Internal Funding Programs

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Program Purpose

The purpose of the University of Toronto Scarborough Research Competitiveness Fund (RCF) is to enhance the competitiveness of new external operating grant applications submitted by University of Toronto Scarborough faculty members, with an emphasis on Tri-council grant applications. Applications will be adjudicated by members of the U of T Scarborough Research Advisory Board according to the Selection Criteria outlined in the Guidelines below. Preference will be given to those proposals that show scientific/scholarly merit, demonstrate need and have strong potential to generate external support. Normally, the funds awarded will be in the $5,000-$10,000 range for individual applicant proposals. This Fund is not intended to provide continuous support for on-going research, nor as support for infrastructure or equipment, nor as bridge funding for already submitted external applications for which the outcome is not yet known.

Guidelines

1. Full-time U of T Scarborough faculty members eligible to submit Tri-council research grant applications (e.g. CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC) may apply to this Fund. In the case of a group application, a U of T Scarborough faculty member must be the lead applicant.
2. There is one submission deadline per year:
   • November 1 - The submission deadline will be the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday.
3. Frequency of Application: Previous Research Competitiveness Fund recipients will be ineligible to reapply for a period of 24 months following receipt of an RCF award unless they meet one of the following conditions:
   • The final report from the previous RCF award has been submitted
   • The application is a multi-investigator initiative in which they are not the lead applicant
   • The application is for an entirely different purpose
4. The Applicant must justify the request for funding. Eligible activities may include:
   • Short-term support for early stage research leading to the future submission of a specific external sponsor application. This may include a provision of funds for student training opportunities to assist a faculty member in enhancing their highly qualified personnel (HQP) training record to become a more competitive applicant to an external grant program (e.g. undergraduate student research assistantships). Applicants must be able to complete the work proposed prior to the sponsor’s deadline.
5. Selection Criteria:
   • Excellence of the applicant:
     • Experience of the applicant relative to career stage and discipline
     • Quality, quantity and significance of past research activity and published output relative to career stage
   • Quality of the proposed research project:
     • Significance and expected contributions to research
     • Appropriateness and feasibility of the approach
     • Appropriateness of, and justification for, the budget
   • Benefits of the proposed contribution from the RCF to the competitiveness of the proposed research activity
6. Certifications: University certifications for research using human subjects, animal subjects, or biohazards are required. Certifications need not be appended at the time of application; however, funding will not be released until confirmation of the necessary certification is received by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research.
7. Successful recipients will be advised of fund transfer arrangements in the award letter.
8. Acknowledgement: Support from the RCF should be acknowledged in any research output arising from this award.
   • Report: Recipients must submit a final report of one to two pages in length describing what was accomplished and how the funds were expended. Final reports are to be submitted to the Research Operations and Financial Officer no later than November 15th of the year following the November 1st competition.
9. These guidelines are subject to periodic review.

How to Apply

A complete RCF application package includes:

1. Completed and signed RCF Cover Sheet. 
2. Proposal: 2 pages maximum, in clear non-specialist language, under these headings:
   • Background/Summary
   • Hypothesis/aims
   • Research methods and materials
   • Impact
   • Rationale – how the funds will be used for the purpose(s) of the request as identified, (e.g. institutional contribution, partnership, early stage, etc.)
   • Itemized budget and justification (1-page maximum)
   • A description of the lead applicant’s most significant research contributions related to the RCF proposal (half page maximum)
   • Lead applicant’s up-to-date personal data form/CV
   • Co-applicants’ up-to-date personal data forms/CVs in the case of collaborative proposals

Application Submission

Please convert your complete application package to PDF format and forward it electronically in one attachment to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca. If you have any questions in regards to the RCF competition, please contact researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca.

Purpose

The University of Toronto Scarborough (U of T Scarborough) Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to provide outstanding recent doctoral students advanced training in their field of study. These fellowships are not discipline-specific, but rather can be held in any department or research unit across U of T Scarborough (http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/academic-departments-and-programs). Applicants must secure sponsorship of a supervisor (or supervisors) from the professoriate at U of T Scarborough.

Eligibility to Apply

1. Applicants must have recently (normally within two years) been awarded a PhD or equivalent degree.  Any special circumstances including sick or parental leaves will be taken into consideration. 

2. Applicants cannot currently hold a tenure-track or continuing faculty position at a college or university.

3. Applicants can be citizens of any country, and from any university. Successful international candidates must meet all Canadian immigration requirements.

4. Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents must have completed all of the requirements for their doctoral degree no later than six months after their start-date of the Fellowship. International applicants must have completed all of the requirements for their doctoral degree before the start date of the Fellowship.

       NB: Completion does not mean convocation, but rather the completion of all the requirements necessary to receive their doctorate.

5. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Value and Duration

Each award will provide $45,000 (plus benefits) per year for a maximum of two years and are tenable only at U of T Scarborough. Both fully funded and partially funded fellowships are available. Fully funded fellowships will provide $45,000 (plus benefits) per year. Partially funded fellowships require supervisors and/or units to contribute half the stipend ($22,500) plus benefits per year. Supervisor and/or unit contributions to a partially funded fellowship must be paid from an account held at UTSC, as the primary research site for the Postdoctoral Fellows is on the UTSC campus. Supervisors can supplement the fully funded and partially funded fellowship stipends with additional funding, so the total amount paid to the postdoctoral fellow may exceed $45,000 (plus benefits).

1. Fully funded fellowships or a combination of fully and partially funded fellows awarded will normally be dedicated to applicants from each of the disciplines including the physical and life sciences, social sciences and humanities disciplines.

2. Applicants can apply for a fully funded fellowship, a partially funded fellowship, or indicate a willingness to accept either.

3. Given the competitive nature of the program, faculty can only support ONE Postdoctoral Fellow application each year.

4. While U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Fellows may not concurrently hold another postdoctoral fellowship, Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent resident applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the appropriate NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR postdoctoral fellowship in addition to applying for a U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Application Process

The application deadline is November 1 (should that date fall on a weekend or public holiday, the submission deadline will be the next business day), with start dates for the postdoctoral fellows no earlier than March 1, and no later than November 1, of the year following application. Incomplete applications or late submissions will not be considered.

Decisions will be made in February, and successful applicants will have two weeks from the time the decisions are announced to accept or decline the fellowship.

Applicant Components:

1. Applicants must submit their CV and a completed U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Fellowship application form (http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/research/internal-funding-programs) in a single PDF document to the Office of the Vice-Principal Research (researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca). Any questions regarding the Postdoctoral Fellowship program should be directed to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

i. The form includes a one-page proposal in which the applicant should describe their proposed research project in clear, non-specialist language suitable for an interdisciplinary audience, highlighting the importance and impact of the research and how it fits into their academic/professional goals. Reference lists or bibliographies are not necessary for the proposal.

2. Applicants must arrange for their proposed supervisor(s) to send their completed U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Supervisor form to the Office of the Vice-Principal Research (researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca).

i. Proposed supervisor(s) must have a tenure-track or tenured (primary) appointment at U of T Scarborough.

NB: Only applications that have the U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Supervisor form submitted by the deadline will be considered.

Supervisor Components:

1. Supervisor(s) must have a tenure-track or tenured (primary) appointment at U of T Scarborough.

2. The primary research site for the Postdoctoral Fellows is on the UTSC campus.

3. Supervisors must submit by November 1 (should that date fall on a weekend or public holiday, the submission deadline will be the next business day), a completed U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Supervisor form (http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/research/internal-funding-programs) to the Office of the Vice-Principal Research (researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca). Please include name of Postdoctoral fellow on the subject line of the email. Any questions regarding the Postdoctoral Fellowship program should be directed to Michael Manley by email (researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca).

i. Prior to its submission, the form must be signed by the Chair or Director of the supervisor’s unit. Co-supervision requires signatures of the Chairs and/or Directors from the units of all supervisors.

4. In the space provided on the form, the proposed supervisor(s) are expected to comment, in clear, non-specialist language suitable for an interdisciplinary audience, on the applicant’s research potential, the quality of the proposed research, the research environment and resources that will be available to the applicant, and how the fellowship will advance the applicant’s career development.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed based upon the following criteria:

1. Excellence of the applicant:

i. Experience of the applicant relative to career stage and discipline

ii. Quality, quantity and significance of past research activity and published output relative to career stage

iii. The ability of the fellowship to advance the applicant’s career development

2. Quality of the proposed research project:

i. Significance and expected contributions to research

ii. Appropriateness and feasibility of the approach

3. Environment for the Research

i. Suitability/sufficiency of the research environment and available resources at UTSC   

Selection Process

Departmental Chairs and Directors will be asked to rank applications from their department based on the selection criteria above. The recommended candidates will be provided to the UTSC Research Advisory Board (RAB) for consideration.  Sub-committees of RAB will be organized by discipline to assess applications. The full RAB will meet to evaluate and recommend top candidates.

Other Important Information

1. Please consult the information regarding postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Toronto on the website of the School of Graduate Studies (https://postdoc.sgs.utoronto.ca).

2. Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is governed by the terms of the CUPE Unit 5 Collective Agreement (http://agreements.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/#CUPE3902_Unit5). As such, the U of T Scarborough Postdoctoral Fellowships are posted in accordance with the CUPE Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

Competition Results

Results of the competition will be made available in February 2020 and will be e-mailed to the Supervisors by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research (OVPR). Successful applicants will have two weeks from the time the decisions are announced to accept or decline the fellowship.  Individual scores/rankings cannot be provided, but if reviewers provide comments in their adjudication documents, that feedback can be shared with applicants upon request.

