The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation recently appointed new Chairs to UBC’s two internal awards-focused committees, effective July 1, 2026:
Institutional Council for Research Prizes and Awards
Dr. Daniel Weary, a Professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, will serve a term of 3 years as chair of the Institutional Council for Research Prizes and Awards (ICRPA). Dr. Weary is the Associate Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and an NSERC Industrial Research Chair with a focus on dairy cattle welfare. He brings a wealth of experience relating to nominations and adjudication of awards and prizes, and most recently served as chair of the Faculty Research Awards Committee.
Drs. Arig al Shaibah, Jehannine (J9) Austin, Jodey Castricano, Ed Hornibrook, Megan Levings and Wendy Wong also join the ICRPA as council members this fall.
The ICRPA provides strategic leadership and institutional oversight for UBC’s research prizes and awards ecosystem. The honours received by faculty members play a critical role in strengthening UBC’s global research reputation, attracting partners and funding, and supporting the recruitment and retention of world-leading scholars. The Council works to advance a coordinated, institution-wide culture of nomination, recognition, and celebration.
Sincere thanks go to Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy who served an extended term from 2020–2026 as the first chair of the council. From 2020–2023, Dr. Liu-Ambrose concurrently chaired ICRPA with the Faculty Research Awards Committee, and we are grateful for her dedicated leadership of both committees.
We also thank council members Drs. Kenneth Craig, Chen Feng, Rachelle Hole, Raymond Ng and Eli Puterman as they conclude their service on the council.
Faculty Research Awards Committee
Dr. Patricia Schulte, a Professor in the Department of Zoology, will serve a term of 3 years as Chair of the Faculty Research Awards Committee (FRAC), having recently served as a council member. Dr. Schulte is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Responses of Fish to a Changing Environment. She brings a distinguished record of research leadership and a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on research excellence that will be valuable in guiding FRAC’s work.
The Faculty Research Awards Committee plays a key role in supporting and celebrating research excellence at UBC by providing peer review and adjudication for institutional research awards. Committee members contribute disciplinary expertise, sound judgment, and a commitment to equitable and rigorous evaluation.
Sincere thanks go to Drs. Wei Cui, Michael Evans, Stephen Guy-Bray, Ali Mesbah, Don Sin and Natalie Strynadka who recently completed their terms on this committee.
Full ICRPA and FRAC committee membership lists can be found on the website of the Office of Research Prizes and Awards.