NSERC Grant ReviewingNSERC Grant Reviewing

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada– CIHR– SSHRC

Types of grants– Discovery– Research and Technology Infrastructure (RTI)

Discovery GrantsDiscovery Grants

Formerly known as “Operating grants”

Supports on-going programs of research

5 year duration

Individual / group

RTI GrantsRTI 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 CommitteesGrant 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 CommitteesGrant 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 12GSC 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 Maybe not GSC 12 (or even NSERC)(or even NSERC)Basic physiologySocial cognitionMotor controlMedical problemsQuantitative issuesThe eye

Timeline for Timeline for Researchers/GSCsResearchers/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 Timeline for Researchers/GSCsResearchers/GSCs December

– Grants distributed (Merry Christmas!) January

– External reviews arrive (in batches….) February

– GSC meeting March

– Applicants notified of decisions April

– Funding starts

Workload/ExpertiseWorkload/Expertise

1 GSC member in the 2004 competition

Discovery grants– R1: 13– R2: 13– Reader: 69– Consultant: 1

RTIs– R1: 7– Reader: 13

Tip #1Tip #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 criteriaDiscovery grant evaluation criteria

Excellence of researcherMerit of the proposed researchNeed for fundsContributions to training

Overall score 0-4, funding recommendation

Excellence of the researcherExcellence 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 researchMerit of proposed research Originality

Anticipated significance

Potential for dissemination

Innovation

Clarity and scope of objectives

Discussion of relevant issues

Methodology

Feasibility

Need for fundsNeed 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 trainingContributions 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 togetherPutting 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 criteriaRTI 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)Excellence of researcher(s)

Caliber of applicant/users

Relevant experience

Ability to exploit equipment

Merit of programsMerit of programs

Quality of research program(s)

Recent track record

Potential for major advances

Need and urgencyNeed 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 trainingImpact on HQP training

Accessibility

Potential for training

Putting it all togetherPutting 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 #2Tip #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 #3Tip #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 #4Tip #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 #5Tip #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 #6Tip #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 #7Tip #7

Have fun!!

– Provides a great opportunity to think about

where your work is going

– Helps solidify ideas

– Doesn’t constrain youNSERC Discovery grants fund on-going research

programmes, not specific projects

Little institutional memory

Flexibility leads to creativity