The Office of the VP Research & Innovation coordinates an internal selection process for some external awards, usually because of limits on the number of nominations that can be submitted by UBC.
How the internal selection process typically works:
- VPRI launches an open call for nominations of candidates across both campuses with consideration to the award or prize’s eligibility criteria, typically 2-6 months ahead of the deadline. This call is usually posted on the VPRI’s website, distributed widely to faculty in the VPRI’s Research Digest and other newsletters, and cascaded by email. Faculties, departments, divisions, institutes, and schools across UBC are encouraged to embed EDI considerations in their nomination strategies.
- Nominators (e.g., faculty, Department Heads, Deans, ADRs) submit the documents required as part of the preliminary selection – typically a CV and/or 1-2 page rationale (see the Office of Research Prizes and Award’s website for the specific requirements and submission instructions for each award). Internal selection generally does not require a complete application package, nor referee letters.
- If self-nomination is permitted, potential candidates who are interested in being nominated for an award may self-nominate at this stage.
- If self-nomination is permitted, potential candidates who are interested in being nominated for an award may self-nominate at this stage.
- A preliminary selection committee reviews the nominations and selects candidates based on the award criteria. The committee’s deliberations include considerations related to equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, indigenization, fairness, and unconventional research outputs.
- The selection committee may be standing or ad hoc depending on the award. It may include the Associate VP of Research and Innovation, the Chair of the Institutional Council for Research Prizes and Awards, and/or UBC's National Funding Agency Faculty Research Advisors, Associate Deans of Research, Department Heads or other faculty with administrative responsibilities. Faculty members with particular areas of expertise may be asked to participate as needed.
- The selection committee may be standing or ad hoc depending on the award. It may include the Associate VP of Research and Innovation, the Chair of the Institutional Council for Research Prizes and Awards, and/or UBC's National Funding Agency Faculty Research Advisors, Associate Deans of Research, Department Heads or other faculty with administrative responsibilities. Faculty members with particular areas of expertise may be asked to participate as needed.
- Usually one candidate is selected per award/prize, or per category/discipline for competitions where more than one distinction is being adjudicated. The Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ORPA) notifies nominators and/or candidates of the outcomes of the preliminary selection process.
- Nominators, or nominating teams, of selected candidates assemble the nomination package and coordinate with external referees. ORPA offers nomination development support, including editorial review of the nomination documents.
- If ORPA is submitting the final nomination package, nominators submit the materials to ORPA before the deadline requested. ORPA obtains the necessary Institutional sign-off and submits nominations to the awarding organization. In some cases, ORPA may obtain institutional sign off on a form or letter and return this component to nominating teams to submit directly.
For questions related to this process, or for nomination development support, contact us.