Research Excellence Awards
The Research Excellence Awards (REA) are prestigious awards granted annually to recognize up to three tenured and/or tenure track faculty members for their outstanding contributions and achievements in research while at Ontario Tech University.
Eligibility Criteria and Award Categories
All current tenured and tenure-track faculty members who have been at Ontario Tech for at least one year are eligible to be nominated. Nominations may be submitted individually or collectively by current tenured or tenure-track faculty members, including Faculty Deans. Permission should be sought from the potential nominee before submission. Self-nominations are welcome. In addition, each nomination must be endorsed by two current Ontario Tech faculty members. Endorsements can be obtained from any Ontario Tech tenured or tenure-track faculty member. Faculty members may not endorse more than one nomination in each category. Faculty members may only receive each category of award once.
- Emerging Researchers: Individuals within the first six (6) years of their first independent academic appointment. This award recognizes both early excellence in research and future promise.
- Mid-career Researchers: Individuals who are between the seventh and twelfth (7-12) years of their first independent academic appointment. This award recognizes recently established research programs that are opening up new fields or insights of inquiry.
- Established Researchers: Individuals who are beyond the twelfth (12) year of their first independent academic appointment (i.e. 13th year and beyond). These awards recognize recent national and/or international leadership in research in the last 6 years. These awards are not intended to be career research awards.
Note: The time since first academic appointment for each category will be considered as of July 1 of the competition year.
The full application is due March 30, 2026. Decisions will be given June 2026 and the start of the award is July 1, 2026.
Up to three awards (one in each category) will be presented annually. The budget for each competition year is $3,000, which will be distributed amongst the awards. If there are three awards, each awardee will receive $1,000. If there are fewer than three awards, the $3,000 will be split proportionately between the awardees.
For more information see the guidelines, nomination letter instructions, nomination form, supplemental information form and peer review manual.
Questions?
If you need support while preparing your application or have any questions about the program, please contact Lauren Woman.