Overview and Call for Nominations
Recognition will be given to one Postdoctoral Supervisor who has demonstrated exemplary support for postdoctoral scholars at York University, exceeding general supervisory expectations. One Postdoctoral Supervisor will be honoured with the Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award at the Postdoctoral Welcome Event each fall.
Nominations must provide evidence that the nominee:
- is a role model for intellectual leadership and professionalism in research;
- provides an exemplary environment of support for professional skill development in research;
- promotes and models a climate of respect and collegiality;
- offers advocacy and guidance in long-term personal, professional and career development.
Letters of nomination should address specific examples of the nominee’s mentorship creativity, excellence, and dedication.
Eligibility
- All faculty in all Departments and Programs at York University who supervise Postdoctoral Scholars are eligible. Nominees may be at any stage in their academic career.
- Unsuccessful nominations may be submitted for subsequent competitions, to a three-year limit. Nomination packages (or portions thereof) may be updated for subsequent competitions or the packages may be carried forward unchanged. Nominations will not automatically be carried forward.
Nomination Process
- The Faculty of Graduate Studies will initiate an annual nominations process.
- Nominations may only be submitted by postdoctoral scholars conducting research under the supervision of a York University faculty member at the time of the call for nominations, and/or within the same academic year (July 1 — June 30). Should a supervisor receive more than one nomination letter, nominators will be contacted to inquire if they would like to submit a joint letter of nomination.
- The process of reviewing and selecting the nominations will be confidential and coordinated by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Candidates must not see the letters of nomination from postdoctoral scholars.
- Candidates will be asked to provide an up-to-date curriculum vitae. All postdoctoral-related activities should be listed. Joint publication with postdoctoral scholars should be placed in the context of norms for the particular discipline. If the nominee has aided in the publication of work of their postdoctoral scholars, documentation may be provided.
- The successful candidate will be announced during the Postdoctoral Welcome Event each fall.
Please submit nomination letters (2 pages maximum, TNR 11pt font, margins at 0.75”) to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator by no later than June 1 each year.
Adjudication
At a minimum, nominations will be reviewed by the Associate Dean Academic at the Faculty of Graduate Studies (or delegate) and the Associate Vice-Presidents Research (or delegates). Nominations will be adjudicated according to the following criteria:
Evidence that the nominee:
- is a role model for intellectual leadership and professionalism in research;
- provides exemplary environment of support for professional skill development in research;
- promotes and models a climate of respect and collegiality;
- offers advocacy and guidance in long-term personal, professional and career development.
Letters of nomination should address specific examples of the nominee’s mentorship creativity, excellence, and dedication.
One nominee will be selected to receive the York University Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award annually.
Deadline
Please submit nomination letters to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator by no later than June 1 each year.
Award Recipients will be celebrated in the fall of the following academic year. The other nominees will receive letters of recognition.
Previous Award Winners
| Year | Winner |
| 2024 | Ethel Tungohan |
| 2023 | Alison Crosby & Amro Zayed |
| 2022 | Sapna Sharma |
| 2021 | Ellen Bialystok |
| 2020 | Petros Faloutsos |
| 2019 | John Douglas Crawford & Sean Rehaag |
| 2018 | Laura Levin |
| 2017 | Pat Armstrong |