University College Cork - Research Awards – Guidelines document
Background
University College Cork is an internationally recognised research-led institution, one of
Ireland’s oldest institutes of higher education. The quality and recognition of UCC research
success across all Colleges in the University, including outputs from individuals and major
national Research Institutes and Centres, is measured by key research metrics such as
publications, citations and collaborative interactions.
These UCC Research Awards recognise the extensive contributions made by UCC research and
researchers. They will recognise and celebrate those UCC researchers who have made
exceptional and very influential research contributions, pushing boundaries, enhancing
knowledge and raising the national and international research profile of University College
Cork.
Scope
The UCC Research Awards will embrace all research, across the entire University Research
Community, from all disciplines.
Awards
The UCC Research Awards will consist of a memento to celebrate receipt of the award and a
certificate of award.
Number / categories of awards
There are five individual and one team annual Research Awards, recognising, respectively the
Researcher of the Year, the Early Stage Researcher of the Year, the Research Support Person
of the Year, the Research Supervisor of the Year, the Research Communicator of the Year and
the Research Team of the Year. On a more occasional basis, a Career Achievement Research
Award will be presented.
Individual awards
The Researcher of the Year, Early Stage Researcher of the Year, Research Support person of
the Year, the Research Supervisor of the Year and the Research Communicator of the Year are
exclusive awards; only one of these awards may be presented to an individual in any one year.
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UCC Research Awards 2017 - Guidelines Document
Acceptance of any of these individual awards does not preclude the individual from being part
of a team nominated for the Research Team Award.
Multiple awards may be presented in each category where more than one applicant / team
merits receipt of the award.
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Researcher of the Year
- This award will recognise the most outstanding contribution by a UCC researcher in
a given year.
- Researcher is defined as any member of the University research community,
regardless of discipline or contract type.
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Early Stage Researcher of the Year
- This award will recognise early career research excellence and the potential for
future outstanding performance.
- The recipient of this award must be no more than 10 years from date of doctorate*
(as per date on parchment). Please note: eligible delays/interruptions (e.g. maternity)
are not counted in this total.
- A researcher may be awarded only one Early Stage Researcher of the Year award.
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Research Support Person of the Year
- This award will recognise that person who most contributed to the successful
execution of research by (non-exhaustively) an individual, project, department,
institute or centre.
- Laboratory / Technical / Other support staff (research coordinators, managers,
administrators....) are eligible for this award.

Research Supervisor of the Year
- This award recognizes, encourages and rewards those who have shown sustained
excellence in the supervision and development of exceptional and influential
researchers.
- All UCC postgraduate research supervisors, in any discipline, are eligible for
nomination.
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UCC Research Awards 2017 - Guidelines Document
Nominees must not have been the recipient of a UCC Research Award in the previous
five years, except in exceptional circumstances.
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Research Communicator of the Year
This award will recognise researchers who have taken a proactive approach to sharing
their research or opinions on research issues and policies with the general public.
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Research Team of the Year
This award will recognise the most outstanding contribution by a research team. It is
open to research teams in (non-exhaustively) a single discipline, department, project,
centre or institution or across two or more disciplines, departments, centres or
institutions. A Research Team can include one or more Principal Investigator, as
appropriate.
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Career Achievement Research Award
This award will recognise the most outstanding overall performance by a researcher.
This award will be presented on an occasional basis.
Eligibility
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All UCC employees are eligible for nomination
Nominees may be involved in individual or multi-partner research in any discipline
Nominees must not have been the recipient of a Research Award in the previous 5
years, unless in exceptional circumstances
Nomination
In 2017, nominations for these awards are invited through the four Colleges. Each College
is invited to submit up to three nominations in each category.
Those nominated, nominating and seconding to this programme must be UCC staff members,
current postgraduate or past postgraduate students (staff / student numbers will be
required). An individual can nominate at most one researcher / research team; selfnomination is permitted, except in the case of the Research Supervisor of the Year which is
student nominated.
Nominations will be by means of standard nomination forms. Failure to complete or comply
with the requirement of the nomination procedure will result in the nomination being
withdrawn without review. Canvassing will automatically disqualify.
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UCC Research Awards 2017 - Guidelines Document
Application process / nomination form
The nomination forms are available from the Office of the Vice President for Research and
Innovation website (http://www.ucc.ie/en/research/fuf/). Where applicable, please include:
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All signatures as required
CV (3 page limit) and publications, from IRIS (http://www.ucc.ie/en/research/iris/)
Key Research Indicators (discipline-specific)
Joint statement from nominator and seconder – (500 words maximum)Why the
nominee should be considered:
Letters of support (internal and / or external) from two others only (only the first two
letters received will be considered), outlining why the nominee should receive the
award.
- In the case of the Research Supervisor of the Year:
• Research supervisors are nominated by two postgraduate research students (two
current or one current and one past) under their supervision (sole or joint)
• Eligible nominees will be invited to complete a Supervisor of the Year award evaluation
form
Evaluation panel
For maximum efficiency, the Strategic Research Fund Committee (SRFC), chaired by the Vice
President for Research and Innovation, will evaluate nominations to the UCC Research Awards
programme. The SRFC comprises:
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Chairs of the College Research Committees
Director of Research Support Services
Director of Technology Transfer
Chair, Academic Council for Research and Innovation Committee
Representative from Research Centres/Institutes
Dean of Graduate Studies
Evaluation criteria (for all awards except Research Supervisor of the Year)
• Attainment and consistency of high levels of achievement
- for a time period appropriate to stage of career
• Research Excellence, as measured by
- demonstration of innovative thinking
- national and international recognition of excellence as measured by peer esteem
indicators
- Published outputs (within the context of the discipline)
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UCC Research Awards 2017 - Guidelines Document
• Impact
- Encouragement and promotion of young researchers, including postgraduate
researchers
- Impact of the research on culture, society and the economy
Evaluation criteria (Research Supervisor of the Year)
Evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to,
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Effective support of research students towards timely completion of their thesis
Mentoring of supervisees
Effective feedback and critical advising on publishing and presentation of supervisees’
work
Support of researcher training (e.g. skills training, conference presentation, teaching
experience, other professional experience)
Consistency of progression of postgraduate researchers to completion within the
expected timeframe for the postgraduate qualification (commensurate with career
stage)
Development of research training / research supervision methods (e.g. engaging in
professional development in supervision)
Integration of postgraduate researchers into the research community
Assisting postgraduate students with their career goals
Evidence of lasting professional relationship with supervisees and graduates
*In exceptional circumstances, a candidate will be considered where they have at least 4 years’
and no more than 14 years full-time equivalent research experience after obtaining a primary
degree.
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UCC Research Awards 2017 - Guidelines Document