Subject: CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund  (Unaffiliated) - Internal Deadline: November 30, 2016

Introduction

All full-time faculty members of Lakehead University are invited to submit applications to Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) for Lakehead University’s internal 2016 competition.  The deadline for the internal competition will be November 30, 2016.  Please note that $300,000 (CFI portion only) from Lakehead's JELF allocation has been allocated to this competition to support a total investment of up to $750,000 in research infrastructure.  Researchers have to secure the required 20% matching funds in order to be eligible to apply.

Internal Review of Applications

In order to support research excellence and ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution of these funds, applications will be reviewed internally by a special internal ad-hoc committee of CFI experts who will then make recommendations to the Lakehead University Senate Research Committee (SRC).  The recommendation from the Senate Research Committee will be considered by the Vice-President Research, and Innovation.

Eligibility and Application Process
JELF offers institutions the opportunity to:

• Acquire infrastructure for their leading research faculty to undertake cutting-edge research; and
• Create competitive research support packages in the form of infrastructure and a portion of the operating and maintenance costs from the CFI, coupled with direct research costs from partner organizations.

The candidate(s) listed on the proposal must be:

• A recognized leader or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in the proposed research field(s);
• Engaged in or embarking upon research/ technology development that is original, internationally competitive and of high quality; and
• A current faculty member with a full-time academic appointment or a candidate that the institution is in the process of recruiting to a full-time academic position in an area of strategic importance.

The JELF is intended to serve the infrastructure needs of individual faculty, or groups of up to three faculty members where there is a need to share infrastructure. The JELF is not intended to serve the infrastructure needs of larger groups, centres, departments, or institutions. 

Priority will be given to new faculty, small group applications, and faculty members who have not previously received CFI funding. Candidates who have previously been supported through the JELF, Leaders Opportunities Fund, New Opportunities Fund or Canada Research Chairs Infrastructure Fund are eligible for funding under the LOF; however a justification of the value-added of a subsequent award is required. Application forms and guidelines are available by referring to the CFI's website.

Candidates must be recognized leaders in their field of research, or show promise of becoming research leaders. They must be engaged in, or embarking on, an innovative research program for which the infrastructure is essential and which will provide an enriched research training environment. CFI JELF  applications must also fit with the research priorities outlined in Lakehead University's Strategic Research Plan (SRP) as part of the 2012-2017 Academic/Research Plan.  

In addition to meeting general CFI eligibility requirements, infrastructure items for JELF candidates must be essential for the research program of the candidate(s). If the requested items have been purchased or received, they must be obtained as an in-kind contribution no more than six months before the date of submission of the application.

Components Required for a Complete Application

Complete CFI JELF applications for the internal competition must be submitted to the Office of Research Services by the internal deadline in both digital and paper format and will consist of:

1. CFI LOF Application Forms (CFI Award Management System)- Please use John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) – Unaffiliated version of the form.
2. CFI Request for Quotations Form
3. CFI Internal Budget Worksheet and one quotation in CFI format for all equipment/renovation items
4.  Letter from the relevant dean confirming support for application and confirming space. Space must be confirmed by the internal application deadline.  Projects requiring renovations must include a cost estimate prior to the internal application deadline, as well as the required cash contributions to offset the 20% matching fund requirements.
5.  Completed Internal Research Proposal Approval Form

CFI Funding Formula and Matching Funds

Please note that the CFI JELF will contribute up to 40% towards infrastructure costs, the Ministry of Research and Innovation's (MRI) Ontario Research Fund will contribute 40% and the remaining 20% must be found from other sources by the researcher. Funds from CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, as well as Tri-Council programs (e.g. the Networks of Centres of Excellence and the Canada Research Chairs) are not considered to be acceptable funding partners. However, the CFI will allow the cost of eligible item(s) to be covered in part by the aforementioned funding sources, provided that this portion is not used to leverage CFI funds. Equipment discounts beyond the best educational price are eligible as in-kind contributions towards the 20% matching funds required.

CFI JELF applications must include confirmation of the 20% matching funds. If the matching funds are to be provided by the private sector or other external agency, a letter of support outlining their commitment must accompany the application. If the 20% matching fund is provided in the form of a "discount beyond best educational price" by a supplier, a copy of the quotation must be included showing:

1. List Price

2. Best Educational Price

3. Discount Beyond Best Educational Price

4. Net Price

Researchers must use Lakehead University's CFI Request for Quotations Form to ensure quotations meet CFI eligibility requirements. A CFI Internal budget worksheet must be completed and submitted along with copies of the equipment quotations used to complete the CFI form. Note that only "discounts beyond best educational price" are eligible. If you have any doubts regarding the eligibility of your matching funds, please call Anne Klymenko in the Office of Research Services @ ext. 8223 for advice.

Please note that LU start-up grants may be used towards the 20% matching fund requirement whether it has been spent during the 6 months prior to the CFI JELF external deadline (February 15, 2017) or will be spent on research infrastructure. Funds from start-up grants are to be shown as a cash contribution from the institution, not in-kind (as per CFI guidelines). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all in-kind contributions are eligible in accordance with CFI's guidelines.

