NSERC Discovery Grant Writing Workshop The Basics of a Discovery Grant

Transcription

1 NSERC Discvery Grant Writing Wrkshp The Basics f a Discvery Grant Presenters: Dr. Dug Buchanan, Electrical & Cmputer Eng. Ms. Andrea Craig, Research Grants Officer (NSERC) Special questin-answerers and discussin-participatrs: Dr. Ivan Oresnik, Micrbilgy Dr. Cyrus Shafai, Electrical & Cmputer Eng. Rm E3-262 (Senate Chamber, E.I.T.C.) 22 September 2011, 1:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m.

2 Prgram Vs. Prject The Discvery Grants Prgram supprts nging prgrams f research (with lngterm gals) rather than a single shrt-term prject r cllectin f prjects.

3 Subject Matter Eligibility Fund at NSERC s website: crsng.gc.ca/nserc-crsng/plicies- Plitiques/subjectevalHealthsujetevalSante_eng.asp Be clear early n abut the eligibility f bth the subject matter and yurself

4 Individual Vs. Grup Discvery - Individual Discvery - Team Yu are the sle researcher (with ptential t cllabrate) This grant supprts yur verarching prgram f research Team shuld be a natural partnership f cmplementary expertise Researchers excellence is evaluated and averaged Expected t cntinue in the lng term

5 Changes t the NSERC Discvery Grant Prgram Use headings in yur prpsal: recent prgress, bjectives, literature review, methdlgy, impact HQP Plan Budget Justificatin limited t 2 pages References page maximum has increased frm 1 t 2 Mandatry inclusin f budget & summary pages fr any CIHR r SSHRC grants applied fr r held

6 2009 Changes t the NSERC Discvery Grant Prgram 1 2 Evaluatin Grups Peer Review System 3 3 Equally-Weighted criteria

7 1 Evaluatin Grups The Grant Selectin Cmmittees were replaced by 12 discipline-based Evaluatin Grups: Genes, Cells and Mlecules Bilgical Systems and Functins Evlutin and Eclgy Chemistry Physics Gesciences Cmputer Science Mathematics and Statistics Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering Electrical and Cmputer Engineering Materials and Chemical Engineering Mechanical Engineering

8 2 Peer Review Prcess Members f the Grups will meet in different cmbinatins (based n the match between their expertise and the areas f a subset f applicatins) t frm these sectins. This new prcess is referred t as the cnference mdel. In the cnference review mdel, yur prpsal will be read by FIVE PEOPLE: 2 Assessrs and 3 Readers each with a vte

9 2-Step Review Prcess Excellence f researcher Exceptinal Outstanding Very Strng Strng Mderate Insufficient Funding "Bins" A (L, N, H) B (L, N, H) Merit f prpsal Cntributin t training f HQP Cst f research High Nrmal Lw C (L. N. H) D (L, N, H)... N O P

10 Peer Review Resurces Frequently Asked Questins abut the new structure f cnference review: Rapprts/Cnsultatins/GSCStructure/FrequentlyAske dquestinsabutreview_e.pdf Cmplete Peer Review Manual: CRSNG/Reviewers-Examinateurs/IntrPRManual- IntrManuelEP_eng.asp

11 3 3 Equally-Weighted Criteria Excellence f the Researcher Training f HQP Merit f the Prpsal See handut n DISCOVERY GRANTS MERIT INDICATORS

12 Discvery grants merit indicatrs A rating in any f the three categries f insufficient will result in an unsuccessful applicatin

13 Prpsal cmpsitin Excellence f the Researcher Merit f the Prpsal Training f HQP

14 Checklist fr a Cmplete Applicatin Frm Prpsal FAAF attached All necessary signatures Layman summary f prpsal Budget direct csts Budget justificatin (attachment) Relatinship t ther funding (attachment) Prpsal (5 pg; 8 fr grup) HQP Plan (1 page) References (2 page max)

