Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges

The Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) launched the limited enrolment Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges 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 mid-career faculty opportunities to gain vital insights and mentorship from established research leaders and their peers.

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 partnerships with a wider breadth of research partners from academia, industry, not-for profit, government and public sectors, and/or communities;
• Assess and evaluate outcomes and impacts of research programs;
• Enhance and champion opportunities for students and early career researchers through inclusive and equitable training and research programs; and
• Lead and motivate others using authentic research leadership principles.

We are delighted to welcome 23 faculty members to the inaugural cohort of this new program. Below are the amazing researchers who make up the 2024 Research Leadership Academy: Insights & Exchanges cohort.

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-sector levels to drive new ideas and transformative research practices in line with the University’s strategic priorities and commitments.

Over the 18-month period the four main program components will include:

• Seven half-day sessions combining panel discussions and practical workshops (topics and dates below)
• Five group mentorship sessions with experienced U of T research leaders and peers
• Coaching session with a Program Ambassador: Professors Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives, Tim Chan, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives, and Barbara Fallon, Associate-Vice President, Research.
• Complementary CRIS programming that aligns with topics covered in the program that are open to non-cohort participants

Individual session learning objectives will support participants’ on-going engagement with the program. Individual session schedules, activities, pre-work expectations will be circulated well in advance.

• Develop and practice key leadership skills
• Articulate research leadership priorities and values
• Deepen understanding of the current and evolving requirements of a successful research and innovation leader within the context of challenge driven and multi-sited current research and funding landscape
• Learn how to build, foster, and grow an inclusive and diverse team of researchers
• Articulate key research goals through strategic planning, governance structure, and approaches to ethical and equity-informed collaborator, partner, and stakeholder engagement
• Grow and nurture a vibrant research culture that values mentorship and coaching among team members

Seven, in-person ½ day sessions will be held at the CRIS Collaborative Space in the Gerstein Science Information Centre, St. George Campus.

Winter 2024:
Session 1 – Program Launch: Learning into Leading Major Research Programs
January 31, 2024 (9:00am-1:00pm)

Session 2 – Deepening Impact: Reaching Across Disciplines, Contexts, Organizations, and Countries
March 27, 2024 (9:00am-1:00pm)

Session 3 – Research Leaders of Major Initiatives: Advancing an Ambitious Research Agenda with a Shared Purpose
May 8, 2024 (9:00am-1:00pm)

Fall 2024:
Session 4 – Building and Managing Complex, Diverse, and Inclusive Teams
September 25, 2024 (9:00am-1:00pm)

Session 5 Tentative Topic: Operational Planning: Financial Planning and Budgets
(Nov 2024, Specific dates TBD)

Winter 2025:
Session 6 – Tentative Topic: Sustaining Success, Planning for Change, Measuring Impact
(Jan 2025, Specific dates TBD )

Session 7 – Tentative Title: Engaging with Leadership Peers: Coaching and Mentoring Up
(Mar 2025, Specific dates TBD)

Program At-A-Glance:

The program includes seven in-person, half-day sessions. These sessions will be held in the Gerstein Science Information Centre that is accessible and has single stall washrooms. During the sessions, speakers will use microphones, there will be a quiet space available, and wellness breaks are scheduled. If you are accepted into the cohort and require additional accommodations (physical, sensory, learning related) please email elizabeth.parke@utoronto.ca directly and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

All participants who complete the 18-month program will receive a letter of recognition from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation and Strategic Initiatives a copy of which can be placed in their personnel file.

• 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

• Full-time, tenure stream faculty at the Associate or Professor rank, who have achieved tenure at least one year ago, are welcome to apply.
• Additionally, we strongly encourage applicants who hold external grant funding whose research programs include future partnerships across multiple institutions (e.g., national/international) and / or with a diverse set of partners.

• Professors Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives, Tim Chan, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives, and Barbara Fallon, Associate-Vice President, Research.
• Elizabeth Parke, CRIS Faculty Programming Development Officer, and Krystyna Kongats, Collaborative Programs Officer.

Want to stay up to date with this program and other programs?
Join our email list!