Post-Award Details

Funding: The Postdoctoral Fellowship award will be transferred to the UTSC Supervisor’s commitment fund centre (CFC).  

Final Report: UTSC Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients must submit a 1-2 page final report, describing what was accomplished and impact of the research to the Office of the Vice-Principal Research after the two-year fellowship has been expended. 

Acknowledgment: The UTSC affiliation of researchers and support from the OVPR should be acknowledged in any research outputs arising from this award.

Contact & Resources

For information regarding the selection process, please contact researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

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Program Purpose

Each Working Group will be led by at least one University of Toronto Scarborough research stream faculty member. Senior U of T Scarborough undergraduates, faculty from other University of Toronto divisions or other universities along with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students may be involved.

Guidelines

The Group will work towards common scholarly and research goals identified and intended to tackle specific topics of interest. Activities of the Working Group may include but are not limited to readings and discussion of papers; field trips to collections or archives; collaborative research, publication, or grant applications; or hosting distinguished visitors. Interdisciplinary or discipline specific proposals are welcome. The U of T Scarborough campus will be the host site of activity for the Working Group, but some events may be held at other locations if appropriate.

Working Groups are funded for one (1) year, with the possibility of renewal. Working Groups may be linked to other conferences or seminars. Up to three (3) Working Groups may be sponsored each academic year, each receiving $3,000. Applications will be reviewed by members of the U of T Scarborough Research Advisory Board.

How to Apply

         A complete application package includes the following material:

1. Proposal: 2 pages maximum (single space, 12pt New Times Roman), in clear non-specialist language, under these headings:
   • Description of research and scholarly activity to be undertaken by the Working Group, including aims and outcomes of the Working Group
   • Organization and leadership for the Working Group
   • Timetable of events and activities for the year
2.  List of participants in the Group and their affiliations, which can include anticipated participants (1 additional page maximum for the participant table) with the following columns:
   • Name
   • Affiliation
   • Faculty/ Postdoc/ Grad Student/ Undergraduate 
3. Itemized budget and justification (additional 1-page maximum)

Important Dates

Applications are due by December 1. The submission deadline will be the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday.

Application Submission

Please submit proposals in one pdf to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca.

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Program Purpose

The purpose of the University of Toronto Scarborough Research Impact Fund (RIF) is to provide financial assistance to University of Toronto Scarborough research faculty members to support the presentation or publication of research results in high quality venues and to enhance the profile of U of T Scarborough in the scholarly community.

Applications will be reviewed by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research according to the Selection Criteria outlined in the Guidelines below.

This Fund is intended to reimburse the costs associated with faculty presentation of U of T Scarborough research at research conferences or defray the cost of publication of U of T Scarborough research in peer-reviewed literature. In situations in which applicants are ranked equally, preference will be given to junior faculty.  

Award Value

The RIF will reimburse up to a maximum of $500/calendar year for each successful applicant.

Guidelines

1. Individuals holding full-time continuing academic appointments (tenured or tenure-track) at the U of T Scarborough with explicit research expectations are eligible. Individuals holding full-time non-tenured or otherwise contractually limited appointments at the U of T Scarborough are eligible provided the terms of the appointment explicitly include the expectation of independent research and the supervision of graduate students. The U of T Scarborough faculty member must be the presenter and/or senior/corresponding author. Teaching stream faculty members are not eligible for this program.  
2. Eligible activities are those conferences/publications that occur in the six months following the applicable submission deadline and in which the affiliation with the U of T Scarborough is clearly indicated.  
3. There will be two submission deadlines per year:
   •  January 15 - The submission deadline will be the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday. 
   •  July 1 -  The submission deadline will be the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday. 
4. The applicant must justify the request for funding. Activities eligible for reimbursement include:
   • Support for attendance at high impact research conferences at which the applicant is a presenter
   • Support for publication costs (including open access options) in high impact literature appropriate to the applicant’s area of research for which the applicant is the senior/corresponding author
5. Selection Criteria:
   • Appropriateness of the conference/publication
   • Enhancement of U of T Scarborough’s profile in the scholarly community
   • Enhancement of the faculty member’s research record
   • Need for funds   
6. Successful applicants will be notified by the Assistant to the Vice-Principal Research regarding the process for reimbursement of the conference/publication costs.  
7. Awards will be approved for reimbursement in advance of the activity. Actual reimbursement can be done by Journal entry or Expense Reimbursement form accompanied by original receipts as well as confirmation of acknowledgment of U of T Scarborough affiliation in the publication or presentation (e.g. conference program page, abstract, first page of the publication, etc.). The documents must be submitted after the expense has been incurred in order to be reimbursed.  
8. These guidelines are subject to periodic review.

