NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program: 2018 Competition - Internal Call for Proposals

NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program:  2018 Competition - Internal Call for Proposals

Goals of the CREATE Program
NSERC's CREATE Program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:
  • encourages collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and
  • facilitates the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

These innovative programs must include the acquisition and development of important professional skills among students and postdoctoral fellows that complement their qualifications and technical skills.

Internal Process/Quota
A yearly quota has been established for each university and only those researchers selected at their university can submit Letters of Intent.  Under its assigned quota, Lakehead University can submit up to two letters of intent to the CREATE  program.  Therefore, researchers are asked  to indicate to the Office of Research Services (e-mail to ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) by March 14  if they plan to submit a letter of intent to NSERC. If more than two applicants indicate that they intend to submit a letter of intent, an internal competition will need to be held to determine which two LOIs are submitted by the NSERC deadline of May 1.

Although the CREATE program information on NSERC's website has not yet been updated, more background information on the CREATE program can be found  here.

Early Researcher Award Round 14: Internal Call for Proposals

Dear Faculty, Chairs and Deans:   

 

Background

In the past, Lakehead University has been successful in securing awards through the previous rounds of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science’s (MRIS) Early Researcher Award (ERA) program.  The funds are to be used over a period of 5 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 2018 internal ERA competition.  You are eligible to apply for this award if you:

  • are full-time faculty or principal investigator who, at the application deadline, is based at an eligible institution
  • have started your academic career on or after July 1, 2013
  • have completed your first Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Medical Doctor or terminal degree on or after July 1, 2008
  • have not already held an Early Researcher Award
  • are not a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.

Researchers may receive only one ERA during their career.  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.

 

Available Amount/Number of Lakehead University Applications

Under this program, an 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 three applications. If researchers, however, are able to access funds from other sources to meet the matching requirement, Lakehead will consider submitting more than three meritorious ERA applications. Please note that awards administered by the federal granting councils (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) are not eligible partner contributions.

 

Step One: Notice of Intent

Notices of intent (NOI),using the MRIS form, are due in the Office of Research Services no later than May 18, 2018 (this is required in order for the applicant to be registered with MRI). Full ERA applications are then due internally in the Office of Research Services no later than July 5, 2018 and will be reviewed by the Lakehead University Senate Research Committee (SRC) to determine which application(s) will be submitted to the ERA program.

 

Strong Letters of Reference Are Critical to Success

In addition to the required ERA application form and attachments, the application package must include three original signed letters of reference. Letters of reference need to be sent to the Office of Research directly (e-mail or mail).  The letters should address all the Round 14 ERA Evaluation Criteria: Excellence of the Researcher, Quality of the Research, Development of Research Talent, and Strategic Value for Ontario.  Strong reference letters are critical to the success of an ERA application.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the referee letter requirements found in the program guidelines and to communicate this information with the individuals who are writing their letters of reference.  A weak letter or a letter that is too brief (or lacking in detail) will weaken an application.


For More Information
The official call for this program can be found on the MRIS website.  The information includes a complete list of ineligible partner contributions, eligible expenses, evaluation criteria, application forms and letter of reference requirements, etc.

Andrew P. Dean, PhD
Vice-President Research and Innovation

Building Research Capacity Award Nominations Accepted until February 9, 2018

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. 

A 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.

Nomination deadline is Friday, February 9, 2018.

Andrew P. Dean, Ph.D.

Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Lakehead University

CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (Unaffiliated) - Internal Deadline: November 24, 2017

Regarding the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund internal 2017 competition, please note that  it has been cancelled to accommodate an  institutional priority to replace  a major piece of research equipment at Lakehead. It is  anticipated that a general call will be issued for 2018. If you have any questions please contact Anne Klymenko at ext 8223.

Subject: CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund  (Unaffiliated) - Internal Deadline: November 24, 2017

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 2017 competition.  The deadline for the internal competition will be November 24, 2017.  Please note that up to $400,000 (CFI portion only) from Lakehead's JELF allocation has been allocated to this competition to support a total investment of up to $1,000,000 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
The 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.

 

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 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, Innovation and Science'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

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, 2018) 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.

Mitacs Globalink Research Internship now accepting Faculty Project Submissions

About the Program
Each year, Mitacs invites faculty member project submissions under the Globalink Research Internship  (GRI).  This is a competitive initiative for international undergraduates from Australia, Brazil, China, France, India, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. From May to September of each year, the top-ranked applicants participate in a 12-week research internship under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members in a variety of academic disciplines, from science, engineering and mathematics to the humanities and social sciences.

At this time, the Mitacs GRI is accepting faculty submissions for Summer 2018.
  • All disciplines are eligible
  • Faculty can submit multiple projects and re-submit projects from previous years

Internal Deadline for Submitting Research Projects for Internal Review
The Mitacs deadline for submitting project proposals is June 14, 2017, at 5 p.m. PDT. However, since this is a very competitive program, Lakehead University faculty members are encouraged to write their project summaries in lay terms and to highlight the unique advantages to participating in an internship at Lakehead.  The Office of Research Services invites Faculty to submit projects to the Office of Research Services (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) for internal review no later than June 5, 2017.

