Office of Research Services Internal Grants Program 2012

Office of Research ServicesInternal Grants Program 2012 September 4, Waterloo September 10, Brantford September 12, Waterloo www.wlu.ca/research/internalgrants

Office of Research Services The Office of Research Services supports the growth and expansion of research and scholarly activity at Laurier. Our goal is to assist researchers in obtaining the resources necessary for pursuing their scholarly activities. The office provides assistance to faculty at all stages of applying for and administering research funding.

Internal Grants - Purpose • Establish/enhance credibility of researchers: • Provide seed funding to generate initial data for analysis. • Encourage dissemination through conferences, workshops, scholarly/creative publications.

Internal Grants - Purpose • To support research that might not be funded otherwise: • Research topics that “fall between the cracks”. • Innovative, cutting-edge research that might be considered too risky by discipline-based peer review committees.

Internal Grants - Eligibility • All tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to apply for any internal grant. • Limited-term faculty are eligible for Short Term Grants if: • They have completed all the requirements for the PhD or terminal degree in their field. • They are not within their final term of employment at Laurier. • For equipment grants, they may only apply with the support of their dean.

Internal Grants – Eligibility • CAS are not eligible for the Internal Grants Program. • However, the 2010-2013 Collective Agreement contained provision for some research funding • Section 27.8, Research Funds: a $25,000 fund to assist CAS with the cost of scholarship, research and creative activities. Maximum grant: $1,500. • Section 27.9, Research Support Grants: equivalent to a one-term undergraduate course stipend (total of 3 available each year).

Internal Grants – Multiple Applications • Double-dipping of funds is not allowed! • Internal applications for the same project submitted to an external agency will be tabled until the results of the external competition are known. • If your projects are different, the onus is on you to explain what the differences are. • Be careful you don’t leave yourself open to the possibility that everyone assumes “the other agency” will fund your project.

Internal Grant – Decision Criteria • When there are too few funds, on what basis does the committee allocate internal grants? • The excellence of the proposal comes first. • Where proposals are relatively equal: • Junior faculty (within 5 years of PhD) are given preference. • Faculty who have received fewer recent internal grants are given preference.

Internal Grants – Research Grants • Research Seed Grants • Deadline: within 6 months of the SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR decision • Amount: $3,000 • Purpose: To support research that will help applicants improve their next application.

Internal Grants – Research Grants • Short Term Research Grants • Deadlines: October 15 and March 1 • Amount: $5,000 • Purpose: To complete small projects or to provide “seed money” to assist in the development of a study that leads to a larger project and a proposal to an external agency.

Internal Grants – Development Grants • Partnership Development Grant • Deadline: October 15 • Amount: $7,500 • Purpose: To facilitate public/private sector research partnerships and increase Laurier’s research profile.

Internal Grants –Development Grants • International Research Development Grant • Deadline: October 15 • Amount: $10,000 • Purpose: To facilitate international research projects and increase Laurier’s international research profile.

Internal Grants – Resource Grants • Research Equipment Grants • Deadline: October 15 • Amount: $6,000 • Purpose: This program supports the purchase of non-disposable equipment which is to be used primarily for research, and for which alternate sources of funding are not available

Internal Grants - Resource Grants • Undergraduate Research Assistantship Grants • Deadline: March 1 • Amount: $6,000 • Purpose: Provides research assistants for full-time faculty; provides undergraduate students with a 4 month research experience.

Internal Grants –Dissemination Grants • Travel Grants • Deadlines: October 15, March 1 • Amount:$1500 • Purpose:To provide travel assistance to faculty presenting papers or posters at scholarly international congresses or workshops or at conferences of international learned societies. • Note: Applications are submitted to dean’s office

Internal Grants –Dissemination Grants • Book/CD Preparation Grant • Deadline: apply any time • Amount: $2,000 • Purpose: For costs incurred in the preparation of a final manuscript of a book (where the book is not designed for the trade market or to be sold principally as a textbook).

Internal Grants – Dissemination Grants • Conference/Workshop Grants • Deadline: apply any time • Amount: $5,000 • Purpose: To support short-term working groups or conferences held at Laurier.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Eligibility • Is your project eligible? • Are you eligible to apply for the grant • Look at details under both “Eligibility” and “General Regulations” on the web site before you apply.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Completeness • Complete all sections of the form with enough detail for the committee to: • understand your project • be convinced of its importance and impact. • Attach all requested documentation. • Fit the required information into the form rather than adding attachments.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Writing Style • Use plain language for the abstract, and try to keep technical or disciplinary jargon to a minimum. • The grants committee is multi-disciplinary – don’t assume they’ll understand your terms. • Make sure the application is free of grammatical errors. • Consider asking a colleague to review the proposal for you. • Be as specific as you can in the components of your proposal.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Publication record • Provide page references and years for publications. • Where possible, indicate who the senior author is on a paper. • If you have a limited publication record, consider providing details of any circumstances that delayed your productivity (e.g. parental leave, illness).

Tips from the Grants Committee • Funding History • For each other grant you hold, provide the title, the amount of the grant, the kind of grant, and the years it covers. • If you are one of multiple applicants, indicate how much is available for your expenses. • Explain how this grant application relates to existing funds or outstanding applications. • Committees will not approve projects where the funding overlaps.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Budgets • Make sure your budget is connected to your methodology. • Make sure it is added correctly. • Use recommended rates for student help and travel. • Provide details in the justification section.

Tips from the Grants Committee • Don’t discount the importance of the application just because it’s an internal grant. • Sparse, sloppy applications make reviewers feel like you don’t value their time and effort. • If something is important, put it in the application. • Don’t leave the committee guessing – they’ll always guess wrong!

Office of Research Services • www.wlu.ca/research • www.wlu.ca/research/internalgrants • Information on eligibility, programs • Application forms • www.wlu.ca/research/researchfinance • Information on student stipends, travel and research expenses

Office of Research Services Internal Grants Program 2012