizations), service to national/international agencies, external examination of theses and dissertations, and editorship roles for publications.
Published reviews of the publications or creative works, media and content expertise requests and coverage.
Awards for outstanding research (e.g., from professional associations).
Funding from external grants awarded as a result of peer review by national and international funding bodies with your role in securing the funding specified.
Evidence of research and creative leadership (e.g., team achievements, editorships, invitations to deliver keynotes, conference and workshop organization, board membership, membership on national/international committees or juries for funding and/or awards and honours).
Research impacts (e.g., creative or scientific advancement), to the economy (e.g., new companies, products and procedures), to people (e.g., skills), and to society (e.g., quality of life, improved health, policy development).
Contributions to training undergraduate, master and doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and community-based research assistants and staff relevant to the candidate’s supervisory environment. Consideration will be given for those disciplines that do not have graduate degree programs at Memorial.
Contributions to EDI-AR and Indigenization in research and/or other relevant activities. Student supervision, mentorship and partnership/collaboration involving EDI-AR and Indigenization target groups are considered.
Any other clear evidence of exceptional contribution to the chosen field.

Nomination/Application Guidelines

The applicant is encouraged to provide all information necessary for referees and adjudication committee members to assess applications in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Adjudication committees are instructed not to seek information outside of the application materials when conducting their reviews. As such, it is recommended that the applicant explains how their research output is outstanding in comparison to others in their field at a comparable stage of career. In particular, applicants should:

describe and contextualize their most significant research results or creative work and highlight their impact;
explain their roles in securing funding;
describe clearly their role and contributions to team research activities;
explain the significance of the awards and honours they have received, such as prizes, keynote addresses, invited presentations, national and international board memberships or professorships;
discuss, if relevant, connections with community and academic collaborators and describe their roles in specific groups and networks;
address their mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff and community members, including through skills training; assisting them with securing their own funding for independent research; or through involving them in the applicant’s research program;
describe their contributions in cases of the co-supervision of students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff; and
explain considerations of EDI-AR and Indigenization in research and/or other relevant activities. Student supervision, mentorship and partnership/collaboration involving EDI-AR and Indigenization target groups are considered.

Documents

Nominations or applications for a URP should consist of the following documents:

(1) Nomination Form

(2) Letter of nomination or application that describes how the candidate meets the criteria listed above. The letter should be no more than two pages.

(3) Three sponsors of the application, including the applicant’s administrative head may add their signature to the application letter or provide a separate letter of support. These indicators of support are not to include an appraisal of the candidate’s research and should not exceed 50 words. In sponsoring an application, the sponsor is attesting that the applicant promotes an inclusive research culture and adheres to the university’s core values - https://www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GENINFO-0402. In particular, the applicant shows integrity, collegiality and inclusivity.

(4) A maximum of one-page statement outlining the impact that career interruptions have had on their research program, if any. This statement, where relevant, should describe the impacts of the interruption(s), including the duration of the circumstances affecting research and/or training and mentoring activities.

(5) A one-page citation or appraisal of the candidate's research describing their major contributions in a way easily understandable to those outside the discipline. This will be used for public announcements about the successful candidates as well as for a reminder to referees of the candidate's major contributions.

(6) A maximum of five (5) selected works of the nominee or applicant. If necessary, these will be returned at the end of the adjudication process.

(7) A maximum of one-page description of how the nominee considers EDI-AR and Indigenization in research and other relevant activities. Student supervision, mentorship and partnership/collaboration involving EDI-AR and Indigenization target groups will be considered.

(8) The names of five external (preferably international) referees at the rank of full professor and the nature of any relationship the candidate may have with these individuals. The Committee shall be free to use these and other referees in seeking national and international appraisal of the candidate's scholarly record. The Committee may also seek any other opinion or advice as deemed appropriate.

Do’s

It is your responsibility to ensure all contact information for your referees is complete and up to date. Incomplete or incorrect contact information could result in these referees receiving a late request, or not receiving it at all.

Don’ts

Do not include more than 5 referees.
Do not recommend referees who:

Are currently or have been affiliated with Memorial or are from the same institution as any member of research teams you have been or are a part of (including co-authors or collaborators);
Are from the same institution as another referee – the five referees you suggest must be from five different institutions;
Have collaborated with you or any member of your research team(s) within the last six years;
Have published with you in the last six years;
Have had a personal relationship with you or with any member of your research team(s); and,
Have served as your graduate or postdoctoral supervisor or who have had a similar supervisory or mentoring relationship with you within the last six years.

(9) A curriculum vitae using Memorial?s online template

Instructions for preparing and formatting the required documents:

Use a font size of 12-point, black type;
All materials should be single-spaced;
No condensed/narrow fonts, type, or spacing;
Insert a margin of 2 cm (3/4 inch) - minimum - around the page;
Indicate your name at the top of each page. Indicate the page number clearly at the bottom of each page;
Observe page limitations indicated above; and,
Use only letter size (21.25 X 27.5 cm / 8.5" X 11") white paper/background for all attachments.

Completed materials are to be sent electronically to researchawards@mun.ca by 5:00 p.m. on Nov.30th. If the nomination package contains books they can be sent to Tina Winsor, RIS, IIC2015.

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

The information on this form is collected under the authority of the Memorial University Act (RSNL 1990 Chapter M-7) and is needed for and will be used to assess the nomination or application for University Research Professor. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information contact the office of Awards and Honours, at 709-864-2740.

Revised July 2024