How to Apply

Complete the one page RIF application form addressing the following points:

• How the conference/publication is the most appropriate venue for the communication of the research
• The impact of the research presentation/publication on the discipline
• The impact of the research presentation/publication on the U of T Scarborough’s profile in the scholarly community
• The impact of the research presentation/publication on the applicant’s research profile
• Why the funds are needed

A complete RIF package includes:

• A completed and signed RIF application form
• The applicant's up-to-date personal data from CV 

Please convert your application package to PDF format and forward it electronically in one attachment to the attention of Kristine Peruzzi to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca. A scanned copy of the signed application form is permitted. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

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Background

The Office of the Vice-Principal Research (OVPR) consulted with UTSC Chairs and Directors (CAD) and the UTSC Research Advisory Board (RAB) during the spring of 2018 to identify new funding initiatives that aim to stimulate and support research activities across the diverse academic disciplines at UTSC. Based on feedback provided, the OVPR proposed a new UTSC Departmental Research Fund.

The Fund provides Chairs and Directors an opportunity to request funding within one of the following funding envelopes available: (1) $100,000 or (2) $30,000. Up to a maximum of three $100,000 requests and a maximum of three $30,000 requests will be awarded. Requests can be made to support one or more of the following initiatives based on departmental research priorities. There was general consensus from the CAD and RAB meetings that the below funding initiatives would benefit diverse research ambitions across departments.

Funding Initiatives

        1.  Research to Knowledge Mobilization and Commercialization (R2K) 

Funding to support proposals that move research to community impact or product development. These funds can include partnering meetings, community events, hiring staff to commercialize products, and so on. Researchers should be encouraged to identify if there is an opportunity to leverage these funds for partnership granting programs.

        2.  Interdisciplinary Challenge Fund (ICF)

Funding to support interdisciplinary proposals. The research must explicitly use expertise from distinct disciplines to create new understanding or solutions to address societal, technological, or environmental problems. Proposals can be within the same department or across two or more UTSC departments. Proposals should identify potential funding programs to help grow the interdisciplinary project.

        3.  Research Infrastructure and Equipment Fund (RIEF)

A pool of funds for faculty to purchase new or replace faulty or obsolete equipment (for faculty that were unsuccessful applying for an NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant the year prior), or to service or repair existing equipment.

        4.  Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunity (USRO)

Funding to support undergraduate summer research experience by providing funding to outstanding undergraduate students to work on faculty research projects. The University of Toronto Research Excellence Awards program guidelines should be used to administer this opportunity.

How to Apply

1. Chairs or Directors are asked to submit a memo (maximum of three pages) to the OVPR outlining

      2.  The submission deadline is February 15 (should that date fall on a weekend or public holiday, the submission deadline will be 5pm the next business day). Funding requests should be sent to (researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca). Any questions regarding the Departmental Research Fund should be directed by email to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca)

Accountability

A brief final report (maximum of two pages) describing what was accomplished with the Departmental Funds including the outcomes and impact of the funding on faculty research in the department/centre. The final report is due February 15 of the year following the competition. Should February 15 fall on a weekend or public holiday, the submission deadline will be 5pm the next business day). The report should be sent by email  to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

DETAILED PROGRAM GUIDELINES

CRCP LETTER OF INTENT FORM

The Collaborative Research Consortium – An EaRTH Initiative

The EaRTH Initiative aims to develop collaborative projects with industry and government partners in the eastern GTA including Scarborough, Durham Region, and Peterborough. It will explore synergies that can strengthen and enhance the Canadian clean technology sector, and provide increased opportunities for economic development that will foster the creation of highly skilled jobs and support the transfer of knowledge to society. The Initiative includes shared research facilities, joint research projects, and collaborations on teaching and learning.

2021 Call for Joint Research Proposals

The University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario Tech University, Centennial College and Trent University are contributing matching funds to support collaborative research initiatives through a joint call for proposals. The overall aim of the fund is to provide initial seed support for the development of high-quality collaborative research projects in areas of mutual strength and shared interest that advance the EaRTH Initiative.

The theme for the 2021 year is Integrated Sustainable Energy Technologies.

This seed funding is available for faculty/staff at the participating institutions to undertake short-term visits to initiate, deepen and extend collaborative research links with the goal of enabling principal investigators to make joint proposals to external funding sources for the next phase of their research. 

Institutional Contacts

Interested faculty with questions about this opportunity should contact their institutional representative, identified below.

UTSC: Suhail Asrar, Research Partnership and Business Development Officer (suhail.asrar@utoronto.ca / 416-208-8172)

Ontario Tech University: Jennifer Freeman, Executive Director, Office of Research Services (jennifer.freeman@ontariotechu.ca / 905-925-9966)

Centennial College: Jonathan Hack, Executive Director, Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services (jhack@centennialcollege.ca / 416-289-5000: Ext. 8152)

Trent University: Christopher Rooney, Director, Office of Research and Innovation (chrisrooney@trentu.ca / 1-855-698-7368: Ext. 7209)

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Program Purpose

The purpose of the University of Toronto Scarborough International Research Collaboration Fund is to provide financial support to U of T Scarborough tenure stream research faculty to establish collaborative relationships with international partners.

