Internal Awards
The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI) is pleased to recognize the outstanding scholarly, research and creative (SRC) activity across Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) through the annual SRC Awards. The SRC contributions of our faculty significantly impact their disciplines and enhance the intellectual life of the university community. In recognition of these accomplishments, the OVPRI presents four honours annually, in addition to the Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award and the Deans’ SRC Awards.
Equity, diversity, inclusion and access are foundational to SRC activity at Toronto Metropolitan University, and nominations should be submitted with these principles in mind. The honoured SRC contributions of our faculty follow the university’s commitment to advancing best practices as detailed in the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research guidelines (external link, opens in new window) .
For full SRC award and nomination details, please visit Recognition and Awards.
For specific inquiries on SRC Awards, please email srcfunding@torontomu.ca.
Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award
The annual Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes established, mid-to-late-career faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge or artistic creativity during their tenure at the university. To qualify, a nominee's scholarly, research and creative (SRC) activity must represent either a notable, significant and cumulative contribution, or a highly insightful and formative body of work—which can include discovery, application, interpretation or artistic creation. Crucially, this work must have delivered great impact, produced significant outcomes or fundamentally transformed the nominee’s field or discipline.
Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $3,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).
This award is made available through the joint contributions of professor emeritus Sarwan Sahota and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Collaborative SRC Award
The Collaborative Scholarly, Research and Creative (SRC) Award is presented annually to an individual researcher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in collaborative SRC initiatives. This award recognizes impactful SRC projects undertaken with multidisciplinary or multi-institutional teams, including partnerships with industry, academia, healthcare or professional societies. Eligible recipients are those whose collaborative efforts have facilitated positive, measurable change and significant impact within their respective fields.
Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).
Early SRC Career Excellence Award
The Early Scholarly, Research and Creative (SRC) Career Excellence Award is presented annually and recognizes an individual with outstanding SRC activity in the first seven (7) years of their academic career and who has made a significant contribution in their area(s) of expertise.
The award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).
Knowledge Mobilization and Engagement Award
The Knowledge Mobilization and Engagement Award is presented annually to an individual researcher who has demonstrated exceptional and outstanding achievement in communicating research beyond the university and/or has driven significant impact in shaping evidence-based policy and practice. This award recognizes the researcher's ability to generate new ideas through active engagement and collaborations with external organizations and communities, successfully combining knowledge from different spheres of society.
Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).
Social Innovation and Action SRC Award
The Social Innovation and/or Action Scholarly, Research and Creative (SRC) Award is a university-wide annual honour recognizing excellence in collaborative, community-partnered initiatives that strengthen civil society. This award celebrates unique and innovative projects such as public-private partnerships, corporate social responsibility initiatives, technological innovations or process improvements within non-profit and government sectors. Eligible projects drive meaningful program or policy impact across critical areas, such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, human rights, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Award recipient(s) will receive a certificate of recognition and a monetary award of $2,000 as a one-time payment (subject to applicable deductions).