Letter of Reference

Letters of reference

Conflict of interest

Format of reference letters

Letters of reference

Each nomination must include two letters of reference. Nominating universities should solicit letters from different sources, including researchers from more than one country to provide evidence of international leadership. Both letters must be from international authorities in the field who are not in a conflict of interest with the nominee. The letters should emphasize the international stature of the nominee, the impact of his or her research, and the value of his or her contributions.

Conflict of Interest

Referees are in a conflict of interest if they:

• have been nominated for a Canada Excellence Research Chair;
• are affiliated with the nominating institution (including hospitals and research institutes) or with an organization receiving financial support from the nominating institution;
• have a personal relationship with the nominee (including close friend, relative, former thesis supervisor or mentor, a student previously under the nominee's supervision);
• have collaborated (i.e., have published, have been a co-researcher) with the nominee in the last five years;
• are involved in the proposed program of research; or
• will benefit from the outcome.

Format

Reference letters must be dated and include the:

• referee's name, position, department, institution, email address and telephone number;
• name of the nominee; and
• period of time and capacity in which the referee has known the nominee.

Letters must be postmarked or sent by email or fax by midnight of November 16, 2009. If sent by email or fax, the original copy must follow by mail.

Letters must be sent directly by the referees to:

Canada Research Chairs Secretariat
350 Albert Street, 16th Floor
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1P 6G4

Email: information@cerc.gc.ca
Fax: 613-943-3282

Note:

• The Canadian Privacy Act stipulates that the text of the letters of reference are accessible to the nominee (upon request), with the exception of the identity of the individuals who wrote the letters.
• A nomination that is missing letters of reference or that does not meet the conditions outlined above in terms of conflict of interest will not be processed.
• Letters that are not sent directly to the Secretariat will not be accepted.