Lakehead University’s Office of Research Services is pleased to again announce  two programs in support of community-engaged research with community organizations, not-for-profit organizations, as well as Indigenous communities and partners. We invite all tenure-track, tenured and three-year limited-term appointment Lakehead faculty members who are eligible to apply to the disciplines supported by SSHRC to submit applications to the 1) Community-Engaged Research Grant (CERG) Program or 2)  Indigenous Research Capacity Development Grant (IRCDG) Program. Applicants are not eligible to submit applications to both programs. 

Community-Engaged Research Grant (CERG) Program Objectives

Community-engaged research is a collaborative process between universities and diverse communities. The goal of such research is to improve community well-being. 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 call will support one-year collaborative research initiatives that are aligned with Lakehead University’s commitment to the Sustainable Economic and Community Development and Entrepreneurship pillar undertaken, in part, with community partners as outlined in the University’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.

Indigenous Research Capacity Development Grant (IRCDG) Program Objectives

The Indigenous Research Capacity Development (IRCD) Grant Program highlights Lakehead University’s ongoing commitment to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls for Action and Universities Canada Principles on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous Education. This initiative will also support funding for one-year collaborative research initiatives that are aligned with Lakehead University’s commitment to Social Responsibility and Community Engagement with Indigenous Partners as outlined in the  2025-2030 Strategic Plan.   

For both of these calls, Lakehead University will provide total funding of $125,000 for the following types of research initiatives:

1.    Research funds to support community-engaged research where there is evidence of an existing partnership with a community organization or Indigenous community (up to $15,000 over one year).

or

2.   Partnership development seed funds to support planning activities with new community partners and/or Indigenous Communities, including travel, meetings, workshops, etc. (up to $7,500) over a one-year period).

Please note that research grants must be completed, and all funds spent by March 31, 2027. Successful applicants must commit to completion of a final report within 30 days of completion of the project; the Office of Research Services will provide successful grantees with the Romeo Internal Grant final report template.

Funding for these research initiatives is made possible through the SSHRC Institutional Grant (SIG) Supplement program; the objective of the SSHRC SIG Supplement grant is to enable small universities to develop and strengthen focused research capacity and excellence in the social sciences and humanities in accordance with the University’s development plan. 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.

Research Centres and Institutes and researchers funded previously through the previous SSHRC Aid to Small Universities CERG and/or IRCDG 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 prior to the deadline date for this current call.

Eligibility: Tenure-track, tenured or 3-year LTAs are eligible to apply for this program. 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 4:30 PM on March 2, 2026. 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. Every effort will be made to engage Indigenous peoples, community partners and highly qualified personnel in the review process.  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 (Indigenous partner if under the IRCDG), and clarity of alignment between the proposed research and Lakehead University’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan;
• evidence that communities/organizations (Indigenous communities/organizations under the IRCDG) 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 (Indigenous communities under the IRCDG);
• quality of the proposed community-engagement plan;
• appropriateness of the requested budget and justification of proposed costs; and
• an indication of financial or in-kind contributions from community partners (Indigenous partners under the IRCDG) 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 (or Indigenous communities under the IRCDG);
• indication of human, financial and institutional resources available and to be committed;
• where applicable, evidence of outputs and outcomes resulting from previous related funding.
• evidence of community-engagement in formulating the research questions and designing the research methods.

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/700 characters), written in lay language describing the uniqueness and importance of the proposed research program.
• Objectives (500 words/3500 characters) – Describe the short-term objectives of your project for activities to be completed by March 31, 2027 and how the project will contribute to your long-term research plan.
• Project Description – (Before writing your proposal, please consult the evaluation criteria in the call for proposals): Describe specifically what you will do to meet the objectives of your project. (Max 7999 characters).
• Description of Research Team – Describe the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the project team members, including PI, key co-applicants and collaborators. Indicate how each member will support and enhance the proposed partnership and whether the team member has worked with the PI in the past. FOR IRCD APPLICANTS ONLY: Indicate how your proposed project or the work of your proposed team aligns with Chapter 9 of the TCPS2. (Max 3500 characters).
• Community-Engagement Plan (500 words) - Indicate how your proposed project or the work of your proposed team engaged your community partner and/or Indigenous Community in the design of the project and research questions. 
• Budget and budget justification (template in Romeo)
• Letters of support from partners - minimum of one, but limited to three in total (not included in five typed pages)
• SSHRC Canadian Common CV – SSHRC CCV with contributions limited to the past six years. Not included in the five page total.

Should you have any questions about the program, please contact Andrew Hacquoil, Acting Director, Office of Research Services, at ext. 8092 or ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca. If you need assistance with completing the Romeo application, please contact Darren Lampson at research@lakeheadu.ca.