Wolfe-Western Fellowship At-Large for Outstanding Newly Recruited Research Scholars – 2025

Western Research, on behalf of the Vice-President (Research) and the Vice-President (University Advancement), is pleased to announce the Wolfe-Western Fellowship At-Large for Outstanding Newly Recruited Research Scholars. The Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to support exceptional scholars new to Western from any discipline.

Eligibility

The Wolfe-Western Fellowship will be awarded based on the quality of the nominee’s research and record of accomplishments, as well as, the extent to which the nominee has contributed to research excellence and innovation in their chosen field in Canada and internationally relative to their career stage.

  • Nominees must be at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level, and within the first or second year of their first appointment at Western (the appointment start date must be between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024).
  • The nominee must allocate at least 75% of her/his academic time to research or research-related activities. Protected time to be confirmed in the nomination package by the respective Dean.
  • Scholars holding an existing salary award covering more than 50% of their salary (e.g. Canada Research Chairs, Canada Excellence Research Chairs) are not eligible.
  • Each Dean/Faculty may nominate one (1) eligible researcher for the Wolfe-Western Fellowship. Faculties are strongly encouraged to consider Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization principles in their internal selection of candidates.

Please note that the WWF is not exclusively an early-career scholar award, eligibility is based on recruitment date to Western University.

Nomination Process

Each Faculty may submit one candidate for this Fellowship; if you are interested in being nominated for this award, please contact your Dean or Associate Dean (Research).

Please review the Program Guidelines to assist in the preparation of applications. The full nomination package must be submitted in one PDF attachment and include the following mandatory components:

  • Nomination Form
  • Cover letter (maximum two pages two pages) signed by the Dean and the Nominee
  • Research Project Description/Lay Abstract (500 words maximum)
  • Milestones and Deliverables of the Fellowship (400 words maximum)
  • Nominee's current CV (no page limit)
  • Most significant contributions (maximum two pages)
  • Two external letters of reference (maximum two pages per letter)

Please note the following:

  • The formatting instructions asnd evaluation criteria are in the WWF Program Guidelines.
  • Full Nomination Dossier is submitted through the Nomination Form.  Please connect with rwprizes@uwo.ca if you have questions about the form.
  • No additional documentation will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

Adjudication Process

An adjudication committee, chaired by the Vice President (Research) or designate, will be composed of members of the Western College of Reviewers to ensure that members represent an appropriate balance across broad research and scholarly disciplines. All members must have undertaken the Bias in Peer Review training offered by the CRC/Tri-councils and the Building Inclusivity Through Anti-Racism module by Western’s EDI Office prior to adjudication.

Program Resources

Best Practice Documents (updates coming soon)

EDID Supports

Dedicated support and resources for Indigenous research and Equity Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization in research are available through the Inclusive Research Excellence and Impact team. You can complete a request for support form to receive more information or book a consultation. If you are unsure if your project involves Indigenous research, it is recommended that you contact the team early for determination and support.

Deadline and Submission

Nominations must be sent by email to rwprizes@uwo.ca and be received by February 14, 2025 at 5pm (Eastern Time)

Contact

For questions pertaining to the Wolfe-Western Fellowship At-Large for Outstanding Newly Recruited Research Scholars, please contact Awards & Distinctions, Institutional Research Programs.

Wolfe-Western Fellowship Award Winners

Arghya Paul | Faculty of Engineering (2019)

Yolanda Hedberg | Faculty of Science (2021)

Aleksandra Leligdowicz | Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (2022)

Portrait of Natasha MacBean

Natasha MacBean | Faculty of Social Science (2023)

Important Dates

  • Deans submit one Nomination Package per Faculty by email to Western Research (rwprizes@uwo.ca) by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, February 15, 2024.
  • Funding for the successful nominee will begin April 1, 2024 and will last for a maximum period of five (5) years.

Contact

For questions pertaining to the Wolfe-Western Fellowship At-Large for Outstanding Newly Recruited Research Scholars, please contact: rwprizes@uwo.ca.