Guidelines and eligibility

Research awards

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• Research Translation Award

  This is awarded to a UTS researcher, or team of UTS staff (both academic and professional staff involved in the translation), who have demonstrated the ability to effectively translate their research into use by others outside of academia. This award will recognise excellent research that has been adopted by others in ways that has, or has the potential to, create significant positive change that will ultimately lead to impactful outcomes. This award category is open to all research translation pathways, including but not limited to:

  • Translating research into clinical practice and patient care protocols.
  • Creating new processes, materials and techniques used to produce products.
  • Influencing policy, legislation, or Government service delivery.
  • Delivering social change through the adoption of evidence-based interventions.
  • Influencing or changing professional and creative practices.
  • Addressing environmental challenges and practices.
  • Embedding new digital technologies into existing products or services.
  • Commercialising new technologies to disrupt or improve a sector.

  Nominees must include information about the research underpinning the nomination and provide evidence of the activities and processes taken to proactively translate the research into use.

  The nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Effective research translation (40%)

  • Describe the end-user problem that the research was trying to solve, including why the problem exists, what the consequences of the problem are, and the scale of the problem (who does the problem impact and to what extent?).
  • Describe the planning process that was undertaken to effectively and proactively translate the research into use by others outside of academia.
  • Describe the ways that the original research needed to be adapted or developed in order for it to be adopted into use.
  • Demonstrate how you engaged with the end-users in the process of research translation.
  • Describe any challenges or hurdles you had to overcome and how you overcame them.
  • Provide evidence of the research being adopted. This can be in the form of testimonials from end users, copies of any relevant documents or reports or other forms of demonstration of the research in use as appropriate.
  • Describe how the research that has been translated benefits the end users, what has changed, or will change, as a result of the research being adopted.

  Originality and significance of the research (30%)

  • Describe the underlying research and demonstrate how it has contributed to new knowledge and to advancing the boundaries of the discipline.
  • Describe how the research is innovative and how it addresses the end-user problem.

  Research excellence (20%)

  • Include evidence of excellence in relation to the nominated research. This may include information related to measures of esteem, honours and awards/prizes, and any other evaluations of the research which are appropriate to demonstrating excellence.
  • Research nominated for this award must have been published in internationally respected, externally refereed outlets (noting that this includes national publishing houses and journals of international standing). Provide details of these publications, including citation data where appropriate.
  • Research that has generated non-traditional research outputs is considered under this criterion. Here, nominees should describe these outputs and explain how they represent research excellence in their field. The nominator should reinforce this assessment of non-traditional research outputs.
  • Research which enhances our expertise in leading practice-based research.
  • Evidence of:
    • Competitive external research funding, secured either to support the nominated research or awarded because of the successful outcomes of the research, OR
    • External research funding from sources other than competitive grants (for example, contract research) and the satisfaction of the funder, for example through further funding or written endorsement of their satisfaction.

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Supervisor of the Year Award

  Quality supervision is critical to the success of any research candidature, including timely completion of milestones and the development of appropriate academic and research integrity practices. This award recognises an outstanding research supervisor and the important role they play in supporting the research achievements and development of talented Higher Degree Research candidates.

  Nominees (research supervisors) must be nominated by a former student, or a current student who has submitted the final draft of their thesis and is waiting on the outcome. The thesis submission must be the final submission after an assessor review has been conducted and all revisions to the thesis have been made. Nominations in Symplectic must be completed by the nominee (research supervisor) and the former student or current student must fill out the Nominator’s Statement of Support. Only one nomination per supervisor will be accepted, therefore it is important that nominators should coordinate support for the application among their peers.

  The performance of nominees should be described in relation to each of the criteria below. It is important that descriptions indicate how the nominees’ activities demonstrate excellence in relation to the criteria. Furthermore, the nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Sustained and outstanding results of supervision (25%)

  • Provide evidence of sustained and outstanding results of the nominated supervisor 
    (for example, have students from a range of backgrounds been encouraged to pursue a doctorate? What have the research students gone on to achieve?)
  • Provide evidence of the nominee offering constructive employment and career advice post-graduation.

