NSERC Grant Reviewing Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada –CIHR –SSHRC Types of grants –Discovery –Research and Technology Infrastructure (RTI)

Discovery Grants Formerly known as “Operating grants” Supports on-going programs of research 5 year duration Individual / group

RTI Grants Formerly known as “Equipment grants” Supports the purchase of equipment necessary for research $7,000 - $150,000 –Programs funding higher amounts on hold –CFI 1 year duration Individual / group

Grant Selection Committees 03-Plant biology and food science 04-Chemical and metallurgical engineering 06-Civil engineering 08-Solid earth sciences 09-Environmental earth sciences 12-Psychology: Brain, behaviour and cognitive science 13-Mechanical engineering 14-Statistical sciences 17-Space and astronomy 18-Evolution and ecology 19-Subatomic physics 20-Industrial engineering 21-Interdisciplinary 24-Inorganic-organic chemistry 26-Analytical-physical chemistry 28-Condensed matter physics 29-General physics 32-Cell biology 33-Molecular and developmental genetics 330/331-Computing and information science 334-Communications, computers, and components engineering 335-Electromagnetics and electrical systems engineering 336/337-Pure and applied mathematics 1011-Integrative animal biology

Grant Selection Committees 03-Plant biology and food science 04-Chemical and metallurgical engineering 06-Civil engineering 08-Solid earth sciences 09-Environmental earth sciences 12-Psychology: Brain, behaviour and cognitive science 13-Mechanical engineering 14-Statistical sciences 17-Space and astronomy 18-Evolution and ecology 19-Subatomic physics 20-Industrial engineering 21-Interdisciplinary 24-Inorganic-organic chemistry 26-Analytical-physical chemistry 28-Condensed matter physics 29-General physics 32-Cell biology 33-Molecular and developmental genetics 330/331-Computing and information science 334-Communications, computers, and components engineering 335-Electromagnetics and electrical systems engineering 336/337-Pure and applied mathematics 1011-Integrative animal biology

GSC 12 Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science –Includes: vision, audition, memory, learning, language processing, animal behaviour, physiology (related to behaviour) and more –GSC assignment depends on where the expertise lies

Maybe not GSC 12 (or even NSERC) Basic physiology Social cognition Motor control Medical problems Quantitative issues The eye

Timeline for Researchers/GSCs August –Submit form 180 September –Chair assigns R1 –R1 assigns external reviewers October –Submit forms 100 and 101 November –Chairs meeting (musical GSCs) –Chair assigns R2 and 5 readers

Timeline for Researchers/GSCs December –Grants distributed (Merry Christmas!) January –External reviews arrive (in batches….) February –GSC meeting March –Applicants notified of decisions April –Funding starts

Workload/Expertise 1 GSC member in the 2004 competition Discovery grants –R1: 13 –R2: 13 –Reader: 69 –Consultant: 1 RTIs –R1: 7 –Reader: 13

Tip #1 The easier you make it for the GSC and external reviewers, the better! Easier = read and follow the instructions Easier = suggest appropriate reviewers Easier = use sensible font/spacing Easier = be clear and succinct Easier = remember your audience Easier = put your best foot forward

Discovery grant evaluation criteria Excellence of researcher Merit of the proposed research Need for funds Contributions to training Overall score 0-4, funding recommendation

Excellence of the researcher Knowledge, expertise and experience Quality of, or potential for, contributions Impact on field Complementarity of expertise between group members and synergy (if applicable)

Merit of proposed research Originality Anticipated significance Potential for dissemination Innovation Clarity and scope of objectives Discussion of relevant issues Methodology Feasibility

Need for funds Appropriateness and justification of budget Other sources of funds –Identify overlap Special needs –Reallocations exercises –P2: Animal care and imaging costs –P3: Increased costs of training students

Contributions to training Quality of resulting contributions Trainees’ career progression Training other than graduate students Scope for continued training Training in collaborative and interdisciplinary environment (if applicable) Justification for no training record or no training proposed

Putting it all together Score 0-4 –~2.0 or higher for funding (precise value can vary with the budget) Budget recommendation –Constrained by mini-budgets –Separate funds for NEWS Duration recommendation –5 years (now) normal –Shorter duration in exceptional cases

RTI grant evaluation criteria Excellence and experience of the researcher(s) Merit of programs to be supported Need and urgency Impact on HQP training Overall score 0-4, funding recommendation

Excellence of researcher(s) Caliber of applicant/users Relevant experience Ability to exploit equipment

Merit of programs Quality of research program(s) Recent track record Potential for major advances

Need and urgency Suitability for intended use Impact on program(s) and area of research Need for dedicated equipment Impact of delay if not awarded Cost-effective solution Availability of similar equipment Probable degree of utilization Accessibility to users Availability of technical support if needed Management structure (if relevant)

Impact on HQP training Accessibility Potential for training

Putting it all together R1 + 3 Readers (no external reviewers) Score 0-4 Budget recommendation/partial funding –Constrained by overall budget and total amount requested (the more we ask for, the more we get) –No separate funds for NEWS (but some priority)

Tip #2 Don’t go it alone!! –Look over previous grants (take the stage of the researcher into account) –Have several other people look over your grant –Ask for critical feedback

Tip #3 Read, re-read, and follow the instructions –Each grant is a bit different –Instructions change from year to year –Extra pages/material don’t get seen –Take advantage of the reallocations exercise (if it’s appropriate)

Tip #4 Keep your balance –Proposal needs to balance several factors Discussion of the relevant literature Researcher’s background/recent experience Long and short-range goals Description of planned research (including enough detail to assess originality, scope, feasibility, potential impact, etc.) –With a 5 page limit, it’s a zero-sum game….

Tip #5 Remember (and write for) your audience –7 GSC members (all competent, not all experts) –3 external reviewers (hopefully all experts, but that depends)

Tip #6 Remember yourself! –Grants (necessarily) judged differently at different stages New applicants Returning unfunded First-time renewal Returning renewal –The proposal is always important Level of detail might change Breadth of scope might change

Tip #7 Have fun!! –Provides a great opportunity to think about where your work is going –Helps solidify ideas –Doesn’t constrain you NSERC Discovery grants fund on-going research programmes, not specific projects Little institutional memory Flexibility leads to creativity