A program for early-career researchers/faculty at UBC
Maximizing Impact is an eight-month cohort-based program now entering its sixth year at UBC. All non-tenured faculty members at the level of Assistant Professor in either the research stream or the educational leadership stream within their first three years at UBC are invited to join the program. The 2025-26 cohort will include 35 faculty members from both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. The application is available here and is due by August 29, 2025.
This unique and intentionally designed program provides mentorship and coaching to engage early-career academics and educational leaders in maximizing the impact of their research, teaching, and leadership. The program focuses on helping participants learn more about how the university operates, consider their roles and goals in faculty positions, develop leadership skills, and advance equity and change.
Maximizing Impact is led by Dr. Lisa W. Loutzenheiser, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, and founded by Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul, former Senior Advisor to the Provost, Women and Gender-Diverse Faculty and Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine.
The program will focus on the following components:
1) Networking opportunities for faculty who are at the start of their academic careers.
2) In partnership with UBC Coaching Services, Learning and Talent Development, Human Resources, one-on-one and/or group coaching with certified and experienced UBC Leadership Coaches to navigate the complexities associated with the role, explore strengths, uncover the broader system, and set and achieve professional and personal goals. Coaching will begin in October and run through April, depending on participant needs.
3) Monthly events/workshops where participants will join invited speakers to discuss navigating early-career faculty transition to faculty and fostering connection to UBC, including:
- An in-person institute/orientation (at the suggestion of previous cohorts) will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at UBC Vancouver. Arrangements will be made for UBCO participants to attend in person without cost. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
- A selection of the following between October 2025 and April 2026:
- Tips and tricks for new faculty
- Expanding mentorship
- Finding balance
- Reframing imposter syndrome
- How to say no (and yes!)
- Building a research pipeline
- Tenure expectations
- Working with graduate students
- Building a lab/group culture
- An additional workshop will be held on the UBC-O campus
4) A monthly or bimonthly online/hybrid writing group (New this year)
Please apply by August 29, 2025, at https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SZyXSj9E5zAkKy.