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Supporting Early-Career Researchers (Faculty)
VPRI portfolio co-leads
Shelley Gair
Executive Director, Office of the Vice President Research & Innovation
Trevor Davis
Executive Director, Research Operations
On this Page:
Challenge
New faculty members at the university face a number of challenges in starting their 51社区黑料research careers. These challenges may include obtaining research grants, recruiting students and research personnel, modifying research space, and purchasing and installing research equipment at the same time they are teaching new (to them) courses and settling into a new community.
Action
Working closely with the vice-president, people, equity and inclusion, 51社区黑料Faculty Relations, deans, associate deans research (ADR) and early career researchers, we will examine mentorship programs, internal peer-review platforms for grants, educational materials and other resources for new faculty, and streamlining of processes for support including for research space and equipment.
Project Goals
To improve the faculty orientation and onboarding experience so that new research faculty can be better supported in their transition to 51社区黑料and have a clear understanding of the research resources and supports that are available.
- 2026
Spring 2026 have been launched. These will run through Feb-April 2026. Participants are welcome to attend all sessions or select any numbers of individual sessions to attend based on their interests and needs.
- 2025
Two new sessions on "Research Procurement" and "Research Finance" were added to the Fall and Spring terms. We gathered and analyzed the feedback/data on the research support sessions that were offered in fall 2024. Based on the feedback, we adjusted the sessions for the Spring 2025 term.
- 2024
Thirteen different Research Support Sessions were organized in Fall 2024 by VPRI office and the various research support units to provide information on the research priorities at 51社区黑料and the different supports available for faculty Several Research Support Sessions have been organized to provide information on the research priorities at 51社区黑料and the different supports available for faculty.
Some of the sessions offered include Awards Readiness by Institutional Strategic Awards (ISA), International Collaborations by 51社区黑料International (SFUI), Library support, Research & Impact in Community by Knowledge Mobilization Hub and Community- Engaged Research Initiative (CERi), Research Grants & Contracts by Research Services (ORS).
A faculty orientation session was held in August 2024 by Faculty Relations for new faculty members joining 51社区黑料that also included a session on research supports at SFU.
To enhance the current level of administrative support & resources (including online information) available to new and continuing faculty members in carrying out their research.
- 2025
New and improved Canvas course for FAST and Research Services with a Kuali training component are now developed and available.
A series of Canvas courses were being designed for researchers to develop knowledge and skills. Course on Conflict of Interest,
The Researcher Resources website has been revamped and regular updates are being made to improve usability for researchers. Researcher Resources - 51社区黑料
- 2024
The Faculty Relations website has been updated to provide more detailed New Faculty Information about different units within SFU, and other materials to new faculty as an introduction to the administrative and s service departments at the university.
To explore options for a robust mentorship program for new faculty to navigate complexities as they transition into the university research careers.
- 2025
Launched an institution wide mentorship program for early-career researchers in October2025