Cluster Affiliate Membership Scheme

The Affiliate Membership Scheme

Aim and Scope

Via a collaborative approach, Characterization@UBC brings together and strengthens a community of experts, and emerging experts, in advanced characterization of materials. We wish to expand our membership to recognize the diverse talents across UBC, and partner institutions, via the Characterization@UBC Affiliate Membership Scheme. Affiliate members will be formally recognized by the cluster for their on-going contributions to our activities, and trainees of members will be entitled to access additional resources and supports from the cluster.

Background

Funded via the UBC Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters (GCRC) since April 2025, Characterization@UBC is an interdisciplinary research cluster spanning both Vancouver and the Okanagan campuses, aims to bring together characterization experts to share technical know-how, mobilize specialized instrumentation, and foster a robust research community. At present, the cluster comprises 15 founding members – including PIs and a Scientific Director from both UBC Vancouver and the Okanagan campuses. The cluster is led by a cross-departmental management team from Materials Engineering; Chemical and Biological Engineering; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; and Physics and Astronomy.

To strengthen and sustain the characterization community at UBC, as well as making advanced characterization visible and accessible, the cluster commits to the following recurring activities – 

  1. Bi-weekly Seminar Series: Technical and/or applied talks within the field of ‘characterization’. The seminar can also be used as a channel for facilities to showcase expertise and/or capabilities.
  2. Annual Training School: Fundamental and advanced trainings and workshops in characterization techniques such as electron and light-based microscopy, X-ray tomography, other advanced probing techniques.
  3. Knowledge Mobilization: An active YouTube channel showcasing seminars held within the cluster.
  4. Community Engagement: Social and networking events such as an annual micrograph contest in partnership with other UBC imaging facility.

The cluster also engages to support activities across Campus, and also the wider community. As examples, we have worked with partners in the Life Sciences Institute and Graduate Student societies to host a “Micrographs as Art” event, and we are hosting the Microscopy Society of Canada’s 2027 Conference in Vancouver.

Application Guidelines

To expand our regional and national impact, collaborate across broader networks, and scale our core activities, Characterization@UBC is introducing its Affiliate Membership Scheme. Prospective affiliates may apply directly via this form (applicable for both self-applications and nominations). Membership status can be applied retroactively to the cluster’s inception in April 2025.

Upon submission, the cluster management team will convene to review the application. All applicants will be notified approximately one month after submission regarding the outcome of their applications.

Eligibility

Prospective affiliates are expected to be affiliated with a Canadian or non-Canadian academic institution (e.g., university or college, or academic facility/national lab); and hold an academic position (e.g., all ranks of professorship, director(s) of a research lab/ facility). 

Criteria & Responsibilities

To be eligible and maintain status as a cluster affiliate member, affiliate members are expected to satisfy the eligibility requirement and agree to commit to at least one of the following criteria set out below – 

  1. Presentation Deliverables: Give at least one presentation within the cluster’s scheduled activities (e.g., during the annual training school, the bi-weekly seminar series, or specialized workshops).
  2. Seminar Hosting: Help coordinate and host at least one speaker per year within the cluster's activities.
  3. Technical Clinic Support: Lead, or nominate a senior trainee or postdoc from their lab, to participate as a lead or co-lead in the cluster’s technical clinics.
Expectations as a Cluster Affiliate Member

Beyond the responsibilities listed above, affiliate members are encouraged to actively engage with the cluster in the following ways – 

  1. Community Engagement: Encourage trainees from their lab to participate in the cluster’s training school's poster sessions, hosted at the UBC Vancouver campus annually during Fall.
  2. Grant Affiliation: Commit to listing the Characterization@UBC research excellence cluster affiliation on relevant grant applications.
  3. Promotional Alignment: Consent to be featured across the cluster’s digital and social channels (e.g., website, LinkedIn, and other promotional materials).
Member Benefits

Affiliate members gain access to resources specifically designed to support their research groups and accelerate trainee development – 

  1. Guaranteed Training Access: Two guaranteed trainee seats (hybrid/in-person) in the cluster’s annual training school.
  2. Collaborative Grant Opportunities: Opportunities to be involved in cluster-backed grant applications and proposals.
  3. Micro Grants: UBC-based cluster members (founding PIs and affiliate members) and their research groups are eligible to apply for our micro grants (e.g., micro access and micro travel).
  4. Facility Engagement: Opportunities to engage with UBC research facilities housing routine and advanced characterization equipment, including their teams of skilled experts.
  5. Insights and Reporting: Access to comprehensive reports, equipment directories, and data compiled by the cluster.
  6. Community Network: Inclusion in our regular mailing lists, providing updates and invitations to all cluster seminars, social events, and activities.

 

Apply here

Characterization@UBC

Research Excellence Clusters at UBC Vancouver are funded through the Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters program.

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