If you are planning to apply for an NSERC Discovery Grant this fall, you may be interested in participating in this years NSERC Enhancement Program. 

The program consists of four, two-hour workshops spread out over a four week period (specific date and times will be determined in collaboration with participants). In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Enhancement Program will be delivered via Zoom. 

Lakehead University is pleased to announce a program in support of community-engaged research with community organizations, and not-for-profit partners.  We invite all Lakehead faculty members in the social sciences, and humanities to submit applications to the 2020 Community-Engaged Research Grant (CERG) Program. 

Community-engaged research is a collaborative process between universities and diverse communities. The goal of such research is to improve community well-being and to describe, through participatory knowledge creation and creative expression, how this is accomplished. Community-engaged research respects the capacity of all stakeholders to contribute to the development of new knowledge and incorporates them in the design, conduct and dissemination of the different phases of the research process. Community-engaged research is founded upon the principles of social responsibility, respect, reciprocity, democratization of knowledge creation, and social and/or ecological justice.

This initiative will support funding for two-year   collaborative   research   initiatives   that   are    aligned    with    Lakehead University’s commitment to Social Responsibility and Community Engagement with community partners as outlined in the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. 

The Office of Research Services anticipates supporting 2 – 3 projects and a maximum amount of $30,000 is available for the following types of research initiatives:

1. Start-up funds associated with the establishment of a new Research Centre (up to $15,000 will be provided over a two-year period);
2. Research funds to support community-engaged research where there is evidence of an existing partnership with a community organization (up to $15,000 will be provided over a two-year period); and
3. Partnership development seed funds to support planning activities with community partners, including travel, meetings, workshops, etc. (up to $7,500 will be provided over a two-year period).

Please note that research grants must be completed and all funds spent by March 31, 2022; SSHRC has indicated that extensions are not possible past this date.  Successful applicants must commit to completion of a progress report in a format acceptable to SSHRC.

Proposals for the establishment of research centres must provide a detailed five-year plan to address sustainability and demonstrate a commitment to becoming a Senate approved research centre. Funds should be spent within two years of approval; approvals for extensions will only be considered in cases where an extension would support the program’s principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness (i.e., additional time required to ensure genuine community engagement and participation with community partners).

Funding for this research initiative is made possible through the SSHRC Institutions Grant (SIG) Small Universities Supplement program; the objective of the SSHRC SIG is to enable small universities to develop and strengthen focused research capacity in the social sciences and humanities. Proposals must demonstrate how this funding will lead to a successful and competitive external SSHRC application within one year following the end of the grant.

Centres and researchers funded previously through the previous SSHRC Aid to Small Universities Grant or IRCD program are encouraged to apply as long as they have completed the previous project, continue to meet the eligibility criteria and provide a performance activity report outlining results and outcomes achieved with the previous grant.

Eligibility:  Full-time tenure-track, tenured or 3-year LTAs are eligible to apply for this program.  Lakehead University Research Centres and Institutes are also encouraged to apply.  Community partners may include, but not be limited to: Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, grassroots organizations, municipal departments, and health agencies.  Government agencies and other postsecondary institutions are not eligible as partners.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted through the Romeo Research Portal no later than March 9, 2020. Appendix A provides a description of the information that will be required in the Romeo application.

Selection Process: An internal peer review committee will be established to evaluate and rank proposals; the Committee will include a community organization representative.   The Committee will rank and make a final recommendation of the projects to be supported through the program to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

Evaluation Criteria

Challenge—The aim and importance of the project (60%):

• strategic value of the chosen research development area to the partner, and clarity of alignment between the proposed research and Lakehead’s 2018-2023 Strategic Plan;
• evidence that communities/organizations are/will be genuine partners in the initiative;
• expected contribution to knowledge;
• appropriateness of the research methods/approach; and
• potential influence and impact within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.

Feasibility—the plan to achieve inclusive research excellence (20%):

• probability of effective and timely attainment of an increase in research capacity at Lakehead University and within community organizations;
• quality of the proposed community-engagement plan;
• appropriateness of the requested budget and justification of proposed costs; and
• an indication of financial and in-kind contributions from community partners and other sources, as appropriate.

Capability—Track record and the potential to succeed (20%):

• the track-record of the proposed research team working with community organizations;
• indication of human, financial and institutional resources available and to be committed;
• where applicable, evidence of outputs and outcomes resulting from previous related funding.

Should you have any questions about the program, please contact Anne Klymenko, Director, Office of Research Services, at ext. 8223 or aklymenk@lakeheadu.ca.  If you need assistance with completing the Romeo application, please contact Bonnie Knott at 343-8934.

Appendix A:
Proposals should be no more than approximately 2,500 words (the equivalent of approximately five typed pages @ 500 words per page) and include the following information:

Research Project Summary (100 words), written in lay language describing the uniqueness and importance of the proposed research program.

Objectives (500 words) – Describe the short-term objectives of your project and how the project will contribute to your long-term research plan.

Context (600 words) – Describe the background of your proposed project/group including, relevant prior research and/or meetings or events that have occurred.

Methodology (800 words) – Describe specifically what will you do to meet the objectives of your project/group.

Community-Engagement Plan (500 words) - Indicate how your proposed project or the work of your proposed team engaged your community partner in the design of the project and research questions.

Budget and budget justification (template in Romeo)

Letters of support from partners (not included in five typed pages)

SSHRC Common CV (not included in five-page total)

Building Research Capacity at Lakehead University Award

Dedicated researchers at Lakehead University continue to actively collaborate in university-wide initiatives such as preparation of significant research proposals and engaging in other unique research capacity building strategies. Lakehead University values the drive and dedication of its researchers and applauds all such initiatives. To formally recognize the contributions of these
dedicated individuals or groups to the University’s research capacity and productivity as a whole, Lakehead University invites nominations for the annual Building Research Capacity at Lakehead University Award.

