Objectives
The primary objectives of Queen’s Open CRC Competitions are: 1) to improve efficiency in identifying candidates proposing research programs which align with institutional strategic priorities for current and future nomination to the CRC Program, and 2) to meet and sustain institutional equity targets, as mandated by the CRC Program.
Process Summary
| Step 1 – VPR Competition Launch | |
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| Step 2 – Faculty Application Process | |
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| Step 3 – SRRC Review and Selection | |
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| Step 4 – Nomination to TIPS | |
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The Open CRC Competition will allocate multiple Chairs through a competitive process and is independent of the faculty recruitment process. Queen’s faculty members and candidates in a current recruitment process may be advanced as applicants for a Queen’s CRC.
Applicants must self-nominate to their faculty of primary appointment for consideration. Only applicants selected through their faculty process will be included in the Open CRC Competition. Note, faculties will communicate faculty CRC application requirements and associated deadlines.
Eligibility
To meet institutional equity targets, Open Competitions may be open only to applicants from one or more of the four designated groups: women and gender minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and racialized minorities. Details of eligibility will be available in the relevant special call. All applicants must complete the Queen’s CRC Self-Identification survey.
Note: Self-identification surveys are treated in the strictest confidence and exclusively used for the purposes of applying the Queen’s CRC EDI Action Plan. Apart from its use to confirm eligibility, the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO) will exclusively have access to the self-identification data provided in this competition.
Notes:
- Once a Tier 1 Chair has held a position for two terms, they cannot be nominated as a new Tier 1 Chair at the same or another institution, regardless of the number of years completed in the second term.
- In the same way, a Tier 2 Chair who has held a position for two terms cannot be nominated as a new Tier 2 Chair at the same or another institution, regardless of the number of years completed in the second term.
- If a researcher resigns from a chair position during their first term at one institution and accepts a chair position at another, this is considered their second term and not a new first term.
- Tier 2 Chairs are not meant to be a feeder group for Tier 1 Chairs. The intent of funding Tier 2 Chairs is to provide emerging researchers with support that will kick-start their careers. As part of their strategic considerations in managing their chair allocations, institutions should develop a succession plan for their Tier 2 Chairs.
Applicants must self-nominate to their Faculty of primary appointment for consideration. Only applicants selected through their faculty process will be included in the Open Competition. Note, Faculties will communicate their application requirements and associated deadlines.
Standing Research and Review Committee
Purpose
All application packages put forward by a Faculty will be assessed by the central Standing Research and Review Committee (SRRC) with expertise in the applicant’s discipline (i.e., Health, Natural Sciences and Engineering, or Social Sciences and Humanities). The SRRC will allocate and evaluate CRCs throughout their lifecycle. The committee’s role in allocating chairs, reviewing progress reports and institutional support, and evaluating requests for renewal will facilitate the efficient and strategic assignment of chairs.
Membership
Diverse and inclusive committee membership is a key tenant of the SRRC. Representation will be continuously maintained to ensure many personal and academic identity dimensions.
The SRRC will be chaired by the Vice-Principal, Research. Other members will include a representative of the Provost Office, a representative of the Human Rights and Equity Office, Associate Vice-Principals representing each of the three Tri-Council granting agencies, and five faculty members per Tri-Council granting agency (invited to participate in the review based on the anticipated volume of applications).
Training
All members of the SRRC will have received training regarding the potential negative impacts of unconscious bias, racism and discrimination on assessment and decision-making processes, and on the systemic barriers that impact the career paths of individuals from underrepresented groups.
Specifically, all committee members will have completed training in unconscious bias .
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria considered by the SRRC will align with the following CRC Program merit-based evaluation criteria and alignment with institutional priorities:
Tier 1
- be outstanding and innovative world-class researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields;
- be recognized internationally as leaders in their fields;
- be proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality.
Tier 2
- be excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity;
- have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years;
- be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality.
For All Applicants:
Institutional environment: The institution must describe the quality of the existing or planned institutional environment in which it will establish the proposed chair, including opportunities for collaboration with other researchers working in the same or related areas at the nominating institution, in the same region, within Canada and abroad.
Institutional commitment: The institution must demonstrate that it and, as applicable, any affiliated institutions, hospitals, institutes, etc., will provide chairholders with the support they need to ensure the success of their work, such as protected time for research (e.g., release from certain teaching or administrative duties), mentoring (if applicable), additional funds, office space, administrative support, and hiring of other faculty members.
Fit of the proposed chair with the strategic research plan: The institution is required to demonstrate the fit of the proposed chair with the institution’s strategic research plan and the importance of the proposed chair to the attainment of the institution’s objectives.