Internal Awards Summary and FAQs

All seven awards have the same deadline:

1. Expression of Intent: Monday, September 16, 2024 11:59 pm (Optional stage, not requested for Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship)

2. Submission: Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm

Yes, certainly. The EOI is an optional stage: we request (and do recommend) EOI, but it is mainly for planning purposes and to try and ensure that there is nominee representation across UBC faculties. EOIs are not evaluated.

Reminder that EOI is not requested for the Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship.

Submission forms and guidelines are available at https://prizes.research.ubc.ca/ubc-faculty-research-award-opportunities

Nominations are reviewed by the Faculty Research Awards Committee (FRAC), a volunteer committee constituted by the VP Research & Innovation with members drawn from both the Arts and Science disciplines.

Any questions regarding the FRAC should be sent to the Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ORPA) at research.prizes@ubc.ca 

The results are typically announced in March, and celebrated at an annual prizes reception in Spring.

We categorize the broad domains as Health, Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSE), and Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH).

Only the McDowell and Somerset/Black awards have restricted eligibility by domain (NSE and SSH, respectively). These requirements are laid out in the terms of endowment for each award.

The Killam Prizes are adjudicated in separate sub-committees of the FRAC (SSH and NSE/Health), but are open for submissions from all domains.

ORPA reviews are not available for internal awards but staff are available to answer questions.

Please contact the Office of Research Prizes and Awards at research.prizes@ubc.ca

Large

a. Applied Science (UBC-V and UBC-O)

b. Arts

c. Education (UBC-V and UBC-O)

d. Medicine (including Southern Medical Program)

e. Science

Small

a. Dentistry

b. Forestry

c. Land & Food Systems

d. Law

e. Pharmaceutical Sciences

f. Sauder School of Business

All other UBC-Okanagan faculties may submit one each:

a. Arts

b. Creative & Critical Studies

c. Health & Social Development

d. Management

e. Science

The award is for a two-year term, with a one-time research allowance of $50,000 when it is first announced. Funding of $60,000 will be provided to the awardee’s academic unit to help offset teaching load over the two-year period.

Nominees must be full-time, recently-tenured faculty (generally defined as within 3-4 years past tenure) who are no more than 15 years post-PhD.

The nominee is eligible. Applicants should use the Contextual Perspective section to outline career interruptions or other circumstances that have influenced their career trajectory.

Nominations must be submitted by the Dean or Dean’s designate. Nominations for faculty members with joint appointments must be submitted by the Dean (or designate) of the primary Faculty. Nominees should review the eligibility guidelines and contact their Associate Dean of Research or Dean to receive guidance on process.

No, you do not require tenure, however tenured applicants generally apply for the Killam Fellowship.

The Killam Research Fellowship is typically intended for a 12-month study leave, and while a 6-month leave is not common, yes, it is possible.

Applicants should contact the Office of Research Prizes and Awards at research.prizes@ubc.ca in advance of submitting an application for a 6-month sabbatical.

Eligible study leave dates for the 2024 competition cycle are: Jul 2024, Sep 2024, Jan 2025, or Jul 2025.

Only the leave dates listed above are eligible for the current competition. If you are selected as a recipient of the award and your leave dates are no longer eligible, you will not be able to defer the award.

You can still apply if you began your study leave on or after July 1st, 2024.

Your research plan should clearly explain your planned research within a maximum of 1,200 words. As far as technical detail goes, there is no steadfast rule. However, when writing the plan keep in mind that the adjudicators may not be technically familiar with your research area.

It must indicate that the institution supports the proposed visit and will provide the resources required to complete the work that is to be undertaken there.

Yes, a letter of invitation/support is required from each institution the applicant will visit where the institution will provide resources essential to completing the research program proposed, including space, materials (including archival materials), equipment.

The content of the support letters is up to your referee, but there are four key points that should be discussed:

1. the referee’s relationship to the applicant,
2. the applicant's research record,
3. the quality of the research plan, and
4. a summary of why the research is important.

Yes. Given the competitive nature of these competitions, we certainly encourage re-nomination in subsequent years as long as the nominee remains eligible. Please update the nomination package with correct dates and recent achievements, including the referee letters.

Self-nominations are not accepted for these awards, and faculty members must be nominated by their peers, colleagues, departments, or units.

That being said, potential nominees are encouraged to advocate for themselves within their department, school or faculty to be nominated. Annual, tenure, or promotion reviews can be an occasion to discuss potential nomination opportunities with department heads.

Please contact ORPA for support with this, or for helping finding a nominator.