Early Researcher Award Round 16: Internal Call for Proposals
Background
In the past, Lakehead University has been successful in securing awards through the previous rounds of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ Early Researcher Award (ERA) program. The funds are to be used over a period of five years to fund eligible expenses for a research team of undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates, and technicians.
In the past, Lakehead University has been successful in securing awards through the previous rounds of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ Early Researcher Award (ERA) program. The funds are to be used over a period of five years to fund eligible expenses for a research team of undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates, and technicians.
Eligible Applicants
Lakehead University invites early career researchers who meet the ERA program criteria, to apply to the 2021 internal ERA competition. You are eligible to apply for this award if you:
Lakehead University invites early career researchers who meet the ERA program criteria, to apply to the 2021 internal ERA competition. You are eligible to apply for this award if you:
- are full-time faculty or principal investigator (PI) who, at the application deadline, is based at an eligible institution;
- have started your independent academic research career on or after January 1, 2015; and
- have completed your first Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Medical Doctor or terminal degree on or after January 1, 2010.
- have not already held an Early Researcher Award, and
- not a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.
To be competitive, researchers are encouraged to be actively involved in conducting research that has been supported by peer-reviewed funding and to demonstrate academic independence from previous supervisors.
As well, please note that the ERA program has introduced new wording in its program guidelines (please see section titled "Other Project Requirements and Considerations") regarding Intellectual Property and its protection and exploitation. Important information has also been added regarding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Applicants should be aware of this information as they prepare their submissions.
As well, please note that the ERA program has introduced new wording in its program guidelines (please see section titled "Other Project Requirements and Considerations") regarding Intellectual Property and its protection and exploitation. Important information has also been added regarding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Applicants should be aware of this information as they prepare their submissions.
Available Amount/Number of Lakehead University Applications
Under this program, an ERA award to a leading researcher is worth a maximum of $100,000 and must be matched by an additional $50,000. For this competition, Lakehead University will provide the required matching contribution of $50,000 ($10,000 per year over 5 years) towards four applications.
Under this program, an ERA award to a leading researcher is worth a maximum of $100,000 and must be matched by an additional $50,000. For this competition, Lakehead University will provide the required matching contribution of $50,000 ($10,000 per year over 5 years) towards four applications.
Internal ERA Deadlines
1. April 6, 2021: Potential applicants are required to e-mail the Office of Research (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) by April 6 to: a) indicate their intention to apply to the ERA program, and b) to provide our office with a list of five external individuals (who are not in a conflict of interest with the ERA applicant) who our office can approach to write a letter of reference for the applicant's ERA application. Please note the ERA program's guidelines for reference letters:
- the letters should address all the ERA Evaluation Criteria: Excellence of the Researcher, Quality of the Research, Development of Research Talent, and Strategic Value for Ontario referees should have access to the applicant’s research proposal and full CV
- one of the reference letters must be from a former supervisor, mentor, collaborator or corporate sponsor familiar with the researcher
- two of the reference letters must be from arm’s length sources (i.e. arm’s length referees must not have a conflict of interest by having a personal link with the researcher, or by being a colleague, a research collaborator or a corporate sponsor of the researcher)
- it is recommended that the arm’s length letters be from researchers of international stature familiar with the researcher’s work
2. April 12, 2021: ERA applicants are required to submit their ERA research proposals and CVs to the Office of Research by April 12 so that our office can forward the information to the external reference letter writers.
3. May 10, 2021: Full Applications,using the ERA form, are due in the Office of Research Services no later than May 10, 2021 and will be reviewed by the Lakehead University Senate Research Committee (SRC) to determine which application(s) will be submitted to the ERA program.
For More Information
The official call for this program can be found on the Ministry of Colleges and Universities website. The information includes a complete list of ineligible partner contributions, eligible expenses, evaluation criteria, application forms and letter of reference requirements, etc.
The official call for this program can be found on the Ministry of Colleges and Universities website. The information includes a complete list of ineligible partner contributions, eligible expenses, evaluation criteria, application forms and letter of reference requirements, etc.