Up to $5,000 will be awarded per successful applicant. Up to 6 awards will be given out each academic year with the aim to disperse the awards equitably across the humanities, sciences and social sciences departments at U of T Scarborough. The U of T Scarborough Research Advisory Board comprising of faculty from the humanities, sciences and social sciences departments will adjudicate the applications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to write their applications in clear non-specialist language.

Guidelines

1. Funding will be available to support tenure stream research faculty and/or their graduate student(s) for travel and/or related expenses in the partner country that aim to stimulate research collaboration or the development of joint research projects and/or proposals.  

2. Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to, costs incurred to attend conferences, workshops or research institutes, and including registration fees.  

3. There is one submission deadline per academic year:

• April 1 – The submission deadline will be the next business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday

4. Faculty applicants or their graduate student(s) must be traveling between June 1 of the year the application is submitted and returning by May 30 of the following year.   

5. Complete application package includes:

a) Research Proposal: 500 words maximum, using the following headings in clear non-specialist language:

• Purpose of research: Outline the purpose of the research and the added value created by the international collaboration
• List of Partner(s): Provide a list of partners including names, affiliations and role of partner(s) in proposed research
• Rationale: Describe how the funds will be used for the purpose of the request as identified 
• Sustainability: Provide details on how the research collaboration will be sustained

b) Itemized Budget: Provide an itemized budget and written justification including other confirmed funding sources if applicable (1-page maximum)

6. Please convert your complete application package to PDF format and forward it electronically in one attachment to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.  

7. Selection Criteria: 

• Appropriateness and feasibility of research purpose 
• Potential impact and/or value added of international collaboration 
• Sustainability of research collaboration 
• Appropriateness, feasibility of, and justification for, the budget requested

8. Post-Travel Report: Recipients must submit a brief report (maximum of 500 words) describing activities undertaken during the travel and continued plans for developing and sustaining the international collaboration. The post-travel report should be submitted along with original receipts to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

9. Eligible expenses include transportation, accommodation and other research related expenses. Per diem meal allowances are not eligible. All expenses must be supported with original receipts. Expense eligibility will be in accordance with University of Toronto financial guidelines. Following the travel and the provision of original receipts for expenses, reimbursement will be made by electronic deposit.  

10. Successful recipients will be advised of fund transfer arrangements in the award letter. 

11. Acknowledgement: Support from the U of T Scarborough International Research Collaboration Fund is to be acknowledged in any research output arising from this funding.

DOWNLOAD DETAILED PROGRAM GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM GUIDELINES

INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION FORMS: 

1) NOTICE OF INTEREST (NOI)      

2) PROPOSAL COVER PAGE       

3) BUDGET TEMPLATE     

4) SUGGESTED REVIEWERS

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Clusters of Scholarly Prominence Program (CSPP) is to promote self-sustaining, interdisciplinary, inter-departmental, collaborative clusters of scholarship in areas of established and emerging strength at UTSC and which have a demonstrable capacity to augment UofT’s global standing through prominence in research, creative activity and exceptional learning.

CSPP-supported clusters are expected to generate impactful, transformative research that transcends traditional departmental and institutional boundaries and thereby enables UTSC to create and disseminate new knowledge and innovations that will benefit the citizens of Canada and beyond. The clusters are expected to foster strategic global research alliances such as the VPRI/VPI initiative of Global Research Alliances (see: https://global.utoronto.ca/overview/).

AWARD DETAILS

Proposals can request funding ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 per year. The budget (and funding) does not have to be equal each year of the proposed project as long as expected spending each year is based on the research goals and methodology proposed and justified in the application.  Successful applications will be funded for three years, with the option of applying for an additional two years of funding for those who are assessed to have demonstrated satisfactory progress toward realizing their stated goals. Successful proposals can be awarded full or partial funding.

There will be triannual meetings with the Associate Vice-Principal Research–Strategic Initiatives (UTSC) to discuss progress towards cluster milestones. Following the last of these meeting, a determination will be made as to whether sufficient progress has been made in achieving identified yearly goals to warrant the release of the subsequent year’s funding.

ELIGIBILITY

• Proposed clusters shall consist of between five and 10 members, with representation from at least three UTSC units if the cluster is entirely comprised of UTSC faculty, and at least two UTSC units if it includes members from either/both of the other two U of T campuses.
• Each cluster can have a maximum of two cluster leads. When two cluster leads are named, one must be identified as the “administrative cluster lead”.
• The cluster lead/administrative cluster lead must be a tenure-stream (i.e., not teaching-stream) faculty member with a primary appointment at UTSC.
• Individual faculty can lead only one cluster, and can participate in a maximum of two clusters.
• Members of the adjudication committee (see below) cannot participate in any CSPP application.
• While cluster lead(s) and the majority of cluster members must be faculty whose primary appointment is at UTSC, cluster members may include faculty from the other campuses of U of T.
• Faculty from other postsecondary institutions can be involved in projects undertaken by a cluster, but the primary aim of the programme is to promote and facilitate the establishment of multidisciplinary clusters of expertise at UTSC.

