Planning to apply for academic promotion this year?

Here’s how the Library can help you tell your research story.

Academic promotion applications are a significant undertaking, and the research metrics component is one area where the right support, delivered early, can make a real difference. The Library team is here to help you build a clear, evidence-based picture of your research impact by developing a tailored Research Metrics Report (RMR) to support your application, where needed. This post walks you through the key dates, the steps to take, and the self-help resources available to you.

Key Dates – Mark these in your calendar now:

  • NOW Update your CRO profile and other researcher profiles
  • 11 May 2026 Submit an RMR request.
  • 21 May 2026 Library workshop: Using metrics and CRO to support academic promotions
  • 30 June 2026 Final day to submit an RMR request
  • 31 July 2026 Final draft application (including all evidence and reports) due to your supervisor
The reporting period for the 2026 round covers your achievements from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2026 — in line with the requirement to consider achievements from the last promotion or the last five years, whichever is shorter.

Key Steps to Prepare for Your Research Metrics Report

Step 1: Update Your Researcher Profiles

Before any metrics work begins, your profiles need to reflect the full picture of your research activity. Inaccurate or incomplete profiles mean an inaccurate or incomplete report.

Use the Researcher Profile Checklist to review and update the profiles below:

  • CRO (CSU Research Output): your central record of research activity. All research outputs, impact, engagement and scholarly activities should be entered as early as possible. The CRO Guide walks you through adding each activity type step by step.
  • ORCID: make sure your publications are linked, and your profile is up to date.
  • Scopus ID: check that all your outputs are correctly attributed to you (and only you).
  • Google Scholar Profile: a useful complement to Scopus, particularly for disciplines where book chapters, conference papers, or grey literature matter.
  • Web of Science Researcher ID: verify your record is up to date.

See the Researcher Profile Guide for detailed instructions for each platform.

Step 2: Identify Your Top 10 Career-Best Research Outputs

Nominating your top 10 career-best research outputs is a key requirement for applicants seeking promotion to Levels C, D and E. Importantly, this is not limited to publications — your top 10 can include any research outputs, such as:

  • Journal articles, book chapters and books
  • Creative works and performances
  • Datasets
  • Patents
  • Commissioned reports
  • Other discipline-appropriate outputs

Upon your request for an RMR, your librarian will ask you to provide a list of your top 10 research outputs and will investigate the metrics for each. Preparing and providing this list in advance will help your librarian give your RMR the appropriate attention more efficiently.

Not sure where to start? These resources can help:

Step 3: Request Your Research Metrics Report

When you are ready, submit your request through the RMR request form. Once your request is allocated, your librarian will be in touch to confirm next steps and ask for your top 10 list.

Step 4: Make the Most of Your Report

A Research Metrics Report is a starting point, not the final word. The real value lies in interpreting what the data reveal about your research and translating that into a compelling narrative for your application. The earlier you receive your report, the more time you will have to do this well.

Self-Help Resources

You don’t have to wait for your RMR to start exploring your metrics. The Library offers several ways to build your understanding:

  • SciVal – as an applicant, you have access to SciVal and can generate a report compiled with Scopus/SciVal metrics at any time. This is a great way to explore your metrics ahead of (or alongside) your formal RMR. The SciVal Metric Report template for 2026 Academic Promotions has been shared with you. Completing this self-help template will provide you with extensive metrics and analyses. Please see your Librarian for more details. 
  • Research Metrics, Impact and Engagement guide – the guide explains the metrics included in the report and how to interpret them in the context of your discipline.
  • How to Use Metrics in Promotion and Grants guide – the guide brings together practical advice on selecting and presenting metrics for your application.
  • Register for the Workshop: Using Metrics and CRO to Support Academic Promotions – the workshop focuses on requirements for the 2026 academic promotions round.

Talk to Your Librarian

If you need more support preparing for or interpreting your RMR, we recommend booking a time either before requesting your RMR or after you have received it, whichever works best for your workflow.

To get in touch with your faculty team, visit the Library Faculty contacts page.

We know how much work goes into a promotion application, and the Library is here to make the metrics side of it as straightforward as possible. Start early, keep your profiles up to date, and don’t hesitate to reach out.

Good luck with your application!

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