Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research
UQ is committed to recognising and rewarding outstanding performance in the supervising, mentoring, and training of HDR candidates. UQ also celebrates the diversity of its research community and recognises those who have facilitated greater collaboration with industry as well as those who continue to demonstrate effective and inspirational graduate leadership.
The Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research Supervision were developed in 2000 following a proposal by the Student Union and the success of the Awards for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to the remunerated Awards, the Selection Committee can award commendations and recognise excellence in advising for emerging academic staff.
In 2020, the University has introduced the Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership and the Awards for Excellence in Promoting Industry Engagement in Graduate Research. The Awards are presented annually during Research Week. Please contact the Graduate School if you have any questions about these awards.
Nomination process
The nominator must provide a succinct overview (maximum 300 words) of the nominee including a description of the contribution, initiative, program, project and/or activity and key outcomes and achievements in the performance of supervising, mentoring, and training of higher degree by research candidates.
Steps to nominate:
- Review the eligibility and requirements for the Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research Supervision.
- Complete the online nomination form - Coming soon!
Eligibility and selection criteria
Eligibility
- Nominee must be a current UQ academic staff member with a minimum of three years’ experience supervising, mentoring and/or training higher degree by research (HDR) candidates at UQ.
- Shortlisted nominees must provide evidence of high quality performance relative to opportunity (Selection Criteria).
- Previous recipients of the Award are not eligible to receive another Award.
- Previously unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated.
- Successful nominees must be available for photographs (Discovery Report).
- Successful nominees must be available to attend the presentation of awards during Research Week.
Selection criteria
The Nominee’s performance as an Advisor will be judged in part by how effectively they provide:
- support to their candidate’s development of discipline-specific and transferable skills;
- commitment to mentoring and career development guidance for their candidates;
- provision of opportunities for their candidates to develop leadership capability and independence: and
- leadership in research training.
The Selection Committee will also consider evidence of high quality performance relative to opportunity by examining:
- the nominee’s candidate timely completion rates;
- graduate destinations (where are they now?); and
- referee reports.
Nominators please comment on your experience and/or knowledge of the nominee’s research supervision, mentoring and/or training for higher degree by research candidates at UQ. The Awards Selection Committee is particularly interested in your views, supported by examples, of the nominee’s performance as an HDR Advisor. This assessment may address the performance of the nominee with respect to individuals or groups of candidates.
Referee reports and advisor statement
Referee reports
On receiving the nomination, the Graduate School may request referee reports from the nominee's:
- Head of School/Institute Director;
- School/Institute Postgraduate Coordinator; and/or
- Current HDR candidates and graduates.
The Graduate School may also access UQ’s corporate reports in order to confirm the nominee’s details, such as the number of candidates under their supervision and completion data.
Any referee reports not received by the published due date will not be considered by the Selection Committee. Please note that the Selection Committee does not review referee reports that are not received directly from the person providing the report.
Advisor statement
On receiving the nomination, the Graduate School will request a statement (maximum 300 words) from shortlisted nominees. Nominees will be asked to consider the HDR Graduate Attributes and how they, as an Advisor, have supported a cohort and/or individual students to obtain these attributes. Advisors will also be asked to provide a list of successful graduates and details of where they are now.
Selection and prizes
Selection
The Selection Committee is chaired by the Dean, UQ Graduate School or delegate.
The Selection Committee considers all eligible nominees and selects awardees. In doing so, the Committee does not take into account:
- the distribution of Awards to particular Schools, Institutes and/or Faculties; or
- the outcome of previous nominations.
Prizes
- Award for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research Supervision: $5,000.
- Emerging Advisor Award: $2,000.
The number of awards available for each category may vary each year.
Awardees will receive their prize as:
- Payment into a research account in their School, Institute or Faculty.
Winners 2019
Congratulations to our 2019 award winners.
- Associate Professor Katie Makar (School of Education) - Winner
- Associate Professor Alexander Scheuermann (School of Civil Engineering) - Winner
- Associate Professor Irina Vetter (IMB / School of Pharmacy) - Winner
- Professor Andrew Whittaker (AIBN / School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience) - Winner
- Associate Professor Michael Piper (QBI / School of Biomedical Sciences) - Emerging Advisor Award
Winners 2018
Congratulations to our 2018 award winners. Please see their videos below.
- Associate Professor Thomas Burne (Queensland Brain Institute) - Winner
- Associate Professor Helen Huang (School of IT and Electrical Engineering) - Winner
- Professor Joanne Meers (School of Veterinary Science) - Winner
- Professor Lainzhou Wang (School of Chemical Engineering) - Winner
- Dr Ian Hardy (School of Education) - Emerging Advisor Award
Associate Professor Thomas Burne (Queensland Brain Institute) - Winner
Associate Professor Helen Huang (School of IT and Electrical Engineering) - Winner
Professor Joanne Meers (School of Veterinary Science) - Winner
Professor Lainzhou Wang (School of Chemical Engineering) - Winner
Dr Ian Hardy (School of Education) - Emerging Advisor Award
Winners 2013 - 2017
| 2015 |
|---|
| Professor Linda Worrall |
| Professor Penelope Sanderson |
| Associate Professor Richard Fuller - Commendation |
| 2014 |
|---|
| Dr Simon Perry |
| Professor Tapan Saha |
| Associate Professor Jennifer Flemming |
| 2013 |
|---|
| Professor Deirdre Bradshaw |
| Professor Jeff Coombes |
Nomination process
- Prepare to complete the nomination form
Coming soon!
- Nominees to complete the nomination form
Ensure all contact details and statements addressing the selection criteria are completed and all supporting documentation is attached to the nomination. Once completed, send the nomination form and supporting documentation to your Faculty/Institute person. Once submitted, the nominee will receive an email to confirm the submission has been received.
