I am pleased to announce the University of Toronto Research Impact Awards that will celebrate and honour faculty members whose research has led to significant impact beyond academia, including on society, culture, public policy, law, health, education, quality of life, a profession, the economy, and the environment, through public engagement or the development of products, processes, or services from inventions.

In addition to recognizing the impact of researchers’ work, the Research Impact Awards will provide faculty with an internal springboard for external impact awards, as well as allow the University to benefit from the ability to draw on the rich community of recipients as advisors or mentors for our research and innovation endeavours through the creation of a formal or informal Academy, similar to the Teaching Academy.

Research Impact Award winners will receive a monetary award of $10,000 per year for five years to be used toward their research. Recipients will be determined by a process of nomination, review, and selection by a committee chaired by the Vice President, Research & Innovation. Recipients of the Research Impact Award may also be considered for the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award, that is presented annually under the banner of the University of Toronto Awards of Excellence (AWEX).

Eligibility and Nomination

• Nominations are open to faculty members with full-time academic appointments and whose research has led to significant impact beyond academia. This includes tenure-stream, teaching-stream, clinical faculty, and status-only faculty with full-time academic appointments.
• Acknowledging the breadth and depth of scholarship at the University, we welcome nominations of faculty across all disciplines whose outstanding achievements may be recognized with this special University of Toronto honour.
• Nominations must be submitted by January 15, 2018, though prospective nominators/nominees should consult with their Divisional Awards Offices to determine if internal deadlines fall on an earlier date. Additional information on preparing a nomination and the selection process can be found online.

Research Impact Academy

Recipients of a Research Impact Award will also be designated by the University as a member of the Research Impact Academy for a minimum period of five years. The Academy will meet to discuss matters relevant to research impact, offer advice to the Vice President, Research & Innovation, and function as advocates for sustained excellence in research and innovation impact within and outside of the University. Members of the Research Impact Academy will also be invited to participate in a range of university activities to increase the University’s profile on the impact of the research of its community.