Canada Research Chairs are highly prestigious awards established by the Canadian Government in 2000. The key objective of the program continues to be met by providing human and material resources to Canadian universities that have greatly enhanced their research excellence and international competitiveness.
There are two types of Canada Research Chairs:
Tier 1 Chairs
Tenable for seven years and renewable once, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. For each Tier 1 Chair, the university receives $200,000 annually for seven years.
Tier 2 Chairs
Tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the university receives $100,000 annually for five years.
All new CRC nominees are required to have their application reviewed by the university's standing internal review committee prior to submission to the CRC.
Renewal of a CRC is contingent upon an internal university review of the Chair holder's first term to determine if continued institutional support is warranted. A necessary part of this internal decision is a process that provides a thorough evaluation of the record of the Chair holder during the first term of the Chair with recommendation to the Provost who adjudicates on the support for renewal.
The criteria for renewal for the two levels of Chairs differ as per guidelines specified by the CRC Secretariat in terms of international recognition and leadership; however, the same procedures apply for both Tier I and Tier II renewals.
Selection/Evaluation Criteria
The Chairs program is founded upon an uncompromising commitment to excellence in research and research training. This applies as much to applications for renewals as it does to initial nominations.
Accordingly, as for the original nominations, all requests for renewals will be assessed against the following two criteria:
- Quality of the chairholder and of his or her proposed program of research;
- Quality of the institutional environment, institutional commitment and fit of the proposed Chair with the university's strategic research plan.
In addition, the renewal nomination must include a performance report that clearly demonstrates how the chair holder has achieved the objectives set out in the original nomination, that they have upheld the standards of excellence of the program, and what the added value has been of holding a Canada Research Chair. This report forms part of the documentation that reviewers will assess in order to arrive at a recommendation for the Steering Committee.
For Tier 1 renewals, the submitted file must demonstrate that the award holder:
- continues to distinguish him/herself as an outstanding, world-class researcher;
- has successfully attracted, and continues to attract, excellent trainees, students and future researchers to the university or affiliated institute;
- is proposing an original and innovative program of research of the highest quality; and
- is carrying out a program of research that is producing leading-edge results which are making a significant impact at the international level.
For Tier 2 renewals, the submitted file must demonstrate that the award holder:
- is developing into an outstanding, original and creative researcher of world-class calibre and is poised to become a leader in his or her field;
- has successfully attracted, and will continue to attract, trainees, students and future researchers to the university or affiliated institute;
- is proposing an original and innovative program of research of high quality; and
- is carrying out a program of research that is producing important results which are making a significant impact in the field.
Chair nominees, if applicable, are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.
The Research office, in coordination with the office of the Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) and with the Strategic Initiatives Unit of the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, provides academic help in preparing applications to the Canada Research Chair Program. Specifically, the Research office:
- Guides and facilitates the application process in collaboration with the investigator and the appropriate Institutional officers in the Strategic Initiatives Unit (SI unit), and the offices of the Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies).
- Provides training and orientation services to investigators and other personnel involved in strategic grant preparation and management.
- Reviews grant applications in coordination with SI unit and provides expert advice to increase grant competitiveness.
- Provides support and counsel related to the development and implementation of strategic grant management activities while ensuring compliance with agency and McGill University policies.
- Assists the investigator in navigating the post award process of grant administration and follow up on renovations, animal care requirements, etc.
- Plans, develops, and helps to implement best practice administrative procedures and processes to enhance and support the Faculty's strategic research goals and objectives.
Strategic Initiatives Unit (SI unit)
Resource documents/guides and tips are available upon request.