- Shortlist - Faculty/Institute
When nominations close, each Faculty/Institute will consider all eligible nominations and select the top 2 nominees to put forward to the Graduate School for final selection. Shortlisting will be reviewed using the:
- Selection criteria;
- Academic curriculum vitae;
- Supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievements.
- Final ranking - Graduate School
When nominations close, the Selection Committee will consider all eligible nominations and rank by reviewing the:
- Selection criteria;
- Academic curriculum vitae;
- Supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievements.
- Outcome
Once all eligible nominations are reviewed by the Selection Committee the outcome will be provided via email.
- Awards ceremony
Date to be confirmed.
Eligibility and selection criteria
Eligibility
- A nominee must be a current UQ academic staff member on a continuing or fixed term appointment with no less than 0.4 EFT (or an adjunct appointment) at UQ for a minimum of two years at the time of application.
- Previous recipients of the award are not eligible for renomination within three years of receiving an award.
- Previously unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated.
- Nominees must provide evidence of high quality performance relative to opportunity (see Selection Criteria).
Any award recipient who is no longer employed by UQ at the time of the announcement of the awards will be issued a certificate of recognition, but they will not be entitled to an award prize.
Selection criteria
The Nominee’s performance in a research training leadership role will be judged in part by how effectively they provide:
- Evidence of initiatives that have enabled a strong and supportive intellectual community for HDR candidates within their academic unit;
- Evidence of contribution to the development and maintenance of high quality and innovative HDR and/or skill development programs; and
- Evidence of support and mentoring for HDR supervisors;
- Contributions to the development and strengthening of institutional and local HDR strategy and policy, and
- Supporting statements from relevant stakeholders
Supporting documentation
The following supporting documentation will be required from the nominee to provide evidence of high quality research training leadership.
- Academic curriculum vitae (brief);
- Supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievements.
Selection and prizes
Selection
The shortlisting committee will be made up of members of the Faculty or Institute. The final selection committee is chaired by the Dean of the Graduate School or delegate and members consist of past excellence award winners. They consider all eligible nominees and select awardees. In doing so, the committee does not take into account:
- the distribution of Awards to particular Schools, Institutes and/or Faculties; or
- the outcome of previous unsuccessful nominations.
Prizes
The winning individual will receive a certificate of recognition, a trophy and $5,000. Payment of the award prize will be made as a one off payment into a research account nominated by the recipient. Relevant taxation and superannuation arrangements will apply to one off salary payments.
The winning individual will also be put forward for nomination into the 2021 Australian Council of Graduate Research (ACGR) Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership.
Nomination process
- Prepare to complete the nomination form
- Nominees to complete the nomination form
Ensure all contact details and statements addressing the selection criteria are completed and all supporting documentation is attached to the nomination. Once completed send the nomination form and supporting documentation to your Faculty/Institute person. Once submitted, the nominator will receive an email to confirm the submission has been received.
- Shortlist - Faculty/Institute
When nominations close, each Faculty/Institute will consider all eligible nominations and select the top 2 nominees to put forward to the Graduate School for final selection. Shortlisting will be reviewed using the:
- Selection criteria;
- Academic curriculum vitae;
- Supporting statements from at least one industry partner and one HDR candidate;
- Supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievements.
- Final ranking - Graduate School
When nominations close, the Selection Committee will consider all eligible nominations and rank by reviewing the:
- Selection criteria;
- Academic curriculum vitae;
- Supporting statements from at least one industry partner and one HDR candidate;
- Supporting statements from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievements.
- Outcome
Once all eligible nominations are reviewed by the Selection Committee the outcome will be provided via email.
- Awards ceremony
Date to be confirmed.
Eligibility and selection criteria
Eligibility
- A nominee must be a current UQ professional or academic staff member on a continuing or fixed term appointment with no less than 0.4 EFT (or an adjunct appointment) at UQ for a minimum of two years at the time of application.
- Previous recipients of the award are not eligible for renomination within three years of receiving an award.
- Previously unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated.
- Nominees must provide evidence of high quality performance relative to opportunity (see Selection Criteria).
Any award recipient who is no longer employed by UQ at the time of the announcement of the awards will be issued a certificate of recognition, but they will not be entitled to an award prize.
Selection criteria
The Nominee’s performance in a research training leadership role will be judged in part by how effectively they provide:
- Evidence of initiatives that have enabled successful and effective collaborations between HDR candidates and industry partners;
- Evidence of graduate research programs, support and/or supervision that supports HDR candidates to develop strong employability skills and wide professional networks;
- Evidence of projects or initiatives that demonstrate and promote the value of HDR candidates and graduates to industry; and
- Supporting statements from HDR candidates and industry partners.
Supporting documentation
The following supporting documentation will be required from the nominee to provide evidence of high quality industry engagement.
- Curriculum vitae (brief);
- Supporting statements from at least one industry partner and once HDR candidate
- Supporting statement from current and graduated candidates and academic colleagues; and
- Evidence of particular initiatives of candidates’ achievement.
Selection and prizes
Selection
The shortlisting committee will be made up of members of the Faculty or Institute. The final selection committee is chaired by the Dean of the Graduate School or delegate and members consist of past excellence award winners. They consider all eligible nominees and select awardees. In doing so, the final selection committee does not take into account:
- the distribution of Awards to particular Schools, Institutes and/or Faculties; or
- the outcome of previous unsuccessful nominations
Prizes
The winning individual will receive a certificate of recognition, a trophy and $5,000. Payment of the award prize will be made as a one off payment into a research account nominated by the recipient. Relevant taxation and superannuation arrangements will apply to one off salary payments.
The winning individual will also be put forward for nomination into the 2021 Australian Council of Graduate Research (ACGR) Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership.