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Early Career Scholars
Introduction
The Early Career Scholars Program is for full-time UBC faculty who are in the professorial ranks and at the early stage of their academic careers at UBC. The Institute will appoint a single cohort of up to fourteen untenured Assistant and recently tenured Associate Professors each year.
This program is not thematic. Researchers are chosen as individuals and from all academic disciplines, professions and the performing arts. They should be individuals with highly promising records who will appreciate the possibilities of intellectual and interdisciplinary exchange with peers in very different areas of research.
History
The Early Career Scholars program was introduced for the 2000-2001 academic year. It is to the best of our knowledge unique in the world. The program traditionally included two separate cohorts: one for junior (untenured Assistant Professor) and one for senior (tenured Associate Professor) scholars. Beginning with the 2009-2010 cohort, the Institute will appoint a single cohort of up to fourteen untenured Assistant and recently tenured Associate Professors each year.
The program primarily targets untenured Assistant Professors within two years of their appointment as Assistant Professor at UBC. In addition, Associate Professors within two years 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 group. 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.
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 three-hour late afternoon-evening 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, which is a fascinating exercise. 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.
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.
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.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is February 1. The selections are typically announced in April.
To apply as an Early Career Scholar, please submit an application letter, a Standard UBC CV, and a list of three external (non-UBC) referees. Applicants are responsible for arranging for the three 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. In addition to the signed hard copies of your application, electronic versions of the application letter, CV and list of referees in either PDF (preferred) or Word format should be e-mailed to the Institute. Please attach an application checklist to the hardcopy of your full application.
Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies 6331 Crescent Road Tel: 604.822.4782 Fax: 604.822.4222