The Research Support Services (RSS) unit within the Research Services Office supports researchers through the process of finding funding opportunities; creating proposals and budgets; submitting applications; finalizing awards and negotiating agreements; and continues through to setting up accounts for funded research.
Where can I find funding opportunities?
- Office of Research website - Funding Opportunities list
- Research Support Services team produces content related to funding opportunities
- Our aim: effective and timely communication
- What are the requirements for specific funding programs?
- Specific requirements are usually described in the documentation provided by the sponsor, e.g. competition guidelines, request for proposals, application form, instructions, etc.
- These requirements are either listed in the RSS-issued funding opportunities, or available from the sponsor’s website
- As an example, requirements for Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) are described in the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions and the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide
- If an opportunity isn’t listed on RSO website,please email Research Support Services for more information.
How do I apply for funding?
- Who is authorized to apply for and hold research funding?
- Regular, full-time faculty (UGFA) and CARG members
- P&M or other staff with special approval from Dean. Please email Research Support Services for more information
- Plan your application early
- Review program guidelines and instructions
- Download or review forms and templates
- Prepare a realistic budget
- Prepare a proposal based on sponsor’s requirements, or consult RSS Proposal Template
- Check deadlines
- Seek mentorship opportunities
- Successful colleagues or peers may be able to review your ideas and provide feedback
- Mentors may also be able to review drafts of applications, provide critical internal feedback you may wish to incorporate before you “submit”…
- Some colleges have internal review procedures so be sure to ask the Associate Dean Research or College Research Manager of your college
- Connect with sponsors
- Program officers, representatives of funding agencies who are familiar with the process once your application is submitted, are often available
- Program officers at the Tri-Agencies (CIHR, NSERC,SSHRC) can become great sources of feedback for you. Why not take advantage?
- We can help you make contact if you’d like to do so – just ask! Contact the front desk in the Research Services Office (research.services@uoguelph.ca) and you will be put through to someone in RSS for assistance
- Plan time to write, review, re-write
Where can I find information about deadlines?
- There are really 2 types of deadlines
- We refer to the different types as INTERNAL and EXTERNAL
- Do not rely on sponsor’s deadline, which is the EXTERNAL deadline!
- Instead, refer to the internal deadlines posted on RSO website within our funding opportunities or as found in Table 1 of the Minimum Processing Times guidelines
- The internal deadline is the real deadline by which you must have your application complete and submitted
How can I submit to Research Services Office?
- In person to University Centre, Room 437
- Electronically to research.services@uoguelph.ca
- OR-5 Form and why is it required for my proposal?
- You might be wondering, what happens when you submit to the Office of Research?
- Why do you need to submit earlier than the sponsor requires?
- We review your application depending on the opportunity
- More complicated programs = more detailed review
- We recommend any revisions to improve the completeness and/or accuracy of your application
- Once the final version is ready to go, your application can be submitted
- Final submission to sponsor
- In most cases, final submission is the researcher’s responsibility (see below)
- Process varies across opportunities
- Refer to opportunities posted by RSS for more information
- Researcher to submit
- In some cases, once your application has been approved, we let you know
- You pick up your signed application and are responsible for submission
- Research Support Services submits on your behalf
- In other cases, mostly for Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) grants, our office submits your application electronically
- Our “submitting” confirms approval and official endorsement by the University
- At the end of the submission process, we then wait for the sponsor’s decision
What happens when I’m awarded funding, or my project is approved to proceed?
- What documentation do I provide (or is provided by the sponsor) to RSS?
- See major sponsors or internal programs listings
- What agreement templates are recommended?
- How long will I expect to wait for my account to be set up?
- Early account set up
- What happens if my research requires certifications or regulatory approvals?
- Research Ethics Board - for using human participants in research
- Animal Care Services - for using live animals in research
- Biosafety Committee - for using biohazards in research
- Radiation Safety Committee
- Others
What policies do I need to know?
- We see our role as helping you understand which policies might apply to you, and why
- If you have questions at any time, please ask
- There are many policies researchers are required to adhere to
- While we can’t waive policy, we can guide you through it
- We help interpret policy and what it means for you
- The most commonly-referred to policies are:
- Anticipating deadlines
- Applying for funding
- Planning your budget
- Intellectual property
- Publications
Where can I get more information?
- Faculty Information Exchange (monthly seminars on a wide range of topics to support researcher success)
- Office of Research staff in other units
- Regulatory compliance
- Animals
- Human participants
- Biohazards
- Radiation
- Others, e.g. transgenic plants and animals
- Risk management
- Industry liaison and intellectual property management (Research Innovation Office)
- Strategic partnerships (Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance)
- Research communications
- Regulatory compliance
- Office of Research web site - Forms, guidelines, policies and other materials
- Associate Deans Research and College Research Managers
- Other U of G resources
- Research Financial Services (for help with managing funding after receiving a research award)
- Library (for help with data management plans)
- Physical Resources (for help with getting cost estimates and undertaking construction or renovations to research space)