The Office of the Vice Rector for Research and the Directorate of Research and Doctoral Studies launched the Research Excellence Strengthening Program, which will bring 30 new research professors.
The New Research Excellence Program de la Universidad financiará hasta 30 profesores investigadores con doctorado con una subvención anual, para integrarse como profesores a la comunidad académica Uandes, potenciando la colaboración en proyectos de investigación. Tras el primer año, esta iniciativa permitió fortalecer las áreas de la School of Law, School of Kinesiology, School of Medicine, School of Dentistry , and School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The program funds the hiring of a researcher to carry out their work under the auspices of the academic unit that submitted the application; their duties include developing a research agenda, publishing, and securing project funding. The objective is to increase scientific output and strengthen Universidad de los Andes's research excellence, through the incorporation of experienced research professors who will contribute to the advanced training of graduate students, develop new areas of research, promote interdisciplinarity, and strengthen the acquisition of external funding.
"We believe that, through this program, it will be possible to generate a significant impact on the development of research at UANDES, fostering greater national and international visibility in this field and the transfer of knowledge with a concrete impact on society. The first call allowed us to incorporate research professors with an active research trajectory, who have contributed to strengthening the research priorities of our schools," says Javier Enrione, Vice Rector for Research.
UANDES has 256 research professors, 526 annual publications, and 98 active Fondecyt projects — figures that reflect sustained growth. However, UANDES seeks to continue growing through the gradual incorporation of new researchers with established careers in various research areas, in order to strengthen research excellence across different fields of knowledge.
The program envisions the gradual incorporation of researchers, starting with four new research professors during the first two years, followed by six annual additions in 2027 and 2028, and five in 2029 and 2030, completing the total of 30, depending on the compatibility of the candidate with the development plan of each school.
How and When to Apply?
La convocatoria para el año 2026 estará abierta hasta el 30 de mayo para todas las unidades académicas interesadas en impulsar su capacidad investigativa y atraer talento de alto nivel.
"In this new call, the competition allows the incorporation of both early-career researchers and more established research professors, contributing to enriching and strengthening the academic mission of each school," said the Vice Rector for Research.
- Objective: Incorporate experienced research professors to strengthen academic units.
- Implementation: Initiated in 2024, it funds the hiring of researchers who develop research agendas, publish, and secure project funding.
- Early results: Schools such as Law, Medicine (Kinesiology), Dentistry, and Nursing and Midwifery have already benefited.
- Impact: Seeks to enhance the quality and impact of research within the UANDES.