  Supervision innovation (25%)

  • Provide evidence of the pioneering approach by the nominated supervisor. What has the nominee done, above and beyond what is expected of any good supervisor?
  • How have they used the UTS supervisory panel approach to provide innovative and high-quality supervision?

  Dedication (20%)

  • Provide demonstrable evidence for the nominee’s enthusiasm for the role and going the extra mile to help students navigate difficulties, academic or otherwise.

  Academic leadership (20%)

  • Provide evidence of the nominee’s efforts in constructively challenging students intellectually and helping them to make substantial contributions to their academic field.

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations. 
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Early Career Research Excellence Award

  This award is for an outstanding piece of research conducted by an individual early career researcher (ECR). Nominees are eligible for this award if, at the closing date for nominations, it is five years or less since the date of their PhD conferral. The research entered for consideration should demonstrate research excellence relative to the length of career and to opportunities.

  Nominees must include information about the research underpinning the nomination and provide evidence of the breadth of its contribution to the research field. Evidence of the nominee’s potential contribution to becoming a research leader is also assessed. Furthermore, the nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Consideration will be given to an eligibility exemption in the case of verifiable career disruptions. Eligible career disruptions are in line with those endorsed by the Australian Research Council.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Originality and significance of the research (30%)

  • Describe the research and demonstrate how it has contributed to new knowledge and to advancing the boundaries of the discipline.
  • Describe how the research is innovative.

  Research excellence (30%)

  • Include evidence of excellence in relation to the nominated research. This may include information related to measures of esteem, honours and awards/prizes, and any other evaluations of the research which are appropriate to demonstrating excellence.
  • Research nominated for this medal must have been published in internationally respected, externally refereed outlets (noting that this includes national publishing houses and journals of international standing). Provide details of these publications, including citation data where appropriate.
  • Research that has generated non-traditional research outputs is considered under this criterion. Here, nominees should describe these outputs and explain how they represent research excellence in their field. The nominator should reinforce this assessment of non-traditional research outputs.
  • Research which enhances our expertise in leading practice-based research.
  • Demonstrate evidence of impact and engagement outside the University as it relates to this research. Research impact is the contribution that research makes to the economy, society, environment, or culture, beyond the contribution to academic research.
  • Where applicable, describe how the plan for research impact was developed, who has benefitted from the research, and how it reached the end user (view a CSIRO case study example).
  • Evidence of:
    • Competitive external research funding, secured either to support the nominated research or awarded because of the successful outcomes of the research, OR
    • External research funding from sources other than competitive grants (for example, contract research) and the satisfaction of the funder (for example, through further funding or written endorsement of their satisfaction).

  Future research leader (30%)

  • Provide evidence of:
    • Building peer and external networks.
    • Community outreach.
    • The nominee’s developing leadership capabilities.
    • The nominee’s efforts to champion junior researchers.

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Research Leadership and Development Award

  This award is to recognize and encourage an individual researcher who is on a path to becoming a research leader. The nominee is likely to be a mid-career researcher (approximately 5-15 years post PhD) who displays evidence of being a research leader and champion of research development. Evidence of the nominee’s research excellence will be assessed. Furthermore, the nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Leadership and Development activities (60%)

  • Provide evidence of:
    • A research vision that has delivered results.
    • Teamwork, mentoring and training of peers, early career researchers and research degree students.
    • How the nominee has helped integrate younger researchers into the wider research community, within and beyond their own research community and UTS, including post PhD employment.
    • How the nominee has implemented innovative skills development programs and supported broader programs for researcher development outside their immediate unit.
    • The nominee’s contributions to the development and strengthening of institutional and local ECR strategy and policy.
    • The nominee’s capacity for building peer networks and external collaborations.

