CRMF – Call for nominations

All applications sent by Faculty’s research offices must include the following documents:

• Statement of nomination from the Dean providing the basis and justification for the nomination and confirmation of teaching release (2 to 3 pages). In addition, the letter should explain the benefit of the partnership to the Faculty and for uOttawa; 
• Chair title (e.g., Chaire sur la francophonie canadienne en ….), and indicates the geographic area (Ontario, in Canada (excluding Ontario), or around the world), the selected Federal granting agency (CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC), and a research project summary: Provide a 100-word summary, written in lay language, describing the uniqueness and importance of the proposed research program. This summary may be used for advertising purposes;
• Proposed research program written by the nominee (3 to 5 pages) – See section “Eligibility criteria” and the document with detailed instructions below for the presentation;
• A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and practice as a basis of the EDI plan to implement during the length of the CRMF (maximum 1 page);
• A one page document describing the partnership (e.g., what are the benefits of this partnership and the expected outcomes);
• A signed support letter from the partner (on letterhead, one page maximum) to confirm the type of support (a contribution of 20k$/y for 5 years in cash is mandatory, and additional in kind contribution is acceptable) for the term of the Chair (a support letter template will be available on demand).
• Budget plan and justification: The total budget is for five years and may be used to support the core costs of research (e.g., research assistants/associates, graduate students, consumable supplies, and user fees) and actions towards EDI (adapted infrastructure and software, travel accommodation for researchers or trainees with special needs, inclusive dissemination, and other admissible fees to make research more inclusive). Up to $5K of the total budget may be used as a salary supplement to the nominee. In this section, please explain and justify how the budget will be used and the proportion of the budget to be allocated to costs of research versus a salary supplement. Note that the funding allocated for the core costs of research is provided in addition to and not as a substitute for a nominee’s concurrent sources of external funding;
• Current Curriculum Vitae (OCGS format (PDF, 127 Ko); last 8 years; CV section – please include any personal circumstances and/or career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your research trajectory. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process);
• List of the nominee’s five most significant research contributions made during them career, explaining their significance and impact;
• Three reference letters, including at least 2 from independent arms-length reviewers with no conflict of interest (see section 3 below for definition). One letter from a collaborator familiar with the researcher’s work is permitted and it is expected that one of the three letters are from a researcher outside of Canada; 
• All candidates should participate in the institutional EDI efforts and complete the self-identification questionnaire: Count-me in Survey (accessible via VirtuO). The aggregated information may be used for adjudication purposes by the selection committees.
• Detailed instructions (PDF, 190 KB) 

Faculty’s Research Offices are invited to send their one (1) selected application (with reference letters) to the following email: [email protected].

Deadline: August 12, 2024

Estimated start Date of the new Chairs: November 1, 2024. 

When securing reference letters from the two arm-length external reviewers in the field, please ensure that the reviewers:

• are not affiliated in any way with the University of Ottawa (including hospitals and research institutes);
• have no personal relationship with the nominee (including close friend, relative, former PhD or postdoctoral supervisor, mentor, a student previously under the nominee's supervision);
• have not collaborated, published or shared funding with the nominee in the last six years, or have no plans to do so in the immediate future;
• are not involved in the proposed program of research; and
• are not in a position to gain or lose financially/materially from the outcome of the nomination. 

Nomination applications will be reviewed by members of the CRMF Program Steering Committee. The recommended file will then be reviewed by the Research Chairs Evaluation Committee, chaired by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (or his delegate).

The applications, including external reference letters, are adjudicated based on the following evaluation criteria:

• The level of research excellence and productivity of the nominee, and/or demonstration of the research leading to significant achievements;
• The potential to achieve international recognition in the field;
• The potential to attract and retain excellent students, trainees and future researchers;
• The quality and feasibility of concrete actions to create more diversified, inclusive and equitable research environment;
• The relevance of the proposed research program in relation to the Strategic Areas of Research; and
• The originality and quality of the proposed research program;
• Criteria related to the partnership: the synergy of the partnership and expected outcomes. The partnership should enable knowledge sharing, and optimization of the use of resources and skills for both parties, and lead to innovative solutions in line with the partner’s strategic mandate.

In addition, the research proposal must demonstrate:

• The interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approaches that will be implemented;
• The applicant’s involvement and commitment regarding development and promotion of research on Francophonie and on the realities of the Francophone world; and
• Synergies, including with other chairholders and members of the Collège des Chaires de recherche sur le monde francophone, by indicating how the proposed research relates to or complements the research of other chairholders. 

Following the RCEC’s final recommendation, a notice of decision is sent to the nominee and the Dean of the Faculty. There is no appeal.