Renovations to Space

Requests for renovations to new space (not currently allocated to the applicant) must be approved by the Lakehead University’s Space Committee prior to the internal deadline. Researchers should be aware that renovation costs can also include such expenses as changes to a space in order to accommodate a piece of equipment that has special power requirements, or environmental cooling (for example). If an application is to include renovations in the budget, researchers are asked to contact Anne Klymenko in the Office of Research Services immediately to arrange for a cost estimate. Applications that do not accurately reflect costs may be deemed ineligible for consideration. Additional information is available on-line at the Lakehead University Physical Plant website.

Should you have any questions regarding the LOF program, please contact Anne Klymenko at ext. 8223. Additional information regarding the CFI program can be obtained by referring to the following website: CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

These Chairs recognize 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 Academic/Research Plan.

Lakehead University is seeking applications for two (2) new LURCs, 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 five years are eligible. Current or past research chair holders such as CRCs, LURCs, Ontario Research Chairs, SHARCNET Chairs, etc., are not eligible to receive this award.

Value of Award: Up to $45,000 as a research grant (up to $22,500/year) tenable over two years beginning May 1, 2016. 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 Form. Salary payments to Research Chairs in lieu of teaching release will not be considered as an eligible expense.

Application Process: As part of their submission, Candidates should include the following:

• Research Proposal Approval Form;
• Cover letter;
• Research Project Summary (100 words, written in lay language describing the uniqueness and importance of the proposed research program);
• Two-year research plan (maximum of 5 pages, plus one page of references – see Appendix A, below, for required content for this section);
• Budget with a budget justification (maximum 1 page) (Release Time Request Form if applicable);
• Canadian Common CV (do not use generic CCV, use appropriate Tri-Council CCV); and
• Fit of the proposed chair with Lakehead’s Academic/Research Plan (maximum of 100 words) addressing:
  • the importance of the chair to Lakehead’s strategic research development, and, if applicable, to its affiliated institution(s), hospital(s), institute(s);
  • how the proposed chair will contribute to the attainment of Lakehead’s objectives, as outlined in its academic/research plan; and
  • how the nominee has helped build relationships with other research initiatives in Canada and abroad, if applicable.
• Three external letters of reference (please note that scanned copies of the original letters of reference may be e-mailed directly by referees to Dr. Dean (ea.vpri@lakeheadu.ca) by the deadline date), and
• Supporting letter from the faculty dean (submit directly to the VP RI at ea.vpri@lakeheadu.ca)

Applications must be submitted to Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) no later than 4:30 pm April 1, 2016 (submit to ea.vpri@lakeheadu.ca).

Selection Process and Criteria: The Vice-President (Research and Innovation) shall appoint a Lakehead University Research Chair Selection Committee comprised of Lakehead University Tri-Council Representatives, the Chair of the Senate Research Committee, previous Lakehead University Research Chairs and/or Canada Research Chairs and other members as appropriate. 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 nominations/applications utilizing the following evaluation criteria:

• be outstanding and innovative researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields;
• be recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields;
• have a track-record of attracting external research funding;
• have an excellent record of mentoring undergraduate students, supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (taking into account circumstances in the Department or practices in the relevant field or discipline) and as Chairs have the potential to attract excellent trainees and future researchers;
• have a record of participating in collaborative interdisciplinary research and contributing to research capacity building (e.g., development of new graduate programs); and
• have proposed an original, innovative research program of high quality that fits the priority research areas outlined in Lakehead University’s Academic/Research Plan.

Successful Lakehead University Research Chairs will be expected to give at least one public presentation as part of Lakehead’s annual Research and Innovation Week. 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 ext. 8223.

Appendix A:
Required Content for Two Year Research Plan

Using the following headings and in no more than five pages (plus one page of references), please address the following:

A) Context

• Explain what makes the research program original, innovative and of the highest quality.
• Explain the relationship and relevance of the proposed research to the nominee’s ongoing research.
• Situate the proposed research within the context of the relevant scholarly literature and explain the anticipated contribution of the research program to the existing body of knowledge in the area of research.

B) Methodology

• Describe the proposed research strategies and key activities, including methodological approaches.
• Describe the procedures for data collection and analysis, that will be used to achieve the stated objectives.

C) Engagement with research users and communication of results

• Describe, if applicable, how research users (e.g., media, academics, industry, government, not-for-profit and private sector organizations, practitioners, policy-makers, educators, artistic and cultural communities, etc.) will be engaged during the various stages of the research program (e.g., conception/design, implementation, communication of results, etc.).
• Describe how the research results will be disseminated (e.g., conferences; peer-reviewed publications, monographs and books; copyrights, patents, products and services; technology transfer; creative or artistic works; etc.).

D) Description of proposed training strategies

• Describe the training strategies that have been and will be used to attract excellent students (e.g., doctoral, masters, undergraduate) and trainees to the University or affiliated institution(s), hospital(s), institute(s).
• Describe the specific roles and responsibilities of students and trainees and indicate the duties, especially with respect to research, that they will be undertaking and how these will complement their academic training and develop their research expertise.

E) List of References (maximum one page)

• Attach a list of all references cited in the proposed research program. (This is in addition to the five pages allowed for the description of the proposed research program [A through D].)