Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award

Purpose

To stimulate research and research related scholarly activities, and to recognise an exceptional young staff member engaged in research and more general scholarly activity.

Eligibility

Staff members who are under 40 years (i.e. 40 and below) of age on 31 December in the year in which they apply or are nominated. In exceptional strongly motivated cases, the selection committee may at its discretion consider candidates who are over 40 years of age, but who are under 43 years (i.e. 43 and below) of age on 31 December in the year in which they apply or are nominated, provided that they have been in possession of their PhD degree for 5 years or less and have made exceptional progress in their research careers during this period.

They shall be of exceptional quality in relation to peers at their stage of career, and proven achievement with standing records of scholarship.

Nominees or applicants should normally have been employed at Rhodes University for a continuous period of at least five years (in a permanent or contract capacity), and must be a currently serving member of staff at the time of nomination or application (i.e. past staff members will not be eligible).

Nominations

Permanent staff members may nominate candidates. Such nominations should be confidential if possible. In addition, staff members may apply to be considered.

Nominations and applications must be accompanied by:

  • curriculum vitae of the nominee or applicant;
  • details of publications, reviews of publications (or cited references) and other evidence of distinction;
  • the names of three referees.

Considerations of nominations
The committee will:

  • Invite referees to comment on, inter alia, whether the candidate is exceptional and worthy of being considered, whether the candidate is recognised as being one of the most outstanding people in the age group and, in respect of publications, the quality and depth, the standing within the discipline concerned, and the international and/or national standing;
  • take into consideration not only the work on which candidates have established their reputations at Rhodes University, but also work done elsewhere;
  • regard "research" in the broader sense to mean all creative endeavours including the performing arts and the fine arts;
  • not be required to recommend an award if in its view the nominations and applications are not sufficiently outstanding to warrant an award.

Value of award

R40 000-00 or such other amount as may be determined by the University Council on the recommendation of the Research Committee.

The total amount awarded will be subject to income tax even if transferred into a special research account.

Closing date

Nominations and applications are to be submitted to the Research office of the DVC: Research and Development (dvc.research@ru.ac.za) by the closing date. The recipient of the award is announced in December of each year.

DR PETER CLAYTON
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Last Modified: Thu, 15 Oct 2020 09:15:51 SAST