15 Budget Justificatin Yu must justify the cst f what yu are requesting Ask fr what yu need t carry ut prpsed research Des duble-duty as ften can reveal much abut yur prpsal NSERC set page limit f 2 fr use them fully Salaries / Stipends Equipment Materials Travel Disseminatin Other

16 Relatinship t Other Funding Critical sectin; ften verlked Applicants must clearly describe any relatinship with ther funding surces, cnceptual r financial Applicants wh currently hld, r have applied fr, research supprt frm the Canadian Institutes f Health Research (CIHR) r the Scial Sciences and Humanities Research Cuncil f Canada (SSHRC) must prvide the summary and budget page f these prpsals. CIHR funding must be seen as separate - reviewers will be highly critical f blending f CIHR/NSERC funds Unlimited pages gives the pprtunity t describe supprt f HQP funded by ther surces

17 The 5-Page Prpsal Prvide details n: Recent research prgress related t the prpsal (r attributable t yur previus DG) Objectives shrt- AND lng-term Pertinent literature put yur research int cntext Methds and prpsed apprach Anticipated significance Training t take place Write fr an expert- nn-!expert

18 The 8-Page Prpsal (Team Grant) Same requirements as Individual, but additinal details required: Descriptin f expertise, expected rles & cntributins Discussin f cllabratin amng members Details f team management and structure

19 Highly Qualified Persnnel Varius places t herald yur HQP thrughut yur prpsal: Budget justificatin Relatinship t ther supprt (if apprpriate) Prpsal bdy Frm 100 NSERC highly values training f all types f HQP; MSc & PhD the mst Ensure sufficient representatin; sprinkle details thrughut prpsal Be explicit: wh, ding what What d yu ffer t HQP? What can yu ffer t HQP? Cnsent frm t use HQP persnal inf must be btained

20 The 1-Page* HQP Plan CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRAINING OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL This sectin shuld nly cntain infrmatin pertinent t training plans. Describe the prjects Discuss the pertinence and invlvement f trainees Explain the expected utcmes in terms f cntributin t knwledge Training value f the prpsed prjects WHAT training HQP will get HOW each student will receive this training WHO will deliver the training

21 Checklist fr a Cmplete Applicatin Frm CV PI/C-I Name, Academic Backgrund, HQP Summary Academic, Research, Industrial Experience Supprt : a) held in past 4 years; b) currently held; c) applied fr HQP Persnal Data

22 Checklist fr a Cmplete Applicatin Frm 100 CV (Cntinued) Cntributins (5 pages max, ver 6 years) 1) Mst Significant Cntributins 2) Research Cntributins and Practical Applicatins (i.e. publicatins, etc.) 3) Other Evidence f Impact and Cntributins 4) Delays in Research Activity (if any) 5) Cntributins t the training f HQP

23 NSERC Frm 100 : CV Mdule TIP: The details within yur Frm 100 shuld jive the HQP quantified n the first page shuld match yur detailed list f HQP further in, fr example Fllw guideline instructins clsely Free-frm (frmerly Part II ) 5 sectins t include: Mst Significant Cntributins Research Cntributins Other Evidence f Impact Delays Cntributins t Training f HQP Maximum 5 pages in free-frm sectin

24 NSERC Frm 100 : CV Mdule Mst Significant Cntributins shuld be apprpriate t prpsal; narrative style Include the surce f funding fr each publicatin listed; clarify yur rle if yu are nt PI/crrespnding authr HIGHLIGHT yur HQP authrs NSERC requests blding Reviewers knwn t check funding acknwledgements n publicatins listed Where apprpriate, state value/impact f cntributins explicitly; if an award is prestigius, say s

25 Average Award Amunts and Grup Success Rates 1501 Genes, Cells & Mlecules $36, % 1502 Bilgical Systems & Functins $31, % 1503 Evlutin & Eclgy $30, % 1504 Chemistry $40, % 1505 Physics $33, % 1508 Mathematics & Statistics $14, % 1510 Electrical & Cmputer Engineering $29, % 1511 Materials & Chemical Engineering $26, % Surce:

26 Time fr sme Q&A Thanks fr attending!