The 2023 call is open for the VPRI International Research Partnership Awards (IRPA), 2023. Seed grants of up to CAD 10,000 are available to full-time faculty members to establish or expand international research collaborations. Apply though the ROMEO Research Portal. For questions, please contact Jill Sherman, intl.research@lakeheadu.ca. For more information, please click here.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellows (BPDF) program is a very prestigious and competitive postdoctoral fellowship program supported by the Government of Canada. Please refer to the program website for the latest guidelines. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is designed to support world-class postdoctoral researchers. The fellowship provides $70,000 per year for two years. The program is open to both Canadian and international researchers who have recently completed a PhD, PhD- equivalent, or health professional degree.
Applications must be completed in full collaboration with the proposed host institution. As a potential host institution, Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are therefore encouraged to apply.
Since this is an extremely competitive program and only a limited number of BPDFs are awarded each year, universities have put in place internal peer review processes to review and facilitate the submission of the strongest applicants to the Banting Program. The Banting program expects universities to be highly selective in their endorsement of applications and to only put forward the highest quality of applicants.
The BPDF differs from traditional funding programs in that its specific emphasis is on the synergy between the applicant and the proposed institution. It is important to note that a BPDF applicant must be able to demonstrate how their proposed Banting-funded research is a strong fit with both their supervisor and Lakehead University's Research Plan priorities.
An internal peer review committee will be appointed by the Vice-President Research and Innovation and will rank/recommend applicants to be submitted to the program (with the final approval of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation). The Committee will include representatives from equity seeking groups. All committee members will be required to have reviewed the resources available on the Banting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page, and to complete the Tri-agency unconscious bias training module.
Procedures and Timelines
June 10, 2023: After a potential candidate has contacted and finalizes arrangements with a proposed Lakehead University supervisor, by June 10, 2023, the supervisor informs the Office of Research Services (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) that an application will be submitted as part of the internal process). It is at this time that our internal Banting Review Committee will be set-up.
July 10, 2023: Deadline for submission of complete Banting application packages. As part of the internal review process, candidates will be required to complete the online Banting application and submit supporting documents. Please submit your package as a single PDF file to the Office of Research (to Andrew Hacquoil, Research Facilitator, Institutional Programs, at ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca). Incomplete applications will not be accepted.* The Office of Research will check application packages for completeness and eligibility of applicants.
Checklist
*The following components of the BPDF application (which can all be found in the official Application Guide on the BPDF website) are required by the internal deadline of July 10 (please note the three referee letters are not required as part of the internal submission package):
● [ ] CCV - using the Vanier-Banting academic template
● [ ] Banting application details - a pdf file of the actual application that is completed in ResearchNet (a pdf file of the preview version is required. Please note that this is NOT a print screen); normally 5-6 pages)
● [ ] Significance of Research Contributions - maximum of one page
● [ ] Significance of Leadership Contributions - maximum of one page
● [ ] Fulfillment of degree requirements form - this form is required even if PhD has not yet been completed (for Lakehead University applicants that have not yet completed their PhD, this form must be completed by the relevant academic unit's graduate coordinator).
● [ ] Special Circumstances, if applicable – maximum of one page (including justification for remaining in the same research environment where the candidate received their PhD).
● [ ] Research Proposal – maximum of four pages
● [ ] Bibliography – maximum of four pages
● [ ] Attachment: Supervisor's statement – to be completed by the proposed supervisor - maximum of four pages
August 10, 2023: Internal peer review committee completes internal peer review of applications and submits recommendations to the Vice-President Research and Innovation.
August 14, 2023: Notification of successful and unsuccessful applicants and their proposed supervisors. A summary of the feedback from the internal review committee on the BPDF application will be provided by the Office of Research Services to both successful and unsuccessful applicants and their mentors. Applicants who are successful in the internal competition will be assigned to a Research Facilitator in the Office of Research Services who will work with the applicant and supervisor on improving the quality of the application considering all feedback available to the applicant.
September 7, 2023: Full applications are due to the assigned Research Facilitator in the Office of Research Services for final review.
September 14, 2023: Institutional support letter provided to the successful applicant(s)
*All applicants to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship must follow the internal application process set by the Office of Research Services. A key part of the Banting application process is the institutional support letter. Applicants that do not follow this process will not receive institutional support (see below). Only applications that have been received by our internal deadline and successfully reviewed by our internal peer review committee will be considered for submission to the Banting Program.