DEADLINE

·       A mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted by May 4th.

·       The deadline for the submission of full proposals is June 15th. 

If either of the above deadlines falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is the next business day.

ADJUDICATION PROCESS

• The adjudication committee will be composed of accomplished external reviewers from the University of Toronto’s St. George and Mississauga campuses and/or other universities/organizations, who have expertise in the area(s) covered by the proposals, and the UTSC Principal, the Vice-Principal – Academic and Dean, the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation (VPRI), and the Associate Vice-Principal Research–Strategic Initiatives (AVPR–SI).
• Each proposal will be assessed based on the evaluation criteria specified in the Detailed Program Guidelines and UofT’s strategic research plan/objectives.

Contact

If you have any questions about this fund, please contact Dr. Suhail Asrar, Research Partnership & Business Development Officer at suhail.asrar@utoronto.ca

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Purpose

The purpose of the UTSC Plots for Research initiative is to provide UTSC tenure stream research faculty and their students an opportunity to carry out research studies on the north side of campus. The research plots are 5m x 5m square plots.

Guidelines

1. Requests for using UTSC Plots for Research will be reviewed by a small committee that will be chaired by the Vice-Principal Research or designate. The committee will include membership from the university including member(s) of the UTSC Plots Steering Committee, Campus Farm Coordinator, representative from the UTSC Environmental Health and Safety Office, relevant departmental Chair(s) and faculty plot users or faculty with relevant expertise.
2. Application deadline will be December 15 and May 1 of each year. Should the deadline date fall on a weekend or public holiday, the submission deadline will be 5pm the next business day. Requests should be sent to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca
3. Complete application package includes the following items. Provide details in clear non-specialist language using the following headings:

1. Personnel

• Name of Principal Investigator
• Researcher(s) directly responsible (Post-docs, students, technicians, etc.) Copy and paste as many entries as necessary:
  • Name:
  • Address:
  • Email:
  • Phone:
  • Name:
  • Address:
  • Email:
  • Phone:

2. Project Details

• Include project title and purpose of research: Outline briefly the purpose of the research to be carried out on plot. Please limit to 100 words.
• How is the research going to be funded: Specify grant or other source of funding
• Is this a new project or continuing work?
• Supply information on methods, impact on land, other uses of the plot, and likely duration of the project. Please limit to 100 words
• Expected starting date and expected completion date
• Describe any risks posed by the project in relation Public Health, Security, Research Ethics, Environmental and Health & Safety (e.g. chemical safety, biosafety, etc.) Standards: Including the use of chemicals, biologicals, radiation, X-ray, Ultraviolet, Electromagnetic frequencies or Laser, imported soil, non-native plants/animals, imported or invasive parasites, invertebrates, genetically-modified plants or organisms and energized equipment. Additionally, including generation of hazardous waste and impact to the environment (e.g. noise, emissions and effluents to air, water or land, etc.). Indicate any compliance efforts you have worked towards with regulatory bodies.
• If your work requires permits, provide details and certify that you have obtained them: Enter N/A if permits are not required

3.  Space and Resource Requirements

• Field space requirements (approximate dimensions in meters): The research plots are 5m x 5m.
• Type of habitat required (e.g. field, pond, forest understory):
• How does your research impact other research being carried on the plots?
• How would your proposed research be impacted by other research being carried on the plots?
• Describe potential impacts, and restoration if necessary: Including tillage, fencing, use of isotopes, biocides, or fertilizers, collection/removal, addition, or moving of organisms (including propagules), and use of genetically modified organisms.
• Other requirements: Logistical support is available for a fee on a limited basis.  If you anticipate such needs, please indicate (enter NONE) if support is not required):
• Are there any on-site storage requirements for equipment, tools etc?
• Any other requested assistance: Use of site equipment, electricity, water delivery, etc.

4. Please convert your complete application package to PDF format and forward it electronically in one attachment to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
5. Selection Criteria:

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

a) The project must:

• Meet all safety and logistical requirements
• Define the funds to achieve and complete proposed research

b) Each submission will be evaluated for:

• The potential impact of the plot use on the applicant’s research program.
• The potential for high quality personnel (HQP) training opportunites at UTSC
• The potential for research output (publications, policy-ready documents, international collaborations, funding leverage).

6. Brief report: Recipients must submit a brief report of one to two pages in length describing accomplishments and how the plots were used. The report should be submitted to the Office of the Vice-Principal Research each year by November 15. The report should be submitted to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca.
7. Acknowledgment: Support from the UTSC Research Plots initiative is to be acknowledged in any research output arising from this support.

Please visit the website of the Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean to download the grant guidelines and application cover sheet.

