51猎奇入口

Please help us recognize and celebrate 51猎奇入口researchers for their research excellence and readiness to be nominated for major external research awards. Research Excellence within the context of these Awards encompasses a broad spectrum of research or research-creation and other scholarly work that demonstrates exceptional expertise, leadership and integrity. The cumulative effects of these activities, outcomes, and impacts have the potential to contribute to one or more disciplines, foster collaboration, enhance research capacity, promote public understanding, benefit communities and/or drive positive change within and beyond academia.

A total of up to six awards will be conferred, up to three in each category. Each award carries a $5,000 research grant.

Eligibility Details

Nominators: Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs and Directors, and faculty colleagues. Self-nominations are not permitted.

Nominees: Nominees must鈥痟old an鈥痑ppointment as a 鈥淩esearch Faculty Member鈥� under the SFUFA Collective Agreement. Specific award categories may have additional eligibility requirements as noted below.

We encourage nominators to consider all eligible candidates, including those from equity-deserving groups, whose contributions may be less visible due to systemic barriers. Nominations that help broaden the definition of excellence are especially welcome, such as for researchers whose impact may not be fully captured by conventional metrics. We also invite nominations of individuals whose scholarship challenges traditional boundaries and demonstrates innovation鈥攚hether through diverse cultural perspectives, Indigenous knowledge systems, community-engaged research, interdisciplinary collaborations, creative outputs, or knowledge mobilization activities that advance academic and societal impact. Thank you for your contribution to supporting equitable opportunity in these awards.

Selection Criteria

Awardees must demonstrate fit with the research category as defined in the Call for Nominations. Reviews will then be based on the following relative to career stage and disciplinary norms. Awardees must demonstrate at least one of the following:

1. Demonstrate expertise, leadership, and integrity in research
2. Build research capacity in the discipline
3. Benefit communities, within and/or beyond the academy

Current Award Categories

The Vice-President, Research and Innovation (鈥渢he VPRI鈥�) invites nominations for the following awards for the 2026 competition. A total of up to six awards鈥痺ill be conferred: up to three in each of the two categories:

Horizon Award

Recognizes research and other scholarly contributions by an early-career scholar (within six years of their first independent academic appointment) who demonstrates exceptional growth and potential over their career to date.

Eligibility: Open to individuals within the six years of their first independent academic appointment, as of the nomination deadline.

Sample Indicators:鈥疶he following indicators are鈥�illustrative, not exhaustive. They are鈥�examples鈥痮f what strong nominees may have accomplished, relative to the award category and discipline. Nominees may demonstrate excellence in other ways consistent with the award鈥檚 intent.

1. Expertise, Leadership, and Integrity in Research

   1. Sustained record of high-impact scholarship or creative work

   2. Shaping of research agendas or methodologies within their field

   3. Recognition by peers (e.g., fellowships, major awards, keynote invitations, memberships on panels or advisory boards, editorships, curated exhibitions or performances, etc.)

2. Building Research Capacity

   1. Mentorship of emerging scholars or research teams

   2. Development of infrastructure, networks, or programs that support research or research-creation

   3. Contributions that strengthen disciplinary or institutional research environments

3. Benefit to Communities
   1. Influence on public policy, practice, or societal understanding; fostering curiosity or wonder

   2. Engagement with communities in co-creating or applying research or research-creation

   3. Legacy of knowledge mobilization beyond academia

Catalyst Award

Recognizes a specific achievement, activity, or initiative that has strengthened our institutional capacity for research leadership. Activities may include, but are not limited to, improving SFU鈥檚 research culture, opening new opportunities for training and mentorship, building infrastructure, leading major institutional initiatives, and enhancing SFU鈥檚 global research reputation. *

*Nominations for this category must clearly identify the nominee (or team) as being the originator or leader of the achievement, activity, or initiative being nominated.

Eligibility: Open to individuals or teams.

Sample Indicators:鈥疶he following indicators are鈥痠llustrative, not exhaustive. They are鈥�examples鈥痮f what strong nominees may have accomplished, relative to the award category and discipline. Nominees may demonstrate excellence in other ways consistent with the award鈥檚 intent.

1. Expertise, Leadership, and Integrity in Research

   1. Excellence in leading a novel initiative supporting research trainees

   2. Integration of diverse disciplines, sectors, or perspectives through activities

   3. Systemic improvement in research or research-creation principles and standards

2. Building Research Capacity

   1. Development of tools, methods, or partnerships that enable research innovation

   2. Capacity-building within a research context or community

   3. Leading initiatives that support research innovation that have been adopted by others

3. Benefit to Communities
   1. Novel research mentorship initiative with demonstrable outcomes

   2. Evidence of uptake or application of the activity or initiative  by other groups

   3. Co-development of the activity or initiative with community, industry, or policy partners

Related Policies and Procedures

Please refer to the 51猎奇入口Research Excellence Awards Policy R 70.01 and associated Procedure for further details.

Questions?

Review the FAQ page or contact awards@sfu.ca.