Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies

The program primarily targets untenured Assistant Professors within two years (January through December) of their appointment as Assistant Professor at UBC. In addition, Associate Professors within two years (January through December) of tenure and promotion at UBC are also eligible to apply.

Appointees are expected to attend all program meetings, the dates of which are set by the Institute at the outset of the term. If one anticipates being away for an extended amount of time during September to May, it would be best to apply for a different year. Please discuss with the Director of the Institute if you are uncertain about this. Please note that individuals may hold an Early Career Scholar award only once.

Each participant will receive an infrastructure budget of $10,000 that can be used for a wide range of research-related expenses (travel, books, research assistance, etc.), or may be taken as a stipend.

Participants are also eligible to apply for up to an additional $10,000 to be used to secure a course release during their term of appointment.

The appointment is for twelve months, beginning in September. The actual program of activities runs September to May.

The program requires the participants to come together on a regular basis throughout the fall and winter terms. Scholars are required to attend one weekend retreat at the beginning of the academic year and monthly program meetings. The monthly meetings are typically two hour lunch or three hour evening dinner sessions intended to explore linkages among the distinct research approaches and discuss the research environment at UBC, among other matters. Typically in April, the scholars will tour each other’s research facilities.  Participants are also expected to give either a public lunch talk or to facilitate a PWIAS Scholars' Cafe during their term in residency.  If one anticipates being away for an extended amount of time during September to May, it would be best to apply for a different year.

The objective for this program is to bring outstanding UBC early-career researchers together to share ideas and research approaches. We hope that this interaction will broaden the research perspective of participants and will enhance their future research contributions. We are also interested in facilitating the orientation process for new faculty with respect to the research environment at UBC, including learning about the diversity in research topics and approaches, as well as helping them to acquire knowledge about the infrastructure for research support.
The program benefits the participants in various ways including:

• exposing scholars to research from across the entire University,
• allowing scholars to interact with excellent peers across a wide variety of disciplines,
• providing opportunities to scholars to get a sense of the important work of top researchers throughout the University (e.g., the Institute Faculty Associates),
• exploring the connections of one's own research with research that one would not ordinarily    encounter,
• learning about the research infrastructure at UBC,
• providing special recognition and a modest stipend to support research.

The presence of Early Career Scholars at the Institute contributes greatly to its mission of promoting basic, interdisciplinary research. Program participants will be appointed as permanent Faculty Associates of the Institute. Associates receive regular invitations to Institute events. Every two weeks there is a lunch or dinner to which all Associates and their guests are invited. These bi-monthly gatherings offer an opportunity to engage in informal discussions with colleagues from a wide diversity of disciplines as well as to hear a talk by one of the Associates. Unlike the scheduled program meetings, attendance at events and Associates gatherings is optional.

A hard copy and an electronic copy of the full application must be submitted by the application deadline. Please attach the application checklist to the hardcopy of your full application.  Applications consist of a detailed application letter, a standard UBC Curriculum Vitae for Faculty Members, and a list of three external (non-UBC) referees. Applicants are responsible for arranging for the three referee letters.

1. The application letters should discuss your research interests and accomplishments and provide detail about your interest in, and fit with, the Institute and this program, particularly your interest or experience with interdisciplinarity, and your plans for your year in the program. Typically, letters are 2-3 pages max.

2. Applicants must submit a standard UBC CV.  CVs in other formats will NOT be accepted.

3. Applicants are responsible for arranging for three external (non-UBC) referee letters. Only the referees' names and affiliation should be included in the application. Referees should send their letters directly to the Institute by mail, e-mail or fax (604.822.4222) by the competition deadline. We will copy applicants when we acknowledge receipt of referee letters - we ask that applicants please do not contact the Institute to check the status of their referee letters.

The criteria for selection include:

• research accomplishments and potential,
• fit with the mandate of the Institute (i.e., an orientation to fundamental, interdisciplinary research), and
• perceived ability to contribute to, and benefit from, the opportunities provided by the program.