Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF)

Internal Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

The Government of Canada recently announced a major new funding opportunity known as the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The purpose of this program is to enable Canadian postsecondary institutions to excel globally in strategic research areas that have the potential to create long-term economic advantages for Canada.  Under this program, researchers cannot apply to the Fund directly, but applications must be submitted by the Universities. Each university can only submit one application as the lead. 

The next deadline for the submission of letters of intent to the Fund is August 31, 2015.  Lakehead University research teams that are interested in being part of a Lakehead University submission to the Fund are invited to submit expressions of interest that will identify a research proposal that would help Lakehead ". . . to achieve global excellence and leadership in research, in areas of strategic relevance for Canada."

Please note proposed research strategy and areas must align with Lakehead's research strengths as outlined in our Academic/Research Plan as well as the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priority research areas.

When preparing an expression of interest, researchers should consider the following information taken from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund guidelines: 

Each proposal may focus on one or more highly strategic research areas. Proposals for lower-value awards are expected to be for initiatives that will advance a single area of research excellence at an institution. Proposals for large awards could advance more than one area of research excellence at the institution. The institution must make the case for the choice of research area(s), and must describe how advancing this/these would serve the institution’s overall strategy for global excellence.

Finally, faculty members should also keep in mind the Fund's selection criteria when preparing their EOIs.

EOIs are due March 30, 2015 to Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Interim Vice-President Research, Economic Development and Innovation; EOIs must be no longer than three pages and must include the following:

• A description of the research proposal and how the proposal would help Lakehead achieve research excellence on a global scale.
• A list of Lakehead University researchers or researchers at other Universities (Canadian and international) who would be part of achieving the proposed research strategy.
• A list of potential partners who would be a part of achieving the proposed research strategy.
• A draft high-level budget.

While LU can be the lead institution on only one proposal, we may participate as partners on other Universities’ proposals.  Please identify by March 30 if you have been invited to be part of another University’s CFREF submission or if you know of Universities that Lakehead should approach to partner with.

Please do not hesitate to contact Anne Klymenko by e-mail:  Anne.Klymenko@lakeheadu.ca  or by phone (ext. 8223) if you have further questions about the CFREF.

 Dr. Andrew P. Dean

Interim Vice-President (Research, Economic Development and Innovation)

Each year the Building Research Capacity Award honours a Lakehead faculty researcher or group of researchers who have contributed to major research initiatives and/or furthered our University’s research capacity and productivity as a whole.

If you would like to nominate such a faculty researcher, please see the attached document for information about eligibility requirements, the nomination process and selection committee.

An engraved plaque and a $1,000 cash award will be presented to the recipient.

Nomination deadline is Monday February 2, 2015.

Engage and Make a Difference

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of International Development Week with the Resources, Economy and Society Research Group (RESRG) at Lakehead University. IDW runs from February 1 to 7 and this year RESRG will mark the occasion with a series of presentations on the Thunder Bay campus. RESRG at Lakehead University is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and was founded as a means of building research capacity by encouraging new research activities among faculty with diverse interests and experience. Focusing on issues related to local, regional, and global development, our research group brings together scholars working on issues pertaining to Canada and the world. Find out about research on Healthcare in Africa, Wildlife Conservation in Latin America, Development Challenges in Eastern Europe, Poverty Alleviation in Asia, Resource Economies in the Arctic, and find out about a new teaching tool for international development. All the events are free and open to the public.The event is support by the Office of Research, WUSC and LUSU. For more information contact resrg.research@lakeheadu.ca or please click here.

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (the Fund) helps competitively-selected Canadian postsecondary institutions turn their key strengths into world-leading capabilities.

The Fund helps institutions:

• compete with the best in the world for talent, for partnership opportunities, and to make breakthrough discoveries;
• seize emerging opportunities and strategically advance their greatest strengths on the global stage; and
• implement large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies.

For more information about this major new funding opportunity, please click here.

Collaborative mining research project wins innovation award

Lakehead’s SSHRC grant recipients examining lead exposure, climate change

The Canada Research Chairs Secretariat has recognized Lakehead for following exemplary practices in the recruiting of CRCs as well as in achieving Lakehead's equity targets in the recruitment of CRCs.

For more inforamtion, please click here.