Program Purpose

The University of Toronto Scarborough Research Grant Enhancement Fund (RGEF) can be used for:

1. Hiring an editor: to assist with the costs of proposal development and editing support for large grants/contracts (>$20,000). A U of T Scarborough faculty member must be the lead applicant. Support from the RGEF for this purpose will normally be limited to up to $500 for individual proposals and $600 for partnership proposals per U of T Scarborough principal investigator. A list of available editors is available from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research. 
2. Preparation support for Awards and Honours Nomination Packages: to assist in the costs for administrative and/or editing support for the preparation of research awards and honours nomination packages. Support will normally be limited to up to $500 per U of T Scarborough nomination package.  
3. Honorariums for proposal reviewers: up to $100 for external peer review of grant proposals with budgets > $20,000.  
4. Hiring assistant for CCV data entry: to provide assistance for the creation of the CCV for Tri-Council funding programs, normally limited to up to $200 per U of T Scarborough faculty member on a one-time-only basis.
5. Large Research Project Planning Support: the Office of the Vice-Principal Research will provide a 2:1 match up to a maximum commitment of $5,000 (department and/or PI must provide a match of $2,500 for a $5,000 match from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research) for planning, development, and coordination of large proposals. Requests must be endorsed by academic Chairs/Directors. 

Application Support

For SSHRC RGEF support, please contact Anika Mifsud; for NSERC RGEF support, please contact Jason Darby

How to Apply

Requests should be made in advance of undertaking the proposed activity. Support for the cost of the activity will be provided on a reimbursement basis subject to prior approval by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research.

To complete your application, Please login to the RGEF Application Portal using your UTORid and Password. 

Download the Sponsorship Request memo in pdf

Request the Sponsorship Request memo in Word by writing to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

Program Purpose

The Offices of the Vice-Principal Research and the Dean & Vice-Principal Academic will jointly decide on the level of support to be provided.  The Office of the Vice-Principal Research is the first point of contact if the sponsorship request is related to an external research conference grant application (e.g. SSHRC Connections Grant).

When considering these requests, the Office of the Vice-Principal Research will give preference to:

• conferences/symposia/workshops that take place at the University of Toronto Scarborough 
• conferences/symposia/workshops that have a clear research benefit to the faculty and/or students at U of T Scarborough 
• contributions toward the travel costs of a keynote speaker, poster sessions, student travel bursaries, best student poster/ presentation awards or other research related activity.

The Office of the Vice-Principal Research is unable to provide support for pedagogical conferences.

Requests from faculty members/ student groups must have the endorsement of their Department Chair or Centre Director and include details on the support the department centre will be providing towards the costs of the event. 

Guidelines

The Offices of the Vice-Principal Research and the Dean & Vice-Principal Academic regularly receives requests for sponsorship and support for events organized by U of T Scarborough faculty members or student groups that enhance the profile of U of T Scarborough in the wider scholarly community. When considering these requests, preference will be given to conferences/ symposia/ workshops organized by U of T Scarborough faculty/ students that take place on the U of T Scarborough campus. 

Eligible Support

• Support from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research: Preference will be given to conferences/ symposia/ workshops that take place at U of T Scarborough and have a clear research benefit to the faculty and/or students at U of T Scarborough. Preference will be given to contributions towards the travel costs of a keynote speaker, poster sessions, student travel bursaries, best student poster/ presentation awards or other research-related activity. The Office of the Vice-Principal Research is unable to provide support for pedagogical conferences.   
• Support from the Office of the Dean & Vice-Principal Academic: Preference will be given to conferences/ symposia /workshops that take place at U of T Scarborough and have a clear academic benefit to the faculty and/or students at U of T Scarborough. Pedagogical conferences are eligible for funding from the Dean. Funds may also be requested for disability accommodation as needed for a particular event.   
• Faculty and students seeking support from either Office must also seek support from other sources for which they may be eligible (e.g. for faculty - SSHRC Connections Grant; e.g. for students - Partnership Fund, SCSU, GSAS).

Procedure

1. Each event must have a sponsor, normally from the host unit. Requests from faculty member/ student groups must have the endorsement of their Department Chair/Centre Director, who will forward the request to the Dean's office or the Office of the Vice-Principal Research.   
2. Requests must include the following information:
   • Overview of the event, including location. 
   • Rationale for support (e.g. how the event is the most appropriate venue for the communication of the research; impact of the event on the discipline; impact of the event on U of T Scarborough's profile in the scholarly community). If the event is not being held at U of T Scarborough, please address this in the rationale. 
   • Involvement of U of T Scarborough faculty/ students 
   • Specific details on the needed U of T Scarborough sponsorship, including a rationale for the need and identification of costs.   
3. Requests will be evaluated using the following criteria:
   • Appropriateness of the event, with specific reference to the department's academic plan and/or U of T Scarborough's Strategic Plan
   • Enhancement of U of T Scarborough's profile in the scholarly community 
   • Need for Funds   
4. The Vice-Principal Research and the Dean & Vice-Principal Academic will jointly decide on the level of support to be provided.   
5. The decision will be communicated to the Department Chair/Centre Director under the signature of the Vice-Principal Research and Dean.   
6. Payment of Support: Transfer to U of T conference account or by expense reimbursement depending upon the nature of the sponsorship
7. The sponsorship of both Offices will be acknowledged on all conference advertising (print, website, etc.).   
8. Report: Recipients must submit a report of one to two pages in length describing what was accomplished and how the funds were expended to the Dean's office or the Office of the Vice-Principal Research no later than two months after the event. Please include information on the impact of the U of T Scarborough support as well as a breakdown of conference attendance number (U of T Scarborough, St. George, International) in order for the Offices of the Vice-Principal Research, and of the Dean & Vice-Principal Academic to assess the impact of their support. 

