Research Excellence Awards

Please help us recognize and celebrate SFU researchers for their research excellence and readiness to be nominated for major external research awards. Research Excellence within the context of these Awards encompasses a broad spectrum of research or research-creation and other scholarly work that demonstrates exceptional expertise, leadership and integrity. The cumulative effects of these activities, outcomes, and impacts have the potential to contribute to one or more disciplines, foster collaboration, enhance research capacity, promote public understanding, benefit communities and/or drive positive change within and beyond academia.

In addition to a $5,000 research grant, awardees may receive assistance from Institutional Strategic Awards (“the ISA”) to develop a personalized awards laddering plan.

Eligibility Details

Nominators: Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs and Directors, and faculty colleagues. Self-nominations are not permitted.

Nominees: Nominees are active members of SFUFA and hold a current appointment as a “Research Faculty Member” under the SFUFA Collective Agreement. The nominee’s duties include the performance of independent research. Specific award categories may have additional eligibility requirements as noted below.

We encourage nominators to consider all eligible candidates, including those from equity-deserving groups, whose contributions may be less visible due to systemic barriers. Nominations that help broaden the definition of excellence are especially welcome, such as for researchers whose impact may not be fully captured by conventional metrics. We also invite nominations of individuals whose scholarship challenges traditional boundaries and demonstrates innovation—whether through diverse cultural perspectives, Indigenous knowledge systems, community-engaged research, interdisciplinary collaborations, creative outputs, or knowledge mobilization activities that advance academic and societal impact. Thank you for your contribution to supporting equitable opportunity in these awards.

Selection Criteria

These selection criteria apply to all award categories and are considered relative to career stage and disciplinary norms. Awardees (or awarded projects) must demonstrate at least one of the following:

1. Demonstrate expertise, leadership, and integrity in research
2. Build research capacity in the discipline
3. Benefit communities, within and/or beyond the academy

Award Categories

The Vice-President, Research and Innovation (“the VPRI”) invites nominations for the following awards for the 2026 competition. A total of up to six awards will be conferred: up to three in each of the two categories:

Legacy Award

Recognizes a senior-career researcher (at the rank of Full Professor) who has set a standard of excellence and inspired change to the way research or research-creation in their domain is approached, conducted, or conveyed, beyond the specific findings of their work.

Sample Indicators. The following indicators are illustrative, not exhaustive. They are examples of what strong nominees may have accomplished, relative to the award category and discipline. Nominees may demonstrate excellence in other ways consistent with the award’s intent.

1.     Expertise, Leadership, and Integrity in Research

o   Sustained record of high-impact scholarship or creative work
o   Shaping of research agendas or methodologies within their field
o   Recognition by peers (e.g., fellowships, major awards, keynote invitations, memberships on panels or advisory boards, editorships, curated exhibitions or performances, etc.)

2.     Building Research Capacity

o   Mentorship of emerging scholars or research teams
o   Development of infrastructure, networks, or programs that support research or research-creation
o   Contributions that strengthen disciplinary or institutional research environments

3.     Benefit to Communities

o   Influence on public policy, practice, or societal understanding; fostering curiosity or wonder
o   Engagement with communities in co-creating or applying research or research-creation
o   Legacy of knowledge mobilization beyond academia

Spotlight Award

Recognizes outstanding research or research-creation achievement within the past five years by an individual or team in a core value or institutional priority area under the Strategic Research Plan.

For 2026, the spotlight is on “Innovation,” which is not limited to applied or commercial outputs. It includes new ideas, frameworks, or applications that advance knowledge or benefit society. Innovation is broadly defined as activities that: mobilize research or research-creation to address the most pressing challenges of our time; create a positive social, economic, or environmental impact.

Sample Indicators. The following indicators are illustrative, not exhaustive. They are examples of what strong nominees may have accomplished, relative to the award category and discipline. Nominees may demonstrate excellence in other ways consistent with the award’s intent.

1.     Expertise, Leadership, and Integrity in Research

o   Excellence in leading a novel project or initiative
o   Integration of diverse disciplines, sectors, or perspectives
o   Systemic improvement in research or research-creation principles and standards

2.     Building Research Capacity

o   Development of tools, methods, or partnerships that enable innovation
o   Innovation-related training or capacity-building within the project team or community
o   Leading initiatives that support innovative research by others

3.     Benefit to Communities

o   Novel intervention, solution, or advancement with demonstrable outcomes
o   Evidence of uptake or application of the innovation by external stakeholders
o   Co-development of the innovation with community, industry, or policy partners

Nomination Process

Please refer to the SFU Research Excellence Awards Policy R 70.01 and associated Procedure for details.

Questions?

Review the FAQ page or contact awards@sfu.ca.