Memorial University of Newfoundland Research Portfolio Response
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Memorial University of Newfoundland Research Portfolio Response Submitted to the Public Post-Secondary Education Review Committee of Experts January 16, 2020 GLOSSARY OF ACROYNMS AARMS Atlantic Association for Research in the Mathematical Sciences ACOA Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency AIF Atlantic Innovation Fund AIMN Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship Network AVPR Associate Vice-President (Research) AVPIR Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Research) CASD Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development CAUBO Canadian Association of University Business Officers CCAC Canadian Council on Animal Care CCFI Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation CCORE Centre for Cold Oceans Resources Engineering CDRF Cold-Ocean Deep-Sea Research Facility CECR Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research CFREF Canada First Research Excellence Fund CFER Center for Fisheries Ecosystems Research CFI Canada Foundation for Innovation CHIA Centre for Health Informatics and Analytics CIHR Canadian Institutes of Health Research CNA College of the North Atlantic COASTS Cold Ocean and Arctic, Science, Technology and Society Initiative CRC Canada Research Chair CREAIT Core Research Equipment and Instrument Training CSF Core Science Facility FAS Financial and Administrative Services HREA Health Research Ethics Authority 2| Page HREB Health Research Ethics Board ICEHR Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research ICP Indirect Costs Program IRIF Industrial Research and Innovation Fund LI Labrador Institute MCE Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship MI Marine Institute MUNFA Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association NEEM Network of Environment and Ecology at Memorial NLCHI Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada OFI Ocean Frontier Institute OSC Ocean Sciences Centre RDC Research and Development Corporation RGCS Research Grant and Contract Services RSF Research Support Fund SGS School of Graduate Studies SIRI Strategic Institutional Research Initiatives SNCCI Sustainable Northern Coastal Communities Initiative SRIP Strategic Research Intensity Plan SSHRC Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council TPMI Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative TTCO Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle VMT Virtual Marine Technology VPR Vice-President (Research) 3| Page RESEARCH PORTFOLIO Post-Secondary Review Committee Submission Introduction The Office of the Vice-President (Research) [VPR] was established in 1992 when total research income was approximately $30M p.a. Since that time, research intensity has grown significantly. Research spending is approximately $198M in 2018-19, an increase from $153M in 2017-18. Additionally, Memorial University’s research income totalled approximately $111M in 2018-19, which increased from $94.9 M in 2017-18. These totals are made up of contributions from a variety of sources including federal, provincial, non-profit and private sector funders among others. The structure of the VPR portfolio has evolved since 1992. Today the units include Animal Care Services, Research Grant and Contract Services (RGCS), Strategic Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI), Technical Services, and Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office (TTCO). The Vice-President (Research) Office currently consists of an Associate Vice-President (Research), an Interim Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Research), a Manager of Planning and Operations, a Senior Communications Coordinator, as well as two administrative support positons. Further information on the structure of and services provided by these units can be found at the following link: https://www.mun.ca/research/about/. Two strategic documents have been developed since 2011 to guide the growth and development of Research at Memorial University. The Research Strategy Framework was created in 2011 and the Strategic Research Intensity Plan (SRIP) was approved by the Board of Regents in 2014. Research is also fundamentally integrated into the other strategic documents of Memorial University showing the importance and impact it has on achieving Memorial’s mission and service to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. These strategic documents include: • Teaching and Learning Framework (https://www.mun.ca/vpacademic/TLF_2023.pdf); • Enrolment Plan (https://www.mun.ca/vpacademic/Enrolment_Plan_2020_final.pdf); • Public Engagement Framework (https://www.mun.ca/publicengagement/memorial/framework/Public_Engagement_Framewor k_Supp.pdf); • Infrastructure Plan {https://www.mun.ca/facman/construction/MUN_Infra_Plan_2017.pdf) The Research Strategy Framework set forth the vision, mission and guiding principles for research at Memorial and identifies the goals and objectives necessary to achieve success. Its development marked a significant step in the university's growth and evolution as a research-focused institution. The Strategic Research Themes within the Framework identified new areas of significant research opportunities for which Memorial was strategically positioned to achieve research excellence, as well as existing areas which held considerable potential for expansion of expertise, resources and contributions from our researchers in areas that offer potential to grow. It was endorsed by Senate and the Board in 2011. http://www.mun.ca/research/explore/framework/research-strategy-senate- endorsed.pdf The Strategic Research Intensity Plan 2014-2020 built upon the University’s Research Strategy Framework to support the university’s vision to “… be one of the most distinguished public universities in Canada and beyond …”. This Plan reflected a synergistic and integrated approach 4| Page for strengthening all aspects of research at Memorial University, including scholarship and creative activities, as well as the translation of knowledge into products, practices, and policies, and other forms of community engagement. https://www.mun.ca/research/explore/srip/SRIP-2014-2020.pdf Under the leadership of the current VPR, Dr. Neil Bose, a new strategic plan for the Research portfolio will be developed in 2020. This plan will outline the way forward for the VPR portfolio to effectively meet the needs of all stakeholders during the continued growth and development of research intensity at Memorial University. Current Strategic Priorities The following are a list of the current strategic priorities of the Vice-President (Research): 1) Reputation and Rankings Raising Memorial’s standings in credible national and international rankings is the top goal of the VPR. A Reputation and Branding Committee was formed in 2018 consisting of a wide representation of units including the Internationalization Office; Library; the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science; the Division of Marketing and Communications; School of Graduate Studies; the Centre for Institutional Analysis and Planning; and the Office of the Vice-President (Research). In the past year, there have been recognized improvements in scores (i.e. Times Higher Education World University Ranking) due to better assessment of the percentage of international faculty members; improved data submission - more accurate data regarding research income and spending; faculty, staff, alumni engagement/encouragement in survey participation where applicable; and a social media campaign to promote key research stories internationally. 2) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Strengthening Indigenous Research Memorial University is committed to working with Indigenous communities and leaders in Canada, especially within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, on both community-identified and researcher-led research initiatives. The focus of strengthening Indigenous Research is also in alignment with the principles supported by the newly announced Dimensions pilot program recently announced by the Federal Government of Canada. Memorial is half-way through a search for an Indigenous chair-holder, and we are planning a targeted search for a chair-holder with a disability. We are also carrying out a targeted and confidential survey of a section of our research intensive academics to ascertain their level of comfort and support within the research community at Memorial as women or members of minority groups such as LGBTQ2S, racialized or researchers with disabilities Throughout the initial first year of existence, the AVP(IR) has been critical in understanding and addressing challenges in obtaining consent for Indigenous Research, building internal capacity for excellence in Indigenous research; supporting the next generation of Indigenous researchers at Memorial; and building regional, national and international networks. For 2019-2020, the goals and objectives for strengthening Indigenous Research at Memorial University will continue. These include: establishing necessary training and policy to ensure appropriate consultation and engagement of Indigenous communities and government leaders; identifying and pursuing emerging opportunities to establish new partnerships with Indigenous communities; networking with Indigenous communities, 5| Page academic units, and research institutions from around the world. A series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) developed by the AVP (IR) regarding Indigenous research can be found on the Research website at the following link: https://www.mun.ca/research/Indigenous/ 3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dr. Paula Mendonca has just been appointed as the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship