discovery grants workshop university of saskatchewan june 13, 2005
TRANSCRIPT
DISCOVERY GRANTS WORKSHOP
University of Saskatchewan
June 13, 2005
AGENDA Discovery Grants (DG)
• Program information
• Selection criteria
• Tips on application preparation
Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) NSERC Budget 2005-2006 Questions & Discussion
DG Program Information
Recent changes
• Grant duration – 5 years
• HQP reporting
Name Type of HQP
Training
Years supervised or co-supervised
Title of project or
thesis
Present position
Consent Received from Marie Roy
Roy, Marie
Masters (completed)
Supervised
1997-1999
Isotope geochemistry in petroleum engineering
V-P (research), Earth Analytics
Inc., Calgary, AB
Consent Not obtained from Marie Roy
(name withheld)
Masters (completed)
Supervised
1997-1999
Isotope geochemistry
Research executive in petroleum
industry – Western Canada
Application forms
Form 180: Intent to apply
• NEW Deadline: August 1st
Form 100: Personal Data
Form 101: Application
• Deadline: November 1st
Intent to Apply (Form 180)
Suggest GSC
Summarize proposed research
Recommend external referees
List contributions (last 6 years)
DEADLINE AUGUST 1st
Discovery Grant application preparation
DG Selection criteria
Excellence of researcher(s)
Merit of proposal
Training of highly qualified personnel
Need for funds
FORMS 100 & 101
FORM 101Merit of the proposal
Excellence of the researcher(s)
Training of HQP
Need for funds
DG Selection Criteria
Personal Data (Form 100)
Training Sources of support Five most significant contributions Other research contributions Impact of research Delays in research activity
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1st
Application (Form 101)
Research summary in plain language
Realistic budget
Relationship to other research funds
Progress report
Position the research within the field
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1st
Application (Form 101, cont’d)
Short- and long-term objectives
Detailed methodology
Training
Address previous GSC comments
DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1st
Merit of the Proposal Originality / innovation
Significance / expected contribution to research
Clarity and scope of objectives
Clarity and appropriateness of methodology
Feasibility of program
FORM 101
Excellence of Researcher(s) Knowledge, expertise and experience
Contribution to research
Importance of contributions
Complementarity of expertise and synergy (team)
100 & 101
Training of HQP
Quality / extent of contributions
Appropriateness of proposed work for training
Training environment
100 & 101
Need for Funds Appropriateness and justification of budget
Other sources of funding• Availability
• Relationship to current proposal
Special needs
100 & 101
Selection Criteria: Additional Considerations
• New applicants
• Collaboration
• Interdisciplinarity
• Applied science
• Chair holders (IRC, Canada Research Chairs)
• Adjunct / Emeritus Professors
Discovery Grant Application Tips
Write summary in plain language Provide a progress report on related research Position the research within the field Articulate short-and long-term objectives Provide a detailed methodology
FORM 101
DG Application Tips (cont’d) Describe plans for training Prepare realistic budget Discuss any relationship to other research
support Address previous GSC comments or external
referee reports (if applicable)
FORM 101
A Complete Grant Application
Application (Form 101) with supporting documentation Personal Data (Form 100) for applicant and ALL co-
applicants Samples of research contributions Environmental Assessment
Must include:
FORM 101 FORM 100
2005 Discovery Grants Competition Results
Disciplines
First Time Applicants Returning Applicants
Appl.(#)
Success(%)
Avg. Grant
($)
Appl.(#)
Success (%)
Avg. Grant ($)
Life Sciences 295 50.8 27,102 694 71 34,531
Physical Sciences 195 70.8 30,871 485 79.4 38,023
Math, Stats 77 85.7 13,500 203 85.2 17,746
Computer Science 72 79.2 20,245 197 88.3 27,274
Engineering 223 73.5 22,581 688 77.9 29,019
Interdisciplinary 14 64.3 27,189 27 85.2 25,483
All GSCs 876 66.7 24,518 2294 77.8 31,176
Research Tools and Instruments
RTI categories 1,2 and 3
Category Cost of Equipment Deadline
1 $7,001 to $150,000* October 25
2 $150,001 to $325,000 Moratorium
3 $325,000 and over Moratorium
RTI -1: Equipment Value Limit
• NSERC accepts applications for equipment costs up to $250k but only $150k can be requested from NSERC
• Letters confirming matching funds must be secured at the time of application
RTI Application (Form 101)
Describe research
Justify each item (quotes)
Explain need and urgency
Describe suitability
Indicate impact on training
Other source of funding (letter)
2005 Research Tools & InstrumentsAll RTI RTI for FTAs
DisciplinesAppl.
(#)Success
(%)Funding
($)Appl.
(#)Success
(%)
Life Sciences 444 45.5 8,811,241 73 49.3
Physical Sciences 410 40.7 11,833,961 86 61.1
Math, Stats 15 66.7 445,276 0 0
Computer Science 57 50.9 1,412,111 8 75
Engineering 450 38.0 11,871,414 57 43.9
Interdisciplinary 14 64.3 345,999 1 0
Total for all GSCs 1390 42.3 34,720,002 225 52.9
Discovery$388 - 45.0%
People$272 - 31.5%
Administration$38 - 4.4%
Innovation$165 - 19.2%
NSERC Budget 2005-06(millions of dollars)
Total: $863
Discovery Programs Budget 2005-06 ($M)
Discovery Grants$308.9 - 79.6%
Collaborative Health/Genomics
$4.4 - 1.1%
Research Tools and Instruments$14.0 - 3.6%
Subatomic Physics$21.6 - 5.6%
MFA1
$20.9 - 5.4%
SRO$10.4 - 2.7%
Perimeter Institute$5.0 - 1.3%
Other$3.2 - 0.8%
Total: $388
1. Includes Canadian Light Source funding from NRC ($3M) and Budget 2004 ($1M).
General InformationWeb Site www.nserc.ca
For more specific questions:
Research Grants Division [email protected]
Eligibility of Applicants [email protected]
Research Partnerships Programs [email protected]
Scholarships and Fellowships [email protected]
Use of Grant Funds [email protected]
e-Business [email protected]
Staff first [email protected]
Questions & Discussion