University Killam Professor

• Up to three UKPs are typically named each competition cycle.
• The award is a $100,000 one-time research allowance, and an annual salary stipend of $20,000.
  • Recipients retain the stipend for as long as they remain a tenured UBC faculty member.

The invitation for nominations is issued in alternating years. Nominations are submitted to the Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ORPA) and are submitted by the Dean of the Faculty in which the nominee holds their primary appointment. Please check with your Faculty to determine the process for nominations.

The submission deadline will be September 2026.

To ensure an equitable distribution, large Faculties (Applied Science UBCV/O, Arts, Education UBCV/O, Medicine and Science UBCV) may each submit up to two nominations.

Smaller Faculties at UBCV (Dentistry, Forestry, Land and Food Systems, Law, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Sauder School of Business) and at UBCO (Arts, Creative & Critical Studies, Health and Social Development, Management and Science) may submit 1 nomination each.

Nominations are put forward by six members of the University community, and each of the six members must submit a signed nomination letter. This group must include at least one student, one staff member, one faculty member, one alumnus/a, and the Dean indicating the extent of the nominee’s acknowledgement by the University community as a person of substantial and widely recognized scholarly distinction.

The nomination package must include:

• Application cover sheet. Download it here.
• Six signed nomination letters,
• Three arm’s-length*, external referee letters in support of the nominee’s suitability for the designation, and
• UBC CV.

Nominations must be submitted as a single PDF and emailed to ORPA at research.prizes@ubc.ca by September 2026.

*Please see here for the guidelines on arm's-length.

Nominees must hold the rank of full professor. Nominations will be evaluated against criteria that demonstrate the characteristics of an exceptional professor worthy of this honour. The criteria include:

• Demonstration of consistent excellence in teaching and conducting research;
• Recognition as an outstanding and innovative researcher whose accomplishments have made a major impact in his or her research field;
• Demonstration of a superior record of attracting and supervising graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows;
• Demonstration of effective and innovative teaching methods;
• Recognition as a strong, passionate and inspirational teacher who encourages students to pursue excellence;
• Demonstration of continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring inside and outside the classroom and/or laboratory;
• Achievement of distinction in the academic and wider community as an extraordinary teacher and/or researcher;
• Achievement of national and international acclaim in the areas of teaching and/or research in the form of an award or recognition of high esteem; and
• Demonstration of continuing receipt of a high degree of respect from students, fellow faculty members, and members of the University administration.

Members of an Advisory Committee will assess the University Killam Professor nominations. Using the selection criteria, the committee will assess the nominees and make recommendations to the President on which nominees should receive the distinction of University Killam Professor. 

The Advisory Committee consists of:

• The Chancellor (Chair)
• The Provost and Vice-President, Academic (UBC Vancouver)
• The Provost and Vice-President, Academic (UBC Okanagan)
• The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (will Chair in the absence of the Chancellor)
• The Chair of the Senior Appointments Committee
• Up to seven existing University Killam Professors
• Up to three additional selected advisors including a student
• Director, Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ex officio – Secretary)