Please note that for the purposes of submission, Lakehead University is willing to make the following contributions to Banting applications that are submitted through our internal process:
For Banting applications ultimately successful in the national competition, the Vice President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) will contribute a minimum of $5,000. In addition, the VPRI will contribute an additional $2,500 if matched by an additional $2,500 from the respective Faculty Dean for a potential institutional contribution of $10,000. The match from the Dean must be requested by the proposed postdoctoral fellow supervisors and confirmed in writing by the internal deadline date of July 10, 2023.
The Lakehead University Research Chairs Program recognizes high quality research, scholarly and creative achievement, by providing a two‐year research grant to support an individual’s program of research. The LURCs program is a key initiative in retaining outstanding research talent at our institution, a goal consistent with Lakehead’s Research Plan. Lakehead University is strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the University. Lakehead recognizes the value in all types of research, including but not limited to non-traditional research areas, both traditional and non-traditional research outputs, and community-based research, in addition to the value in mentoring, professional service, the formation of partnerships, and outreach activities.
Lakehead University is seeking applications for two (2) new 2023-2025 Lakehead University Research Chairs, one (1) in the disciplines supported by SSHRC/CIHR and one (1) in the disciplines supported by NSERC/CIHR.
Eligibility: All faculty who are full‐time tenure‐track or tenured members of LUFA and have been employed by Lakehead University for at least three years are eligible (please note that applicants applying to the LURC program must have been employed by Lakehead University for at least three years as of March 1, 2023, the start of the LURC chair). Please note that a past limited-term appointment (LTA) at Lakehead University would count towards the three years. Current or past research chair holders such as CRCs, Industry Research Chairs, LU/TBRHRI Research Chairs, LURCs, Ontario Research Chairs, SHARCNET Chairs, etc., are not eligible to receive this award. Criteria will be weighted differently for Early Career Researchers as described in the Criteria Section below. Early career researchers (ECR) are applicants who have held their first independent academic position as an LTA, tenure-track or tenured professor within the last five years). Note that the five-year window for being considered an ECR will be adjusted to take into account situations where a researcher has had an eligible delay in their research activities as a result of a leave. All eligible leaves (such as parental, medical, etc.), are credited at twice the amount of leave time taken. Therefore, the five-year window for being considered as an ECR will be adjusted to take into account situations where a researcher has had an eligible leave of absence which had an impact on their research productivity. Individuals representing equity-deserving groups, including but not limited to women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. The University recognizes that alternative career paths and/or interruptions (ex. maternity leave, leave due to illness, etc.) can impact research achievements and progress. If these alternative paths or interruptions have impacted an applicant’s research activities, please outline this in the EDI section of your application. The University is committed to ensuring that career interruptions are taken into careful consideration in the assessment of LURC applications.
Value of Award: Up to $45,000 as a research grant (up to $22,500/year) tenable over two years beginning March 1, 2023. The Chair’s research grant may be used to support the following eligible expenditures: teaching release (Chairs are required to teach a minimum of 1.0 FCE per year), stipends for students, post‐doctoral fellows and research associates, research and conference travel, equipment and grant‐writing support. Chairs must receive the necessary approvals for teaching release using Lakehead University’s Release Time Request (RTS) Form. For purposes of the competition, the signatures of the applicant, chair and dean are required on the RTS form by the deadline. If an applicant is successful and awarded an LURC, the rest of the signatures on the RTS form are required. Salary payments to Research Chairs in lieu of teaching release are not an eligible expense.
Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the Romeo Research Portal no later than 4:30 pm on January 31, 2023. The following information will be required as part of the application package:
A conflict of interest may be deemed to exist or perceived as such when referees:
The VPRI reserves the right to resolve areas of uncertainty and to determine if a conflict exists.
Selection Process and Criteria: The Vice‐President (Research and Innovation) shall appoint a Lakehead University Research Chair Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will review all submitted nominations and make its recommendations to the Vice‐President, Research and Innovation. The Lakehead University Research Chairs Selection Committee will review all eligible Lakehead University Research Chair applications using the following evaluation criteria:
Research Track Record (Weighting: 40%; 20% ECRs)
Research Proposal (Weighting 40%; 60% ECRs)
Letters of Reference and Dean's Letter (Weighting 20%; 20% ECRs)
Each Chair will also be required to submit to the Vice‐President, Research and Innovation, and their Faculty Dean a report highlighting their activities and accomplishments during their term as a Lakehead University Research Chair at the end of their award period.
For additional information regarding the application process, please contact Anne Klymenko, Director, Research Services at director.research@lakeheadu.ca
NSERC's Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:
Workforce Development Stream: The intent of the Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce through business partnerships by offering internships.
Indigenous Workforce Development Stream: The intent of the Indigenous Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s Indigenous workforce through business partnerships by offering internships to Indigenous persons.
