Anglia Ruskin University
(Research, Scholarship & Development)
Award for Excellence in Research
for Established Researchers/Early Career Researchers
Introduction
The purpose of this award is to promote, recognise, and reward excellence in research. The
award will be made to members of our staff who can demonstrate excellence in research which
develops original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding. It
includes work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce, industry, and to the public and
voluntary sectors; the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances and artefacts
including design, where these lead to new or substantially improved insights; and the use of
existing knowledge in experimental development to produce new or substantially improved
materials, understanding, devices, products, and processes, including design and construction;
and scholarship.
Background
We expect all of our academic staff to have an allowance of 180 hours (5 weeks) to carry out
self-directed scholarly activities for which objectives should be set.
It is expected that all new appointees to the academic staff will hold at least a Masters degree in
an appropriate discipline, and normally will be qualified at PhD level. Where this is not possible
the appointee will be supported and encouraged to study for a research degree. In recruiting
new staff, research and knowledge transfer experience or clear potential should be a key
criterion; and there should be identifiable and meaningful synergies with the Departmental
Research Strategy.
We believe that research groups bring benefits for peer review, the structured development of
junior researchers, support for research students, a coherent REF submission, and mutually
beneficial links to knowledge transfer activity. Hence whenever possible staff will be
encouraged to work in research clusters or groups rather than as isolated researchers.
However we recognise that some individuals due to the nature of their work will wish to and
continue to work alone.
The staff appraisal system should be a key mechanism through which objectives in relation to
research, knowledge transfer and scholarly activities are agreed and monitored.
There will also be different notions of ‘research’ and ‘scholarly activity’ which necessarily
overlap. There is, however, an assumption that all staff will be active in scholarly terms and will
be encouraged to aspire to the highest standards of research activity. All staff will be
encouraged to plot a developmental progression plan appropriate to their area of work, their
aspirations and aptitudes. It is recognised that in different Faculties the method of description
will vary.
We expect that an excellent early career researcher would be able to demonstrate:
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the production and delivery of a research and scholarship personal plan
a concern to develop their professional career and standing through research and
scholarship
an ability to identify, generate and submit successful research applications
a preliminary record of producing research publications and academic works
involvement in research conferences and seminars
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membership and support of professional bodies relating to research
an interest and an enthusiasm for supervising and supporting research students
a willingness to support research teams
We expect that an excellent established researcher would be able to demonstrate:
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the impact and reach of their research in relevant professional and community environments
a successful track record in identifying, generating, submitting and delivering research
proposals above their discipline norm
membership of journal editorial boards, funding body peer review groups, and other
professional organisations
organisation of internationally recognised conferences and seminars as well as being invited
as a keynote speaker to such events
production of academic journals and/or other works which are internationally recognised
an interest in, and enthusiasm for, supervising and supporting research students with a
record of successful, timely completions
Eligibility
Academic and research staff who have less than 5 years experience will be considered under
the Early Career Researchers Award whereas those who have 5 years or more will be
considered under the Established Researchers Award.
Nominations
Nominations are invited from Heads of Department in conjunction with Directors of Research
and Deans. Agreement should be obtained from the prospective nominees to their names going
forward for consideration for the award.
Awards
Both awards, each to the value of £2,000, will be available to successful staff to support their
academic development in the field of research.
Procedure
Nominees who have agreed to their name going forward should write a statement of a
maximum of 1,000 words showing how they meet the criteria set out.
The statement, along with a brief current CV, a list of past and present doctoral students, and
supporting statements from present or former students, should be forwarded to the Head of
Department. He or she should write a supporting letter, which should be forwarded to the
Director of Research, Development & Commercial Services. The deadline for submissions is
Monday 1 December 2014, 12 noon.
Selection will be by a panel chaired by Professor Richard Andrews, Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Research and Innovation) and include the Faculty Directors of Research, Directors of Research
Students, Director, Research, Development & Commercial Services. The panel will determine
who should receive the awards, and report their conclusions to the Research Committee.
The statements of successful candidates will be published on our corporate website as
examples of good practice in research.