Research Recognition Awards

 

The annual Research Recognition Awards (RRA) are designed to celebrate full-time faculty members at Mount Royal University who are making extraordinary contributions to their respective academic/professional fields, our students and our communities through their scholarship. This year, three awards will recognize the outstanding achievements of MRU scholars in the categories of Emerging Scholar, Research and Scholarship Excellence, and Undergraduate Research Supervision. Nominations for 2024 are now open.

Award recipients will be recognized at a faculty awards event, led by the Provost’s Office scheduled for May, 2024, and they will be featured on the ORSCE webpage and newsletter. More information about faculty awards and the event will be shared with the community soon. 

 

 

Dr. Matthew McLarnon

Associate Professor

Department of General Management and Human Resources

Faculty of Business and Communication Studies

Dr. Matthew McLarnon is an Associate Professor in the Department of General Management and Human Resources and has worked at Mount Royal since 2019. Over the past decade, he has developed a sustained program of research that spans several domains of business and human resources management, including optimizing teamwork, employee well-being, employee selection, performance management and the use of advanced data analysis techniques. 

Matthew’s work also extends into the domains of organizational and clinical psychology, nursing, communication, and pediatric rehabilitation. Through the use of rigorous and advanced quantitative statistical methods, Matthew’s research has pushed the boundaries of knowledge available across numerous areas of research. His work has allowed for the identification of novel avenues for inquiry, providing novel theoretical development opportunities as well as impactful real-world practical implications.

A colleague endorsed Matthew’s nomination, saying, “Dr. McLarnon’s research activities have garnered recognition on the national and international stage, while also enhancing Mount Royal's reputation for research excellence. Dr. McLarnon exemplifies the qualities of a distinguished researcher and he is highly deserving of recognition for his contributions to research, mentorship, and collaboration”.

Noted as a “methodological and analytic superstar,” Matthew has had a great impact on other scholars in his field.

 

Dr. Jill Parnell

Professor

Department of Health and Physical Education

Faculty of Health, Community and Education

 

Dr. Jill Parnell joined Mount Royal in 2008 and is a professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education. She is a pioneer in the field of sports nutrition — particularly on dietary patterns and supplement use in health and performance. Her impressive funding record, high number of citations and dissemination outlets, and collaborations with national and international academics, clinicians, and industry partners demonstrate the impact of her work.

Jill is the author of Sports Nutrition Knowledge in Athletes with a Spinal Cord

Injury and Coaches of Para Sports, and has also written on the topics of caffeine and exercise performance and dietary supplements in athletes experiencing disability. She has also co-authored a book chapter on nutrition in active people.

Jill is passionate about supporting student research, especially at the undergraduate level, and is regularly engaged in community-based conversations on her work. 

A former student says of Jill, “It became clear that (Dr. Parnell) sincerely cares about her students, supports their learning, and is passionate about the topics she teaches; all of which highly contributed to my academic success in the class.”

Through her strong collaborative approach to research and passion for supporting students, Jill has demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship at Mount Royal.

Undergraduate Reesearch Supervision Award 

Dr. Jeella Acedo

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry and Physics

Faculty of Science and Technology

Dr. Jeella Acedo is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Since joining Mount Royal in 2019, she has led a thriving research program, secured internal and major external grants, established collaborations within and outside Mount Royal, and provided many students with exceptional training and research opportunities. Jeella believes that one of the greatest impacts she could have as a researcher is on her trainees and that it is a privilege to shape the next generation of professionals. 

Jeella’s undergraduate research supervision strategy places a strong emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, and skills-building, fostering a team atmosphere and making research accessible. Under her supervision, Jeela’s students have published peer-reviewed articles, secured student research grants, and excelled at conferences, including earning Best Poster and Oral Presentation awards. Many of her trainees have progressed to graduate and professional schools.

A former student says of Jeella, “Dr. Acedo is a role model who I have incredible respect and admiration for in all capacities. Without Dr. Acedo’s support, encouragement, and confidence in me, I would not be where I am today. It is truly a privilege to have been her student.”

Jeella was nominated by students for this award, which reaffirms her dedication to student development and empowerment, and her passion for helping them realize their potential.

Emerging Scholar Award

 Dr. Celeste Pang

Assistant Professor

Department of Humanities

Faculty of Arts

Dr. Celeste Pang joined Mount Royal in July 2023 as an assistant professor in Women’s and Gender Studies in the Department of Humanities. With a background in anthropology and sexual diversity studies, Celeste’s research, education and community work concentrates on aging, disability, and care access and equity, with a focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and issues. 