  Research excellence (30%)

  • Include evidence of excellence in relation to the nominated research. This may include information related to measures of esteem, honours and awards/prizes, and any other evaluations of the research, which are appropriate to demonstrating excellence.
  • Research nominated for this medal must have been published in internationally respected, externally refereed outlets (noting that this includes national publishing houses and journals of international standing). Provide details of these publications, including citation data where appropriate.
  • Research that has generated non-traditional research outputs is considered under this criterion. Nominees should describe these outputs and explain how they represent research excellence in their field. The nominator should reinforce this assessment of non-traditional research outputs.
  • Demonstrate evidence of impact and engagement outside the University as it relates to this research. Research impact is the contribution that research makes to the economy, society, environment, or culture, beyond the contribution to academic research.
  • Where applicable, describe how the plan for research impact was developed, who has benefitted from the research, and how it reached the end user (view a CSIRO case study example).
  • Provide evidence of competitive external research funding, secured either to support the nominated research or awarded because of the successful outcomes of the research, OR
  • Evidence of external research funding from sources other than competitive grants (for example, contract research) and the satisfaction of the funder (for example, through further funding or written endorsement of their satisfaction).

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Research Excellence through Collaboration Award

  This is awarded to a UTS researcher, or team of UTS researchers, who have developed and sustained a research collaboration (internal to UTS or with researchers from other universities and/or research organisations) that has resulted in the delivery of significant outcomes, including in creative industries or practices. This award will recognise excellent research involving a multi- or trans-disciplinary research team, consisting of collaborators across two or more UTS faculties or units in traditionally unrelated disciplines. The nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Eligibility

  The research entered may be a single project or a program of research. External collaborators should not be included as nominees; however, the nomination must include a letter of support from the external collaborator describing the outcomes and benefits of the collaboration. This must not exceed two pages.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Collaboration (40%)

  • Demonstrate the strength of the collaboration and evidence of teamwork.
  • Provide evidence of leadership within the collaboration.
  • Describe how the research outcomes were only possible because of the collaboration.

  Research significance and impact (30%)

  • Demonstrate evidence of the collaboration, and the benefits and impact that it brings to the University.
  • Provide evidence of learning experiences being shared for use in future collaborations.
  • Provide evidence of output/outcomes from the collaboration, including publications, research quality metrics and impact on society/industry (for example, citations, external research funding, industry scholarships and supervision of research degree candidates) which resulted from this collaboration.

  Research excellence (20%)

  Include evidence of:

  • Excellence in relation to the nominated research. This may include information related to measures of esteem, honours and awards/prizes, and any other evaluations of the research, which are appropriate to demonstrating excellence.
  • Research nominated for this medal must have been published in internationally respected, externally refereed outlets (noting that this includes national publishing houses and journals of international standing). Provide details of these publications, including citation data where appropriate.
  • Research that has generated non-traditional research outputs is considered under this criterion. Here, nominees should describe these outputs and explain how they represent research excellence in their field. The nominator should reinforce this assessment of non-traditional research outputs.
  • Where applicable, describe how the plan for research impact was developed, who has benefitted from the research, and how it reached the end user (view a CSIRO case study example).
  • Provide evidence of competitive external research funding, secured either to support the nominated research or awarded because of the successful outcomes of the research; or
  • Evidence of external research funding from sources other than competitive grants (for example, contract research) and the satisfaction of the funder (for example, through further funding or written endorsement of their satisfaction).

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Research Excellence through Partnership Award

  This award is given to a UTS researcher or a team of UTS researchers who have developed and maintained a research partnership resulting in significant outcomes, such outcomes would including those realised in creative industries or practices. This award category aims to recognise outstanding research involving external partnerships with industry, community groups, governments, councils, NGOs, and not-for-profit organisations – collaborating with individuals and organisations that do not have as their primary purpose the undertaking of research. The nomination must demonstrate how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Eligibility

  The research may consist of a single project or a program of research. External partners should not be included as nominees; however, the nomination must include a letter of support from the external partner outlining the outcomes and benefits of the partnership. This letter should not exceed two pages. The external partners will be formally acknowledged in the announcement of finalists and eventual winners.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Collaboration (40%)

  • Demonstrate the strength of the partnership and evidence of teamwork.
  • Provide evidence of leadership within the partnership.
  • Describe how the research outcomes were only possible because of the partnership. The value add must be evidenced, related to both the outcomes achieved from the partnership as well as for the partners.