SSHRC Grant Application Enhancement Program 2015

The Office of the Vice President (Research, Economic Development and Innovation) at Lakehead University is pleased to announce the extension of the SSHRC Grant Application Enhancement Program. This program is designed to encourage and support researchers at Lakehead to begin preparation of their SSHRC applications well in advance of the internal deadline (2 weeks before the SSHRC deadline), with the ultimate goal of increasing overall success rates. The workshops will be designed to develop skills to write each application type, with common and specific references made during the sessions.

Beginning in February 2015, applicants will participate in a series of workshops devoted to the drafting of specific elements of a SSHRC application, common across disciplinary boundaries. Workshop topics may include a mock SSHRC peer review exercise, organizing a comprehensive description of the proposed research project, preparing an engaging summary, crafting a project budget, building effective research teams for successful grant applications, and creating a feasible knowledge mobilization plan. The topics and schedule of these workshops will be finalized in consultation with participants who are accepted in this program.

For more information click here.

Internal Call for Applications: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) – Youth Internship Program

• Research Internships:  Two Positions Available

Overview
The intent of the Northern Ontario Internship Program is to strengthen Northern Ontario’s competitive advantage and build economic development capacity by attracting and retaining graduates in the North. The program provides recent graduates who are interested in launching and building their careers in Northern Ontario access to internships.

Lakehead University has two NOHFC research-related internships, out of its quota of five research-related placements available (one becomes available in the fall, and the second one after January 2015).  

The internal deadline for the submission of internship applications to the Office of Research Services is August 14, 2014. If more than two internship applications are received an internal competition will need to be held (applications will be reviewed by the Senate Research Committee).

Eligibility Criteria

• University and college graduates who have graduated within the last three years from an accredited college or university. Candidates must be graduates of post-secondary degree or diploma programs.
• The position must provide the intern with first time employment in their field of study. 
• Candidates are only eligible to participate in the internship program one time.   
• Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• The opportunity for the placement to result in a full time permanent job.
• The quality of the skill development opportunity.
• The type of training being proposed by the employer.
• The work plan/supervision method. Direct supervision must be provided daily by an onsite supervisor.   

Funding
Eligible not-for-profit and public sector organizations located in Northern Ontario are potentially eligible to receive a conditional contribution of up to 90 percent of a recent graduate’s salary to a maximum contribution of $31,500.  As well, NOHFC funding under this program, when combined with other provincial and federal government sources, will generally not exceed 90 per cent of eligible costs for public sector employers. Please note that for a proposal to be considered as being a research internship, the application must be written so as to meet the definition of research shown below:

Research involves a critical or scientific inquiry aimed at the discovery of new facts, new knowledge, or the development of new interpretations or applications.

For more information about the NOHFC program, please go to: http://nohfc.ca/en/programs/northern-ontario-internship-program

Lakehead University has announced a call for nominations/applications for the Lakehead University Research Chairs (LURCs) program.  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 element in retaining outstanding research talent at our institution.  In addition, this program will contribute towards the achievement of our Strategic Research Plan goal – to become one of the top 25 research-intensive universities in Canada in the next 5-10 years.  

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 tenured faculty who are 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:  $50,000 research grant ($25,000/yr) tenable over two years beginning September 1, 2014.  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.  Should funds remain at the end of the two year period, Chairs may request a maximum one year extension.

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

• Cover letter;
• Two-year research plan (maximum 3 pages, plus one additional page for references);
• Budget with a budget justification (maximum 1 page) (Release Time Request Form if applicable);
• Curriculum Vitae or CCV;
• 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. Umed Panu by the deadline date, but the original of the  letters of reference must be mailed by external referees to complete the file), and
• Supporting letter from the Faculty Dean.

Applications must be submitted to Dr. Umed Panu, Associate Vice-President (Research, Economic Development, and Innovation) no later than 4:30 July 2, 2014.  

Selection Process and Criteria:  The Advisory Committee to the President for Canada Research Chair Nominations has been given the mandate of making a recommendation on the selection of Lakehead University Research Chairs to the President for approval.  The Advisory Committee to the President for Canada Research Chair Nominations 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 Strategic Academic and 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, Economic Development, and Innovation) and 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, Office of Research Services at ext. 8223.