Guidelines for New and Renewal of the Graduate Faculty Membership (GFM)
Deadlines: October 15 and March 15
Investigators that do not currently have any academic appointment at the University of Toronto must apply for the Academic Appointment at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy prior to applying for the Graduate Faculty Membership. For details, please visit the Academic Appointments page. Otherwise, scroll to the bottom for GFM application forms!
Investigators with a current academic appointment at the University of Toronto may apply for a cross- appointment in the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Investigators at other post-secondary institutions may apply for an appointment to the University of Toronto at the same time as a cross-appointment to the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Applicants for a cross-appointment to the Graduate Department normally will hold a doctoral degree in their respective fields of research and have several years of postdoctoral training or comparable research experience. Existing interactions with members of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy are normally a primary reason for seeking a cross-appointment, which is accompanied by expectations for service and participation in the supervision of graduate students and the teaching of graduate courses.
There are three categories of cross-appointee: (1) full member, (2) associate member and (3) associate member with restrictions.
Full Membership
A full member may act as the sole or major supervisor of a doctoral or masters student and as a member of thesis committees; serve as chair or voting member of a final oral examination committee, where such examinations are required by SGS, and perform all associated duties; assume responsibility for the setting and marking of comprehensive (general) examinations; teach in graduate courses and set and mark examinations in those courses; and give such other graduate direction as may be required
Open to:
- U of T-appointed tenured/tenure-stream faculty
- Non-tenure stream/status-only faculty with a continuous appointment at his or her respective institution/department at the rank of full or associate professor and occasionally at the rank of assistant professor
- Full-time clinical faculty
Associate Membership
An associate member shall be permitted to undertake all of the duties of a full member but shall not serve as a sole or major supervisor, whether formally or otherwise, of a doctoral student nor act as the chair of a final doctoral oral examination. A new associate member with no previous graduate supervisory experience is not permitted to serve as the sole supervisor of M.Sc. students. However, an associate member who has successfully supervised his or her first master’s student can act as the sole supervisor of future M.Sc. students.
Open to:
As per above for Full Membership, AND:
- U of T-appointed tenure-stream assistant professors
- U of T-appointed senior lecturers
- U of T-appointed associate and full professors, teaching
- U of T-appointed librarians (III, IV)
- Non-tenure stream/status-only faculty, at the rank of assistant professor and above
- Some adjunct professors (e.g. research scientists)
- Part-time clinical faculty
Associate Membership with Restricted Duties
Associate members (with restricted duties) may be permitted to participate in Graduate Advisory Committees and to teach graduate courses, as specified in writing at the time that the graduate membership is offered.
Associate Members with Restricted Duties may be permitted to co-supervise MScPhm students together with a Full or Associate Member who has successfully graduated a graduate student.
Open to:
As per above for Associate Membership, AND:
- U of T-appointed senior research associates
- U of T-appointed lecturers
- U of T-appointed assistant professors, teaching
- U of T-appointed adjunct professors and adjunct lecturers
- Stipend instructors teaching a graduate course
- U of T-appointed staff teaching a graduate course
- U of T visiting professors
References
A document describing the different types of membership can be found at the bottom of the page.
Procedure
The Graduate Appointments Committee meets twice annually to review applications from new candidates and from cross-appointees seeking re-appointment. New or renewal applications are to be prepared as described below and sent to the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (pharm.sci@utoronto.ca). Deadlines for receipt of applications are October 15 and March 15 of each year.
Candidates seeking new appointments who receive a favourable preliminary review from the Committee will be invited to give a research seminar (50 min) to the Graduate Department. The Committee will forward its recommendation, based upon review of the application, supporting documents and feedback gathered from faculty and graduate students attending the seminar, to the Chair of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Graduate Chair will inform the candidate of the final decision.
New or renewal applicants should complete the application form and attach the following:
- cover letter outlining why the appointment is sought,
- curriculum vitae,
- two letters of reference, including:
- one from the home institution/primary place of appointment indicating support for the appointment and acknowledging the time commitment involved in maintaining the appointment (not applicable for applicants whose primary academic appointment is with the LDFP).
- one from a current faculty member of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy with an appointment as a Full or Associate member of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Criteria for Full or Associate Membership
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter in which they describe why they are seeking a cross-appointment and how they meet the following criteria:
Research Training
Applicants normally will have completed a research-based post-graduate degree (M.Sc. and/or Ph.D.) and subsequent training (e.g., post-doctoral fellowship). Equivalent experience will be considered, as in the case of a professionally qualified pharmacist or member of another health profession. Evidence of sufficient experience typically includes prior supervisory activity, first or last authorship of peer-reviewed publications, presentations at meetings and recipient of operating grants as principal or co-principal investigator. It is expected that the applicant will have identified an area of primary research interest and will have made substantive contributions to the field through his or her publications.
Funding
Applicants must have a continuous appointment at their respective institutions and a track record of independent funding for research, either as principal or as co-principal investigator. The amount and duration of funding should be sufficient to cover the stipend of potential graduate students.
Teaching
Applicants should indicate the area or courses in which they are willing to teach at the graduate level. All cross-appointees holding Full or Associate membership are expected to contribute to teaching in the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Criteria for Associate Membership with Restricted Duties
Research Training
Applicants normally will have completed a research-based post-graduate degree (M.Sc. and/or Ph.D.) and subsequent training (e.g., post-doctoral fellowship). Equivalent experience will be considered, as in the case of a professionally qualified pharmacist or member of another health profession. Evidence of sufficient experience typically includes prior supervisory activity, authorship of peer-reviewed publications, presentations at meetings and recipient of operating grants as principal, co-principal or co-investigator. It is expected that the applicant will have identified an area of primary research interest and will have made substantive contributions to the field through his or her publications.
Clinical Faculty
Applicants normally will have completed a post-graduate degree program (e.g., post- baccalaureate PharmD, MScPhm, professional masters, M.Sc., and/or Ph.D.). Completion of a Fellowship or equivalent experience will be considered. Evidence of sufficient experience typically includes holding an advanced practice clinical position at an academic health care institution, prior supervisory activity, and evidence of scholarly achievements. It is expected that the applicant will have identified a defined area of practice interest and will have made substantive contributions to the field.
Teaching
Applicants should indicate the area courses in which they are willing to teach at the graduate level. Cross-appointees normally are expected to contribute to teaching in the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; however, exceptions may be made for appointees with restricted duties. If the applicant wishes to be exempted from teaching expectations, this should be noted in the cover letter.
Expectations of Cross-appointees
Successful applicants normally are expected to participate fully in activities of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Such participation includes, but is not limited to, participation in teaching one graduate course every other year at minimum (or equivalent), supervising graduate students (if applicable), attendance at departmental seminars, attendance at the annual Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP) day and service on Advisory and Examination Committees (e.g., qualifying examinations and defense) of the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences or the School of Graduate Studies. Details of duties and expectations will be outlined in the appointment letter. Applicants will not be remunerated for these efforts. If the applicant wishes to be exempted from any of these expectations, this should be noted in the cover letter accompanying the application.