As a community-engaged researcher, Celeste prioritizes the mobilization of research to benefit these communities. For example, she is the co-founder and co-leader of the newly launched QriTical: queer + trans research hub, a connector and intellectual space for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, faculty, and the broader community at Mount Royal. 

“The early success of the (QriTical) Hub reflects Pang’s leadership capacity, dedication to improving the research culture at Mount Royal, and her commitment to student engagement, says the co-leader of the Hub, Corinne Mason. “Celeste Pang has had an incredible first year at Mount Royal, and the university is lucky to have her with us.”

Celeste’s collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to research is highly noted amongst her peers. She has also disseminated her work extensively in venues such as academic journals from various disciplines, policy documents, professional publications, podcasts, news media and community-focused resources. 

 

 Dr. Breda Eubank

Assistant Professor

Department of Health and Physical Education

Faculty of Health, Community and Education

Dr. Breda Eubank is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education and is truly an emerging scholar. Having received her PhD in 2020 and joined Mount Royal as a full-time faculty member in 2022, Breda has already established a strong research program that oversees quality improvement initiatives across the province, with a mandate to transform the model of musculoskeletal care for Albertans in collaboration with Alberta Health Services’ Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network.

As part of her work, Breda has developed and implemented standardized provincial clinical pathways that ensure patients receive the right care in the right place, at the right time, and with the right outcomes. Her efforts serve to deliver important programs to Albertans, and to do so in a manner that will inform policy changes that result in provincial health system quality improvement. 

One of Breda’s colleagues who endorsed her nomination said, “There is no question that Breda is one of the most promising faculty members at Mount Royal and I feel honoured to partner with her on a few of my own projects.”

The strength of Breda’s work is underscored by an impressive funding record, with multiple grants from a variety of provincial, federal and non-profit agencies.

 

 

Each year, members of the MRU community are invited to nominate a faculty member for a Research Recognition Award. Please review the following information prior to completing your nomination.

 

Eligibility for Research Recognition Awards

• Full-time faculty (including Senior Lecturers) are eligible.
• Self-nominations are not accepted. 
• Following the nomination, a faculty member may only submit one award application in an academic year. 
• A faculty member can only win one award every five years. 
• The ORSCE will typically give out a maximum of one award per category every academic year. 
• All nominees are expected to demonstrate principles and behaviours consistent with the responsible conduct of research. 

 

Nomination process and criteria

• For all awards, nominations are invited from colleagues (including contract faculty), department chairs, Deans and institute directors. Adjudication Committee members are not eligible to submit a nomination. 
• The committee will not consider an application for any award other than that for which the person was nominated.
• Each nomination requires two nominators: one primary and one secondary nominator. 
• For the Undergraduate Research Supervision Award, at least one of the nominators must be an MRU student.
• Nominators are encouraged to inform the nominee of the nomination.
• Nominees will be contacted by the Adjudication Committee and invited to accept or decline their nomination. The Adjudication Committee includes Associate and Vice Deans of Research, the Director of the ORSCE, and the AVP RSCE or designates.

 

Nominations are now closed. 

 

Application requirements

Nominees for Research Recognition Awards will be invited to submit the following materials to the selection committee as a part of their award application package:

• 2-page (maximum) cover letter (double spaced, 12 point font) that articulates how you meet the award criteria and your most significant scholarly achievements as they relate to the award. 
• CV (any format – MRU CV not required) 
• Two (2) letters of support.  
• For the Undergraduate Research Supervision Award, at least one letter from current or former MRU students is required. Letters must detail the impact that the faculty member has had on students’ research and/or scholarly endeavours.  
• Cover letters and letters of support should be addressed to the Research & Scholarship Recognition Awards Adjudication Committee. 

We are committed to an inclusive, barrier-free nomination and selection processes for these awards. We encourage nominations and applications from the entire full-time faculty community.  

 

Application packages are due March 15, 2024 

Extra materials (including extra letters of support) contained in the application package will not be reviewed. 

All application materials (including letters of support) must be assembled by the applicants into a single pdf file. Submit your pdf file through this form. 

 

 

 

There are three distinct Research Recognition Awards. While the awards are distinct, each recognizes outstanding contributions in research and scholarship including knowledge mobilization.