University Killam Professor

Sponsor

UBC VP Academic and VP Research

Internal deadline:

Award Details

The designation “University Killam Professor” (UKP) is the highest honour that the University can confer on a member of faculty. It recognizes exceptional members of faculty who are extraordinary teachers and researchers, who are leaders in their academic fields, and who have received national and international recognition.

Nominations are evaluated against criteria that demonstrate the characteristics of an exceptional professor worthy of this honour, and must demonstrate consistent excellence in teaching and research. University Killam Professors will hold the designation for as long as they remain tenured members of faculty at the University. 

University Killam Professors are expected to contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and to serve as academic ambassadors to the University’s external community. Within one year after receiving the UKP designation, each University Killam Professor shall deliver a lecture to the University Community on a subject of their choosing, though preferably on a subject that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. These lectures will be recorded, published, and made available to the University community and beyond.

Full information about the appointment, roles and responsibilities of UKPs can be found in  UBC Policy LR6: Killam Professors Policy.

Results of the 2022 University Killam Professors competition were announced on January 19, 2023. 

Terms of the Award

  • Up to three UKPs may be named each competition cycle.
  • The award is a $100,000 one-time research allowance, and an annual salary stipend of $20,000.
    • Recipients retain the stipend for as long as they remain a tenured UBC faculty member.

Nomination Process

The invitation for nominations is issued in alternating years. Nominations are submitted to the Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ORPA) and are submitted by the Dean of the Faculty in which the nominee holds their primary appointment. Please check with your Faculty to determine the process for nominations.

The submission deadline is September 5th, 2024 at 5:00 pm PT.

To ensure an equitable distribution, large Faculties (Applied Science UBCV/O, Arts, Education UBCV/O, Medicine and Science UBCV) may each submit up to two nominations.

Smaller Faculties at UBCV (Dentistry, Forestry, Land and Food Systems, Law, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Sauder School of Business) and at UBCO (Arts, Creative & Critical Studies, Health and Social Development, Management and Science) may submit 1 nomination each.

Nominations are put forward by six members of the University community, and each of the six members must submit a signed nomination letter. This group must include at least one student, one staff member, one faculty member, one alumnus/a, and the Dean indicating the extent of the nominee’s acknowledgement by the University community as a person of substantial and widely recognized scholarly distinction.

The nomination package must include:

  • Application cover sheet. Download it here.
  • Six signed nomination letters,
  • Three arm’s length, external referee letters in support of the nominee’s suitability for the designation, and
  • UBC CV.

Nominations must be submitted as a single PDF and emailed to ORPA at research.prizes@ubc.ca by September 5th, 2024 at 5:00 pm PT.

Selection Criteria

Nominees must hold the rank of full professor. Nominations will be evaluated against criteria that demonstrate the characteristics of an exceptional professor worthy of this honour. The criteria include:

  • Demonstration of consistent excellence in teaching and conducting research;
  • Recognition as an outstanding and innovative researcher whose accomplishments have made a major impact in his or her research field;
  • Demonstration of a superior record of attracting and supervising graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows;
  • Demonstration of effective and innovative teaching methods;
  • Recognition as a strong, passionate and inspirational teacher who encourages students to pursue excellence;
  • Demonstration of continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring inside and outside the classroom and/or laboratory;
  • Achievement of distinction in the academic and wider community as an extraordinary teacher and/or researcher;
  • Achievement of national and international acclaim in the areas of teaching and/or research in the form of an award or recognition of high esteem; and
  • Demonstration of continuing receipt of a high degree of respect from students, fellow faculty members, and members of the University administration.

The Review Process

Members of an Advisory Committee will assess the University Killam Professor nominations. Using the selection criteria, the committee will assess the nominees and make recommendations to the President, who will, in turn, make a recommendation to the Board of Governors on which nominees should receive the distinction of University Killam Professor. 

The Advisory Committee consists of:

  • The Chancellor (Chair)
  • The Provost and Vice-President, Academic (UBC Vancouver)
  • The Provost and Vice-President, Academic (UBC Okanagan)
  • The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (will Chair in the absence of the Chancellor)
  • The Chair of the Senior Appointments Committee
  • Up to seven existing University Killam Professors
  • Up to three additional selected advisors including a student
  • Director, Office of Research Prizes and Awards (ex officio – Secretary)

Timeline

Nominations openFebruary 2024
Deadline to submit nominations to ORPASeptember 5th, 2024, 5pm PT
Peer reviewSeptember - October 2024
Board of Governors meetingDecember 2024
Awardees notifiedJanuary 2025
Funding beginsApril 2025

 


Previous Award Winners

2022

  • Nemy Banthia (Civil Engineering)

    .

    Dominic McIver Lopes (Philosophy)

    .

    Natalie Strynadka (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

2020

  • Janice Eng (Physical Therapy)

    .

    Tina Loo (History)

    .

    Bonny Norton (Language & Literacy Education)

    .

    Dolph Schluter (Zoology)

    .

    Rashid Sumaila (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs)

    .

    Dominique Weis (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences)

2016

  • Sally Otto (Zoology)

    .

    Daniel Pauly (Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries)

    .

    Janet Werker (Psychology)

2015

  • Robert E.W. Hancock (Microbiology and Immunology)

    .

    Julio Montaner (Medicine)

    .

    Loren Rieseberg (Botany)

2010

  • Sherrill E. Grace (English), Emerita

2004

  • Robert Evans (Economics), Emeritus

    .

    David Jones (Zoology), Deceased

2003

  • Ian K. Affleck (Physics and Astronomy), Emeritus

    .

    David Dolphin (Chemistry), Emeritus

    .

    Michael Hayden (Medical Genetics)

2001

  • Peter W. Hochachka (Zoology), Deceased

    .

    William H. New (English), Emeritus

1996

  • Kalevi Holsti (Political Science), Emeritus

1995

  • Patricia Baird (Medical Genetics), Emerita

    .

    Michael Smith (Biochemistry), Deceased


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