For any further questions or concerns, please email researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

Please submit your Sponsorship request to researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca. Your application will be confirmed by the Office of the Vice-Principal Research.

Download Guidelines in pdf

Download Guidelines in Word

Program Purpose

Conditions

• Bridge funding is available only for PIs who have full-time research faculty appointments in UTSC departments. Faculty and researchers holding teaching or graduate-only appointments, other types of cross-appointments, or emeritus faculty, are not eligible.
• Applicant must commit to responding to reviewer feedback.
• Applicants must re-apply within the next two Tri-Agency program deadlines. An application to another Tri-Agency Research Council is permitted (e.g. CIHR to NSERC, or NSERC to SSHRC).
• Applicant must commit to submitting their proposal for peer review and/or OVPR review.

Funding and Deadlines

• Department Chairs or Directors are expected to coordinate Bridge Funding within their units and to communicate requests to the OVPR.
• Bridge Funding levels will depend on the grant amount requested in the Tri-Agency proposal and the number of unsuccessful proposals meeting the Bridge Funding eligibility criteria in the given year.
• Applicants can only be eligible for one Bridge Funding opportunity per year.
• As long as the total of all requests for Bridge Funding in a given year does not exceed the total budget available, all eligible proposals will receive bridge funding.
• Funding levels will be communicated to departments and PIs, and funds transferred to PI account.
• Note that funds are limited and availability will be confirmed year-to-year.

Application Process

• Upon receiving results from Tri-Council competitions, Department Chairs and the OVPR will communicate to identify eligible faculty members.
• Department Chairs or Directors will confirm that eligible faculty members wish to be considered for funding.
• Funding levels will be communicated to departments and PIs, and funds transferred to PI account.

Contact

If you have any questions about this fund, please contact researchoffice.utsc@utoronto.ca

The Connaught programs are open to emerging and established scholars across disciplinary, career stage, geographic, and sectoral boundaries. Full program details and application materials can be found on the Connaught website.

Questions may be addressed to connaught.secretariat@utoronto.ca or 416-978-3211.

The mandate of the UofT Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) portfolio is to seed, launch and sustain large-scale interdisciplinary strategic research networks with scholars from multiple units and divisions; meaningful tri-campus representation; the potential for high impact scholarship and training; and the potential to secure external funding. The portfolio coordinates university-wide and divisional resources to support two main activities.

1.       Seeding and building potential initiatives

2.       Supporting large-scale research initiatives

General Inquiries, Institutional Strategic Initiatives Office: strat.initiatives@utoronto.ca

UTSC OVPRI Contact: Suhail Asrar

The Major Research Project Management (MRPM) Fund is an initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of U of T led research funding applications, and to ensure the effective administrative oversight of the project, enabling faculty members to focus on research.

More information

DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM

The Joint EMHSeed and XSeed is an interdivisional research funding program designed to promote multi-disciplinary research and catalyze new innovative partnerships between a coPI from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE) and a coPI from outside Engineering. Partner divisions for these programs are:

1. For EMHSeed: Temerty Faculty of Medicine (FoM), UofT Affiliated Hospitals, Medicine by Design (MbD), Translational Biology and Engineering Program (TBEP)
2. For XSeed: Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS), University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), as well as other UofT Divisions.

Submission process:

Applications including all supporting documents are due by email to vdr@engineering.utoronto.ca by 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Please include the term Joint Seed in the subject line. A list of past EMHSeed and XSeed projects is also available on FASE intra-net that is accessible with your UTORid and password: https://hub.engineering.utoronto.ca/research-services/fase-call-for-proposals/

Submissions should include the following: 1) completed application form (attached), 2) letters of support confirming cash contributions from each of the collaborating departments/institutes, 3) CVs of co-PIs. Please limit your CV to 3 pages.

Adjudication process:

An adjudication committee composed of representatives from Partner Divisions will review proposals received by the submission deadline against program criteria. Decisions will be reported by the end of April 2021.

Reporting:

A final report must be completed and will be due upon the completion of the project.