Award Criteria:
Each year, the Building Research Capacity at Lakehead University Award is presented to an individual researcher or a group of researchers who have enhanced Lakehead University’s research capacity beyond their individual program(s) of research.

Examples of such activities are:
● Contributing to major Lakehead University research initiatives or projects resulting in benefits to the broader university community;
● Creating successful interdisciplinary research centres or groups that have increased research capacity and external funding at the University;
● Demonstrated research leadership and mentorship of junior researchers and highly qualified personnel resulting in increased research capacity;
● Creating a legacy for researchers to utilize and/or build upon (i.e., research infrastructure, research tools, etc.) to ensure continued research productivity and success at Lakehead University; and/or
● Creating or facilitating significant events that promote research and innovation at Lakehead University.

Eligibility:
Only full-time tenure-track and tenured Lakehead University faculty members are eligible for this award.

Nomination Process:
Applications are due January 31, 2020. All applications must be submitted through the Romeo Research Portal, and must contain the following documentation:
● Letter of nomination highlighting how the individual researcher or group of researchers have enhanced Lakehead University’s research capacity beyond their individual program(s) of research. Eligible nominators must be full-time tenure-track or tenured faculty members. Self-nominations will also be accepted. In such cases, self- nominators are not required to submit a separate letter of nomination.
● Any other evidence of the relevant research capacity building that the nominator wishes to submit in support of the nomination, including letters of support.

Selection Committee:
The Vice-President (Research and Innovation) shall appoint a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will review all submitted nominations and make its recommendations to the Vice-President (Research and Innovation). The Selection Committee may recommend that the award not be presented if applications received do not meet the award criteria.

Award:

One cash award of $1,000 and a framed certificate will be presented to the selected recipient(s) during Research and Innovation Week’s Awards Reception.

The Distinguished Researcher Awards are the highest honour conferred by Lakehead University for research and scholarly activity. Each year, if there are qualified candidates who are nominated, the award may be given to three full-time Lakehead University professors, one in the social sciences and humanities, one in the natural sciences and engineering, and one in health research.

Nominations for the 2019 Distinguished Researcher Awards are due on Friday, December 20, 2019 no later than 4:30 pm.

Nominations are to be submitted to Dr. Kunle Akingbola, Chair of the 2019-2020 Senate Research Committee, c/o the Senate Research Committee’s Administrative Officer, Allison Whately-Doucet at ea.vpri@lakeheadu.ca. Specific guidelines and application requirements for this award may be found here.

Introduction 

All faculty members with tenured or tenure-track positions at Lakehead University are invited to submit applications to Lakehead University’s internal 2020 Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) competition.  The deadline for the internal competition will be January 31, 2020.   Please note that up to $350,000 (CFI portion only) from Lakehead's JELF allocation has been allocated to this competition to support a total investment of up to $875,000 in research infrastructure.  Researchers are required 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 an internal CFI JELF peer review committee who will rank the applications and then make recommendations to the Vice-President Research, and Innovation. 

Eligibility and Application Process
The JELF "enables a select number of an institution’s excellent researchers to undertake leading-edge research by providing them with the foundational research infrastructure required to be or become leaders in their field. In turn, this enables institutions to remain internationally competitive in areas of research and technology development, aligned with their strategic priorities."

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.

Priority will be given to early career researchers, and infrastructure that will be shared (small group applications). 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 JELF; 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 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 to the CFI.

Required Components 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 must consist of:

1. CFI JELF 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 plus one quote for each major equipment item.
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.   
5. Projects requiring renovations* must include: 

• a cost estimate obtained prior to the internal application deadline 
• Evidence of the required cash contributions to offset the 20% matching fund requirements.

       6.  Completed Internal Research Proposal Approval Form

 *Please note that if renovations are not required as part of acquiring and installing the requested infrastructure, the applicant(s) must indicate in the CFI application why renovations are not required.

CFI Funding Formula and Matching Funds

Please note that the CFI JELF program will contribute up to 40% towards infrastructure costs, the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade's 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 (the in-kind or CFI contribution)

4. Net CFI 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 or Andrew Hacquoil in the Office of Research Services 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 (June 15, 2020) 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 must contact Kevin Schlyter in Physical Plant far in advance of the January 31, 2020 internal deadline 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 CFI JELF 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.

Regular (administrative) Internships:  One Position Available

Lakehead University will have one NOHFC administrative-related internship (out of its quota of two administrative-related placements) becoming available in late fall through the NOHFC Northern Ontario Internship Program.  The internal deadline for the submission of regular internship applications to the Office of Research (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) is November 29, 2019. 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. Applications on are completed on the NOHFC site.  Once complete, please either submit a paper or an electronic copy to Andrew Hacquoil, Research Grants Officer, at ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca.  Do not submit your application on the NOHFC site.

Under the administrative call, preference will be given to applications from Lakehead University administrative units.

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General Information on NOHFC Youth Internship Program

Under the internship program, Funding is available for organizations located in Northern Ontario to provide first time full-time employment in a related field to recent university and  college graduates. The program will support innovation, economic/community development and capacity building within communities. Through this program, 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. Please note that the NOHFC contribution does not include benefits costs. Benefits costs (an additional 14%) are the responsibility of the grantee (in addition to the remaining 10% of the intern's salary).

It is important to note that 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. Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria: