Background

The Lakehead University Research Chairs Program recognizes high-quality research, scholarly and creative achievement, by providing a two‐year research grant to support an individual’s program of research. The LURC program is a key initiative in retaining outstanding research talent at our institution, a goal consistent with Lakehead’s Research Plan. Lakehead University is strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the University. Lakehead recognizes the value in all types of research, including but not limited to non-traditional research areas, both traditional and non-traditional research outputs, and community-based research, in addition to the value in mentoring, professional service, the formation of partnerships, and outreach activities.

Lakehead University is seeking applications for two (2) new 2025-2027 Lakehead University Research Chairs, one (1) in the disciplines supported by SSHRC/CIHR and one (1) in the disciplines supported by NSERC/CIHR.

Eligibility

All faculty who are  tenure‐track or tenured members of LUFA and have been employed by Lakehead University for at least three years are eligible (please note that applicants applying to the LURC program must have been employed by Lakehead University for at least three years as of April 1, 2025, the start of the LURC chair). Please also note that a past limited-term appointment (LTA) at Lakehead University would count towards the three years.  Current or past research chair holders such as CRCs, Industry Research Chairs, LU/TBRHRI Research Chairs, LURCs, Ontario Research Chairs, SHARCNET Chairs, etc., are not eligible to receive this award.  Criteria will be weighted differently for Early Career Researchers as described in the Criteria Section below. Early career researchers (ECR) are applicants who have held their first independent academic position as an LTA, tenure-track or tenured professor within the last five years. Note that the five-year window for being considered an ECR will be adjusted to take into account situations where a researcher has had an eligible delay in their research activities as a result of a leave. All eligible leaves (such as parental, medical, etc.), are credited at twice the amount of leave time taken.  Therefore, the five-year window for being considered as an ECR will be adjusted to take into account situations where a researcher has had an eligible leave of absence which had an impact on their research productivity. Individuals representing equity-deserving groups, including but not limited to women and gender minorities, racialized individuals, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. The University recognizes that alternative career paths and/or interruptions (ex. parental leave, leave due to illness, etc.) can impact research achievements and progress. If these alternative paths or interruptions have impacted an applicant’s research activities, the applicant must outline this in the EDI section of their application. The University is committed to ensuring that career interruptions are taken into careful consideration in the assessment of LURC applications.

Value of Award

Value: Up to $45,000 as a research grant (up to $22,500/year) tenable over two years beginning April 1, 2025. The Chair’s research grant may be used to support the following eligible expenditures: teaching release (Chairs are required to teach a minimum of 1.0 FCE per year), stipends for students, post‐doctoral fellows and research associates, research and conference travel, materials/supplies, equipment and grant‐writing support. Chairs must receive the necessary approvals for teaching release using Lakehead University’s Release Time Request (RTS) Form. For purposes of the competition, the signatures of the applicant, chair and dean are required on the RTS form by the deadline. If an applicant is successful and awarded an LURC, the rest of the signatures on the RTS form are required. Salary payments to Research Chairs in lieu of teaching release are not an eligible expense.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the Romeo Research Portal no later than 4:30 PM on March 1, 2025. The following information will be required as part of the application package:

1. Lakehead University Research Chair application form (available in the Romeo Research Portal);

2. Release Time Stipend Request Form (if requesting release time from teaching);

3. Canadian Common CV (do not use generic CCV, use appropriate Tri‐Council CCV);

4. Three letters of reference addressing the selection criteria.  At least one of the three letters must be from an individual who is external to Lakehead University.  Referees must disclose their professional relationship and/or their professional collaboration with the applicant in their letters of reference. Letters of reference must be signed and submitted as a PDF document to Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Lakehead University, and be emailed directly to vpresearch@lakeheadu.ca. 

 Referees must not have a Conflict of Interest (COI) as defined in the guidelines below.

Former supervisors, previous or current collaborators, etc., may write letters of support. All letters must include a description of the extent of the affiliation with the applicant and a brief description of their professional relationship and/or collaborations with the applicant. Letters of support must also provide an objective assessment of the applicant’s research track record, proposed research project in the LURC application, as well an assessment of the applicant’s ability to complete the proposed research. 

5. Supporting letter from the Faculty Dean:  The Dean's letter of support should be addressed to Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Lakehead University, and be emailed directly to vpresearch@lakeheadu.ca.

Selection Process and Criteria

The Vice‐President (Research and Innovation) shall appoint a Lakehead University Research Chair Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will review all submitted nominations and make its recommendations to the Vice‐President, Research and Innovation. The Lakehead University Research Chairs Selection Committee will review all eligible Lakehead University Research Chair applications using the following evaluation criteria:

Research Track Record (Weighting:  40%; 20% ECRs)

Applicants must:

• be outstanding and innovative researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields. The Committee will recognize and value all types of research and their outputs, including but not limited to non-traditional research areas, both traditional and non-traditional research outputs, and community-based research;

• be recognized nationally and/or internationally as leaders in their fields or be an excellent emerging researcher of world-class calibre who has demonstrated particular research creativity and the potential to achieve international recognition in their field (for ECRs); 

• have a track‐record of attracting external research funding and fostering external partnerships;

• have an excellent record of mentoring undergraduate students, supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (taking into account circumstances in the Academic Unit or practices in the relevant field or discipline), and as Chairs, have the potential to attract excellent trainees and future researchers;

• have a record of participating in collaborative interdisciplinary research and contributing to research capacity building (e.g., development of new graduate programs or outreach activities).

Research Proposal (Weighting 40%; 60% ECRs)

• have proposed an original, innovative research program of high-quality that fits the priority research areas outlined in Lakehead University’s Research Plan.

Letters of Reference and Dean's Letter (Weighting 20%; 20% ECRs)

All reference letters and the letter of support from the Dean will be reviewed by the committee.  

Conflict of Interest Guidelines for LURC Letters of Reference

For purposes of obtaining LURC letters of reference, a conflict of interest (COI) is defined as:

• A conflict of interest is a conflict between a person’s duties and responsibilities with regard to the review process, and that person’s private, professional, business or public interests. There may be a real, perceived or potential conflict of interest when the review committee member, external reviewer, referee or observer:

• would receive professional or personal benefit resulting from the nomination being reviewed;

• have a direct or indirect financial interest in the nomination being reviewed.

• A conflict of interest may be deemed to exist or perceived as such when referees:

• are a relative or close friend, or have a personal relationship with the nominee;

• are in a position to gain or lose financially/materially from the funding of the nomination;

• have had long-standing scientific or personal differences with the nominee;

• are currently affiliated with the nominee’s institution, organization or company —including research hospitals and research institutes.

The VPRI reserves the right to resolve areas of uncertainty and to determine if a conflict exists.

Reporting Requirements

At the end of their award period, each Chair will also be required to submit to the Vice‐President, Research and Innovation, and their Faculty Dean a report highlighting their activities and accomplishments during their term as a Lakehead University Research Chair. 

For additional information regarding the application process, please contact Anne Klymenko, Director, Research Services at aklymenk@lakeheadu.ca