Are you or someone you know, an active complex systems scholar outside UW, but in Canada? University of Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI) is seeking applicants for two new categories of WICI membership: External Core Membership and External Node Coordinator Membership. We are considering starting a Canadian Network for Complex Systems (CNCS), with our external node coordinator members establishing the first nodes.
A formal letter with background information and application guidelines can be viewed here.
Definitions and Application Instructions:
External core member: Regular, research, or adjunct Canadian university faculty, outside the University of Waterloo, who lead a long-horizon complex systems research program and actively engage with WICI networks and activities.
External affiliate researcher: Affiliate Researchers are regular, research, or adjunct university faculty or non-university researchers, including post-doctoral fellows, who actively participate in institute activities, including its research projects or committees.
Applications for external core or affiliate researcher membership should include:
- A brief statement of the applicant’s prior background and scholarship in complex systems. (250-500 words)
- A description of the applicant’s complex systems research program and, if applicable, how that program interfaces with ongoing UW research. (500-1000 words)
- Keywords that describe your research program: 1) Up to 3 research application areas; 2) Up to 3 methods used and 3) Up to 3 disciplinary areas with which you identify.
- A brief statement of any additional information that would be relevant for the evaluation committee.
- The applicant’s CV.
External node coordinator: External Canadian practitioner, affiliate or core members, who take an active leadership role, with institutional support, in developing and managing external nodes.
We will invite up to four potential initial node coordinators to visit the University of Waterloo campus during 2019-2020, funded by WICI. These visits will include the following activities:
- A public talk as part of WICI’s seminar series;
- Meetings with current or potential research collaborators on campus;
- A meeting with our Office of Research staff, if feasible given schedules;
- An informal discussion with WICI student members;
- A meeting with the WICI steering committee to discuss possible synergies, future collaborations, and the nodal potential of the visitor’s institution.
Applications for external node coordinator membership should include:
- A brief statement of the applicant’s prior background and scholarship in complex systems. (250-500 words)
- A description of the applicant’s vision for a local CNCS node, using the points from above as a reference, and included any additional goals/activities that the applicant envisions. (500-1000 words)
- If applicable, a list of other researchers (including students) at your institution, or within your Canadian research networks, undertaking complex systems scholarship. For each researcher (including the applicant), identify keywords: 1) Up to 3 research application areas; 2) Up to 3 methods used and 3) Up to 3 disciplinary areas with which they identify.
- If applicable, identification of a particular research theme that might be a focus (foci) for your node (drawing on or expanding from the list above).
- A brief statement of any additional information that would be relevant for the evaluation committee.
- A supporting letter from an administrator (e.g., unit head, dean, research centre director, office of research administrator, provost, or other relevant administrator). This letter should outline any internal support resources that would be available to support the local CNCS node.
- The applicant’s CV.
If possible, all materials should be minimum 11 point font, compiled into a single .pdf document, and e-mailed to Brenda Panasiak, Administrative Coordinator of WICI, at brenda.panasiak@uwaterloo.ca with a subject line “WICI external core member application-Name.” Applications are to be reviewed on a quarterly basis, with the next scheduled review to occur in October 2019. As with all WICI initiatives, we strive to create a highly diverse membership in terms of research foci, perspectives, methods, gender identification, ethnicity, and capability.
Please do reach out to Dawn Parker, WICI director, at dcparker@uwaterloo.ca with any questions, or if you would like to brainstorm about possible directions for a local node before applying. We look forward to hearing from you!