Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges (2026-27)
Program Description:
The Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) launches the second cohort of the limited enrolment Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges (ReLAIE) to support and strengthen research excellence at the University of Toronto. Drawing on the university’s thriving and internationally renowned community of research leaders, this program offers tenure stream, mid-career (at least one year post tenure) faculty opportunities to gain vital insights and mentorship from established research leaders and their peers. This program is designed to support and strengthen research excellence at U of T by springboarding participants’ research and innovation leadership through mentorship, coaching, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities beyond their home departments. The program offers opportunities to build skills to tackle complex challenges, explore large-scale team and governance structures, and encourage transformational research practices.
Program Aims:
This cohort-based program equips faculty to purposefully advance their strategic leadership and capabilities to:
- Assemble and lead research networks, institutes or consortiums that coordinate objectives among numerous research groups to achieve a shared vision;
- Address grand challenges with multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multi-themed programs of research;
- Expand local, national and international partnerships with a wider breadth of research partners from academia, industry, not-for-profit, government and public sectors, and/or communities;
- Lead and support thriving research teams, using authentic leadership principles and fostering an inclusive research culture; and
- Assess and evaluate a broad set of outcomes and impacts of research programs.
It will also equip faculty to cultivate and expand a network of peers and mentors to:
- Activate diverse dialogue and perspectives while creating trusting and reciprocal connections;
- Critically reflect on personal leadership values and skills through interactive discussions with peers and senior leaders; and
- Set research leadership development goals and concrete plans for achievement.
Congratulations to the Members of the 2026-2027 Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges!
We are delighted to welcome 22 faculty members to the second cohort of this program. Below are the outstanding researchers who make up the 2026-2027 Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges cohort.
Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health Director of the Centre for Occupational Disease Prevention
Co-Director of the Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease
Associate Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
PhD Director
RBC Chair in Applied Social Work Research
Co-founder & Co-director of the Youth Wellness Lab
Associate Professor, Dept. of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Associate Professor, Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Arts & Science
Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Particle Physics
Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Director of the Centre for Sport Policy Studies
Professor, Dept. of Management, University of Toronto Scarborough
Academic Director, Statistics Canada Restricted Data Centre
Co-Director, Equity in Education Canada Research lab
Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Canada Research Chair in Economics for Global Health Systems Equity
Associate Professor, Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies, Faculty of Arts & Science
Associate Professor, Dept. of Arts, Culture and Media, University of Toronto Scarborough
Associate Professor, Dept. of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga
Professor, Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy, University of Toronto Mississauga
Founding Director, Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy
Associate Professor, Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering & Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Professor, Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, University of Toronto Mississauga
Director, McEwan Mediated Communication Lab
Associate Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Resurgence
Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Director, Research and Programming for the Prehabilitation Program, Research Lead, Goodhope Exercise and Rehabilitation Program
Associate Professor, Dept. of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Professor, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design
Director, PhD Program in Architecture, Landscape, and Design
Program Goals:
- Deepen understanding of the current and evolving requirements of a successful research and innovation leader within the context of a challenge-driven and complex global landscape.
- Expand and cultivate a network of academic peers, mentors, and sponsors.
- Articulate personal research leadership priorities and values and practice key leadership skills.
- Engage deeply with interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary approaches to solving complex research questions.
- Evaluate utility of various governance and shared decision-making models in research teams.
- Foster empathetic leadership competencies to navigate social, ethical, and professional challenges with integrity and insight.
- Recognize and leverage operational strategies and tools for effective management of complex research portfolios.
- Apply practical strategies and tools to plan for and communicate research impact across varied audiences.
Program Structure:
The emphasis of the Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges is on creating supportive, propulsive, and mutually sustaining networks within and beyond the program’s cohort. Learning and mentoring will take place at the personal, research group, institutional, and inter-sectoral levels to drive new ideas and transformative research practices in line with the University’s strategic research priorities and commitments.
The program has three main components (see below):
- Seven half-day sessions combining panel discussions and practical workshops. Individual session schedules, activities, and pre-work expectations will be circulated well in advance.
- Four small online group mentoring sessions with an experienced U of T research leader (Feb 2025, Apr 2025, Oct 2025, & Feb 2026).
- Two, one-on-one coaching sessions with a Program Ambassador (May 2026 & Apr 2027).
Session Dates and Times:
Seven, in-person ½ day sessions will be held at the CRIS Collaborative Space in the Gerstein Science Information Centre, St. George Campus. For planning purposes, please note the program spans Spring/Fall semesters and one summer.
Program At-A-Glance:
Winter 2026:
- Session 1 – Program Launch: Learning into Leading Major Research Programs
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 8:45-1:00 - Session 2 – Interdisciplinary/Transdisciplinary Research
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 8:45-1:00 - Session 3 – International Research and Global Consortia
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 8:45-1:00
Fall 2026:
- Session 4 – Dilemma Cafe – Navigating Challenges as a Leader
Thursday, October 1, 2026, 8:45-1:00 - Session 5 – Thriving Research Teams
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 8:45-1:00
Winter 2027:
- Session 6 – Portfolio Project Management, Sustainability and Project Closure
Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 8:45-1:00 - Session 7 – Research Impact
Thursday, March 4, 2027, 8:45-1:00 - Celebration of Program Completion – with Program Alumni from 2025
April 2027 (date TBD)
Group Mentors
We are pleased to announce the scholars who will participate in the program as Group Mentors.
Professor, Molecular Genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Director, Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Disease Consortium (EPIC); Director, Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF);
Co-Director, Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence and Innovation in Infectious Disease (HI3)
Associate Professor, David A. Dunlap Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Faculty of Arts & Science
Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Rehab Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Date/Time:
January 2026 – April 2027
Key Benefits:
- Learn from mentors in group and in 1:1 settings
- Grow research leadership skills for mid to large research teams
- Build academic research leadership communities
- Self-reflection on leadership attribute and skills
Program Ambassadors
Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives
Timothy Chan, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives
Barbara Fallon, Associate-Vice President, Research
Vince Tropepe, Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Compliance
Facilitators
- Vinita Haroun, Director, CRIS
- Elizabeth Parke, Faculty Programming Development Officer, CRIS
Group Mentors
- Scott Gray-Owen, Professor, Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Director EPIC and Director CL3 Lab, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Renée Hložek, Associate Professor, David A. Dunlap Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Faculty of Arts & Science
- Cara Krmpotich, Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty Life, Faculty of Information
- Nick Reed, Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Rehab Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
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