Lakehead University will have one NOHFC administrative-related internship (out of its quota of two administrative-related placements) become available after the end of May 2023 through the NOHFC Workforce Development Stream/Indigenous Workforce Development Streams. The internal deadline for the submission of regular internship applications to the Office of Research is February 17, 2023. Please email a copy of your NOHFC application to Andrew Hacquoil, Research Facilitator (Institutional Programs), Office of Research, at ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca. Do not submit your application to the NOHFC. Note that you will need to create an account on the NOHFC website in order to create an application. If more than one application is received, an internal competition will need to be held to determine which application will be submitted to the NOHFC. Final decisions will be made by the Executive Team Working Group.
Salaries/wages and employer’s portion of Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs) (e.g.: Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, mandatory minimum vacation pay, as per Employment Standards Act) for a limited-term internship position of 52 weeks (with at least 35 hours of work per week) for candidates that:
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
*Please note that applicants, in order to demonstrate the possibility of the internship resulting in permanent employment, must outline in their application:
Applications that indicate No employment opportunities will result, will be declared ineligible and removed from the internal competition.
For eligible municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations, funding is in the form of a conditional contribution of up to 90% of an intern’s salary and employer’s portion of MERCs to a maximum of $35,000 per year. It is important to note that the applicant must provide the remaining 10% of the cost of the intern. Therefore, when submitting your internship application to the Office of Research Services, A separate statement of where the required matching funds (plus benefits) will come from must be provided as well. Applications submitted by the February 17, 2023 internal deadline without information on matching funds will be considered ineligible in the internal competition.
Lakehead University is pleased to be hosting the international Community-College-University Exposition (C2UExpo). C2UExpo is Canada’s leading conference that focuses on community-based research (CBR) and community-campus engagement. Under the framework of our theme of Connected Communities. Collective Change, C2UExpo will showcase innovative approaches, research findings, and best practices of community-campus initiatives. These initiatives are exploring the ways in which community-based research (including place-based CBR), community-engaged learning and action can contribute to more vital communities. We are inviting proposals for presentations and interactive sessions that relate to the overall conference theme. Presentation proposals are due no later than Monday, January 23, 2023. For more information, including how to submit a proposal, please click here.
Research Internships: Two Positions Available
Under this program, covering both streams, Lakehead University has a quota of five research-related placements. Of these five, two are currently, or will be available (one internship spot is open now, while the second one will open up at the end of April 2023). The internal deadline for the submission of internship applications to the Office of Research Services is January 17, 2023. Please note that you will need to create an account on the NOHFC website in order to create an application, however please do not submit your application to the NOHFC. Instead, please email a copy of your application to Andrew Hacquoil, Research Facilitator (Institutional Programs), Office of Research Services, at ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca.
If more than two internship applications are received, an internal competition will need to be held. Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Senate Research Committee (SRC). The SRC will then make a recommendation to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation regarding which two applications should be submitted to the NOHFC.
Salaries/wages and employer’s portion of Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs) (e.g.: Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, mandatory minimum vacation pay, as per Employment Standards Act) for a limited-term internship position of 52 weeks (with at least 35 hours of work per week) for candidates that:
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
*Please note that applicants, in order to demonstrate the possibility of the internship resulting in permanent employment, must outline in their application:
Applications that indicate No employment opportunities will result, will be declared ineligible and removed from the internal competition.
For eligible municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations, funding is in the form of a conditional contribution of up to 90% of an intern’s salary and employer’s portion of MERCs to a maximum of $35,000 per year.
It is important to note that the applicant must provide the remaining 10% of the costs for the intern. Therefore, when submitting your internship application to the Office of Research Services, a Research Proposal Approval Form (RAPF) must be included in the package. A statement of where the required matching funds (including MERCs) will come from must be included in, or attached to the signed and completed RPAF as well. Applications submitted by the January 17, 2023 internal deadline without an RPAF will be considered ineligible in the internal competition.
Please note that for a proposal to be considered as being a research internship, the application must be written so as to meet the NOHFC's definition of research:
Q: What is a research intern under the Internship Program?
A: An employer applying for a research intern must engage in research activities as part of their mandate. NOHFC considers both pure (scientific) and applied research positions.
For the purpose of defining an applied research internship the following criteria must be met:
a) The applicant must be involved in research aimed at developing a new technology and or products (i.e. a solution to everyday problem)
b) The internship duties will focus on assisting the applicant organization in development and research of a new technology, products, or service.
Applicants are required to state in their submissions how they meet the NOHFC's criteria for a research internship. Applications that are not deemed to be research-related (i.e., the duties of the intern will be more administrative in nature instead of involving a research activity) will be considered ineligible in the internal competition.
For more information about the NOHFC internship program, please click here.
