The Prize for Excellence in Research for Outstanding Emerging Researchers celebrates early career researchers at Queen’s University who have distinguished themselves through their significant contributions to research. Early career researchers are defined as those who have earned their most recent highest degree (e.g., PhD, MD, LLB) in the last ten years.
Up to three (3) $5,000 prizes will be awarded annually to early career researchers in any of the fields or disciplines in which research is carried out at Queen's.
Nominations must be submitted by Deans by January 31, 2025. Deans are encouraged to consider nominating individuals from equity deserving groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
The selection committee will endeavour to award prizes in a way that represents broad research foci and disciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches. Preference will be given to nominees who have not yet received a major, non-discipline-specific, provincial, national or international prize or award (e.g., Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Scholars; Sloan Fellowship, etc.).
Eligibility
Nominees must hold an academic appointment (tenure or tenure-track) at Queen’s and have earned their most recent highest degree (e.g., PhD, MD, LLB) in their last ten years. Career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, extended sick or disability leave, clinical training, family care, impact of COVID-19 pandemic) may be excluded from the ten-year limit and should be explained in the nomination letter. Under a nominee’s appointment, they will be able to supervise students and publish research results.
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be comprised of the following members:
- Vice-Principal Research or delegate
- Three recipients of major awards (e.g., Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, Tri-Agency, etc.)
- Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) or delegate
- One graduate student
- One undergraduate student
Nominations
In alignment with the relative size of Queen’s Faculties, Deans are invited to submit up to the maximum number of nominations annually as outlined below:
- Faculty of Arts and Science – up to three (3) nominations
- Faculty of Education – one (1) nomination
- Smith Engineering – up to two (2) nominations
- Faculty of Health Sciences – up to three (3) nominations, one of which is reserved for a clinician researcher
- Faculty of Law – one (1) nomination
- Smith School of Business – one (1) nomination
Each nomination must include the following:
A nomination letter (maximum two pages) from the Dean of the researcher’s Faculty outlining the rationale for the nomination, including the nominee’s:
- research contributions;
- promise of future distinction; and
- why the nominee deserves an award as an outstanding emerging researcher.
The nominee’s full curriculum vitae (maximum 10 pages), which includes the following knowledge mobilization activities:
- publications (referred and non-referred);
- invited lectures (referred and non-referred);
- prizes and awards received; and
- graduate students supervised.
*Note: pages submitted in excess of the 10-page maximum will not be reviewed.
Two letters of reference from individuals who are experts in the nominee’s field.
- Referees should not be present or former collaborators of the nominee
- Referees should be external to Queen’s University
*Note: referees must be “arms length” referees. An arm’s length referee must not be:
- a relative, friend, or anyone else with whom the applicant has a personal relationship;
- in a position to benefit from the funding of the application;
- affiliated with the applicant's current and/or proposed institution(s); or
- professionally affiliated with the applicant (currently, in the past, or in the immediate future), as a result of but not limited to:
- being the applicant's supervisor or trainee,
- collaborating, publishing or sharing funding with the applicant.
Reference: Application guide – Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (fellowships-bourses.gc.ca) (March 15, 2024)
A short biographical note should be included for each nominee (can be compiled):
The biographical note (maximum 100 words) will be read at convocation when the recipient receives their prize
Please note that nomination and reference letters should be persuasive, rather than summarizing information about the nominee’s scholarly output and publication record, and should achieve the following:
- Explain convincingly to a non-specialist audience the significance of the nominee’s discoveries and work; and
- Make clear in what way(s) the nominee’s work is especially original, creative or ground-breaking.
Faculty members must be nominated by their Faculty.
Application deadline: January 31, 2025.
For questions, please contact
Rebecca Pero: pero.rebecca@queensu.ca
Recipients will typically receive their prize at spring convocation.
Rebecca Pero: pero.rebecca@queensu.ca
Betsy Donald: betsy.donald@queensu.ca