  Research significance and impact (30%)

  • Demonstrate evidence of the partnership, and the benefits and impact that it brings to the University.
  • Provide evidence of learning experiences being shared for use in future partnerships.
  • Provide evidence of output/outcomes from the partnership, including publications, research quality metrics and impact on society/industry (for example, citations, external research funding, industry scholarships and supervision of research degree candidates), which resulted from this partnership.

  Research excellence (20%)

  Include evidence of:

  • Excellence concerning the nominated research may encompass information relating to measures of esteem, honours and awards/prizes, and any other evaluations of the research that are relevant to demonstrating excellence.
  • Research nominated for this medal must have been published in internationally respected, externally refereed outlets, which includes national publishing houses and journals of international standing. Please provide details of these publications, including citation data where appropriate.
  • Research that has produced non-traditional outputs falls under this criterion. Here, nominees should outline these outputs and explain how they exemplify research excellence in their field. The nominator should bolster this evaluation of non-traditional research outputs.
  • Where applicable, outline how the research impact plan was developed, who has benefitted from the research, and how it reached the end user (view a CSIRO case study example).
  • Provide evidence of competitive external research funding, secured to either support the nominated research or awarded due to the successful outcomes of the research, OR/AND
  • Evidence of external research funding from sources other than competitive grants, such as contract research, and the satisfaction of the funder, for instance through further funding or written endorsement of their satisfaction.

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).

• Research Management and Development Award (Professional Staff)

  For an outstanding contribution or initiative in support services that has boosted research capability and/or development at either Faculty/School/Discipline/Institute or UTS-level. This award is open to individuals or teams of professional staff across UTS who support research excellence. Furthermore, the nomination must address how the research activities contribute to the UTS culture of excellence and align with one or more of the Eight Characteristics of Research at UTS.

  Selection criteria

  Nominations must address each of the following criteria.

  Initiative (30%)

  Describe how the nominee/team has:

  • Demonstrated leadership within their team or across the UTS research community.
  • Shown ingenuity in researcher development initiative and/or research capability at UTS.
  • Created or improved processes and procedures.

  Performance (contribution) (30%)

  • Provide evidence that the quality of work/output or service contributed by the nominee/team has gone above and beyond the normal duties of the position and has led to successful outcomes for an associated research program or team.
  • Demonstrate a significant and sustained effort to improve systems and enhance support.

  Relationship excellence (30%)

  • Provide evidence of a demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive collaborative relationships and research networks across UTS.
  • Demonstrate the strength of the partnership and evidence of teamwork.

  Contribution to the UTS culture of excellence (5%)

  As a member of the UTS community, staff are expected to uphold the principles of good citizenship by being generous with their assistance, supporting others, and collaborating with colleagues in matters related to research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer, and contributing to the overall benefit of the University. Examples of good citizenship and conduct include:

  • Actively engaging with colleagues and accepting delegated responsibilities.
  • Building positive working relationships with colleagues and others.
  • Meeting obligations.
  • Compliance with the University’s policies.
  • Respect for colleagues at every level.
  • Making a positive contribution to meetings or training events.
  • Demonstrating leadership in promoting work-life balance.
  • Fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring.
  • Supply evidence of commitment to the principles of good citizenship.

  Align with the eight characteristics of research at UTS (5%)

  The UTS Research Strategy outlines eight characteristics that underpin and inspire our work and career development at UTS. These characteristics are fundamental to the UTS Research Strategy and the roles of academic staff, professional staff, and Higher Degree Research students. Nominees should select one or more of these characteristics and briefly explain how their chosen activities reflect that/those characteristic(s).