Distinguished Research Chairs

A nomination application must include the following documents:

• Statement of nomination from the Dean, providing the basis and justification for the nomination (2 to 3 pages);
• Chair title and research project summary: Provide a 100 word summary, written in lay language, describing the uniqueness and importance of the proposed research program. This summary may be used for advertising purposes;
• Proposed Research Program written by the nominee (3 to 5 pages). For detailed instructions, please read the Nomination guidelines (PDF, 193 KB).
• A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and practice (maximum 1 page);
• Budget plan and justification: The total budget is $35K per year for five years and may be used to support the core costs of research (e.g., research assistants/associates, graduate students, consumable supplies, and user fees). In this section, please explain how the budget will be used. Note that the funding allocated for the core costs of research is provided in addition to and not as a substitute for a nominee’s concurrent sources of external funding;
• Current Curriculum Vitae (OCGS format (PDF, 127 KB); last 8 years);
• List of the nominee’s five most significant research contributions made during his or her career, explaining their significance and impact;
• Names and email addresses of four (4) independent reviewers, including at least one from abroad.

Please send the nomination application to the Research Chairs Advisor.

The Research Chairs Advisor is responsible for sending the nomination application to three external reviewers in the field.

Conflict of Interest Policy

In order to avoid any conflict of interest, please ensure that the potential reviewers:

• are not affiliated in any way with the University of Ottawa (including hospitals and research institutes);
• have no personal relationship with the nominee (including close friend, relative, former PhD or postdoctoral supervisor, mentor, a student previously under the nominee’s supervision);
• have not collaborated, published or shared funding with the nominee in the last six years, or have no plans to do so in the immediate future;
• are not involved in the proposed program of research; and
• are not in a position to gain or lose financially/materially from the outcome of the nomination.

The nomination application, including external evaluations, is adjudicated based on the following criteria:

• The level of research excellence and productivity achieved by the nominee;
• The level of impact and international recognition in the field;
• The ability to have successfully attracted and retained excellent students, trainees and future researchers; and plans to do so in the next chair mandate;
• The relevance of the proposed research program in relation to the Strategic Areas of Research;
• The originality and quality of the proposed research program; and
• The efforts to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in research.

Following the RCEC’s final recommendation, a notice of decision is sent to the Dean of the nominating Faculty. There is no appeal process.