One of the core duties of a university professor is to carry out research. Research is crucial to the development and testing of knowledge, and the kind of independent and objective research that can be carried out in a university environment plays an important role within our society. Moreover, much of the grant funding obtained by faculty researchers translates directly into employment for students. In turn, this enhances the students’ law school experience by giving them hands-on training with research sources and methodologies. Research funding is crucial as well to supporting students in a time of rising tuition and mounting student debt.
The role of the Research Office is to work closely with researchers, administrators, institutional partners, and funding organizations within Canada and abroad to encourage and support the successful engagement of its bilingual faculty in research. Its specific responsibilities include the provision of support and strategic direction for faculty members applying for research-related funding, research award and prize submissions, and Canada Research Chair (CRC) nominations and renewals. It also supports the distribution and management of faculty research funds, offers support for the diversification and funding of international research initiatives, and manages the selection process for faculty research awards. The Research Office also helps to profile the impressive research output of faculty members.
The Research Office has set the following priorities:
- To encourage and support Faculty applications for research funding, especially federal government Tri-Council funding, but also other sources of funding including the Law Foundation of Ontario, private foundations, government and international organizations.
- To promote the dissemination of Faculty research, both internally within the Faculty and externally to the academic community, to government, the public policy community, the media, the broader public, alumni and prospective students, both graduate and undergraduate.
- To assist new and junior Faculty members to develop their own research strategy, including support for their research through applicable grants and dissemination of their research.
- To search out new avenues of research funding to support the work of Faculty members.
- To promote and support the applications of Faculty members for various awards and prizes.