Suggested Lakehead University Wording

In addition, in order to promote the University to potential international graduate students, faculty are strongly encouraged to use the following wording to begin their research project submissions:

Dynamic, modern, and highly learner-centred, we acknowledge all of our students as valued leaders of tomorrow, whose education and success are most paramount to our institution. At Lakehead, we offer you an extraordinary education experience that gives you the highest potential for success. Our supportive and student centered philosophy means you are our #1 priority.  Both campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia promise the total university experience: a blend of academic excellence and opportunity with a rich variety of social and recreational activities.  Athletics and recreation is an integral part of the university experience that is vital to your educational growth and advancement. Lakehead promotes a healthy and active campus lifestyle while providing you with the opportunity to foster friendships, goodwill and overall fitness at both of our campuses.
 
Mitacs GRI Information Session
The Mitacs webinar regarding this opportunity can be viewed on June 1 from 1-4 in AT 3004.  Any interested faculty members are invited to attend (Orillia faculty members can register for the webinar using their own computers by clicking here)
 
Interested Thunder Bay faculty members are asked to confirm their attendance by e-mailing ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca by May 25.


Early Researcher Award Round 13: Internal Call for Proposals

Background

In the past, Lakehead University has been successful in securing awards through the previous rounds of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science’s Early Researcher Award (ERA) program.  The purpose of this program is to help promising, recently-appointed Ontario researchers build their research teams 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 2017 internal ERA competition.  You are eligible to apply for this award if you:

  • are full-time faculty or principal investigators who, at the application deadline, are based at an eligible institution;
  • started your independent academic research career on or after July 1, 2012;
  • have completed your first Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Medical Doctor or terminal degree on or after July 1, 2007;
  • have not already held an Early Researcher Award
  • are not a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.

Researchers may receive only one ERA during their career.  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.

 

Available Amount/Number of Lakehead University Applications

Under this program, an 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 two applications. If researchers, however, are able to access funds from other sources to meet the matching requirement, Lakehead will consider submitting more than two meritorious ERA applications. Please note that awards administered by the federal granting councils (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) are not eligible partner contributions.

 

Step One: Notice of Intent

Notices of intent (NOI), using the MRI form, are due in the Office of Research Services no later than June 30, 2017 (this is required in order for the applicant to be registered with MRI). Full ERA applications are then due internally in the Office of Research Services no later than August 5, 2017 and will be reviewed by the Lakehead University Senate Research Committee (SRC) to determine which application(s) will be submitted to the ERA program.

 

Strong Letters of Reference Are Critical to Success

In addition to the required ERA application form and attachments, the application package must include three original signed letters of reference. Letters of reference need to be sent to the Office of Research directly.The letters should address all the Round 13 ERA Evaluation Criteria: Excellence of the Researcher, Quality of the Research, Development of Research Talent, and Strategic Value for Ontario.  Strong reference letters are critical to the success of an ERA application.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the referee letter requirements found in the program guidelines and to communicate this information with the individuals who are writing their letters of reference.  A weak letter or a letter that is too brief (or lacking in detail) will weaken an application.


For More Information
The official call for this program can be found on the MRI website.  The information includes a complete list of ineligible partner contributions, eligible expenses, evaluation criteria, application forms and letter of reference requirements, etc.

Call for Proposals – SSHRC Aid to Small Universities Grant (May 15 deadline)

Lakehead University invites all Lakehead faculty members in the social sciences and humanities to submit applications to the 2017-2018 SSHRC Aid to Small Universities (ASU) institutional program.  The objective of the ASU program is to enable small universities to develop and strengthen focused research capacity in the social sciences and humanities.

Lakehead continues to focus its long-term goal and development plan for the social sciences and humanities on strengthening our capacity to undertake collaborative and community-engaged research that is focused on socio-economic issues of relevance to our region and Canada.  The 2017-2018 ASU grant will support one-year research initiatives aligned with our SSHRC ASU Development Plan Strategy, namely to:

  • Support the establishment of new interdisciplinary groups and research centres (to be approved by Senate);
  • Facilitate the creation of interdisciplinary research clusters and groups for the purposes of applying to SSHRC’s partnership development and partnership programs;
  • Facilitate research partnerships with community-based organizations, international partners and other academic institutions nationally and internationally;
  • Provide increased opportunities for training of graduate students with opportunities to participate in community-engaged research and international projects;
  • Disseminate new knowledge relating to northern and regional development and the impact of globalization.

For more information, click here.

SSHRC Grant Application Enhancement Program 2017

The Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation at Lakehead University is pleased to announce the continuation of the SSHRC Grant Application Enhancement Program. This program is designed to encourage and support researchers at Lakehead University to begin preparation of their SSHRC applications well in advance of the internal deadline (two 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.

For program information, click here.

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