Research Services 1
NIPISSING UNIVERSITY
SSHRC Standard Grant
Information session
September 10, 2009Janet Ross
Grant & Scholarship Coordinator
Research Services 2
NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionCharacteristics
Three-year cycle Team and individual applications Program versus Project March 2009 : $78,773,430 was awarded
for 941 research projects Average three-year grant ~$60,000-
80,000 In 2009, success rate was 33%
Research Services 3
NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information Session SSHRC’s objectives
Support high quality independent programs of research
Train future researchers Contribute to
development/elaboration of new theoretical or methodological approaches to research
Assist the communication of research results within and beyond academia
Research Services 4
NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information Session New Scholar Category
Not a principal investigator on a previously awarded Standard Research Grant or Strategic Grant
Completed highest degree less than five years OR Held tenure-track position less than 5 years OR Never had a tenure-track position OR Careers interrupted or delayed for family reasons 40/60 – 40 % record and 60% program
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information Session First Step….
Build CV--show recent, lively research career appropriate to stage of career
Seek seed funding at Nipissing (through SURG/IRG programs)
Do thorough review of area of interest
Disseminate preliminary findings
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionStepping Stone….
Initial research complete (pilot study, preliminary conference or print publication)
Literature review completed Results from previously funded
research Substantial contributions to
discipline, about to be, or recently published
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionHow to Start…
What is my research question?
MUST JUMP OFF THE PAGE MUST CAPTURE COMMITTEE’S
IMAGINATION MUST MAKE SENSE FOR YOUR
PROFILE AND YOUR FIELD
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionHow to Start (2)
Do I have a three-year research program?
MUST HAVE A PLAN AND A SERIES OF OUTCOMES
MUST BE DO-ABLE IN A THREE-YEAR PERIOD
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionPreparation
Invest time in the preparation of your proposal
Make sure all parts are well organized and laid out logically
Ask a colleague for feedback on your draft
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionOverall presentation
Establish clearly the need for the research Demonstrate its importance and originality Try to strike a balance between ambition and
realism: set challenging goals but be as specific as possible about timelines of the research to show where the research is leading
Demonstrate how this new research builds upon your past work
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionSummary Page
VERY IMPORTANT PAGE--how you will be recognized and remembered by the adjudication committee as a whole
Capture the readers’ imaginations Capsule, reader-friendly version
(satisfy experts and interest general audience)
Clearly indicate the purpose, the objectives, the context and impact
Have colleagues critique the summary
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionStatement of Objectives & Theoretical Framework
Clear Research Question(s) Not to be an assessment of a program, i.e. reports, government educational initiatives Clear and precise objectives Clear theoretical or conceptual framework Complete literature review Situate your research within the context of the
literature and current debates in the field. Present differences in viewpoints positively
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionMethodology
Explain and justify your choice of methodology
Go through how you will collect your data and analyze it step-by-step, showing timelines, process, and student involvement as applied to the objectives and budget requirements
Evident synergy between research question(s), objectives and methodology
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionTeam Applications
Applicant should demonstrate need for team & outline each person’s role & responsibilities
Each team member assessed; however, collaborators do not factor into track record score
Applicant must be qualified; cannot rely on experience of co-applicant (s)
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionBudget
Justify EVERY ITEM
Committees looking to make cuts
Link to progress of research: field research early on (year one?) only disseminate when you have some
results fewer budget needs in final years
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionBudget (2)
SSHRC’s advice: Reasonable and fully justified budget Check list of eligible and ineligible
expenses Clearly explain the role of students and
anticipated benefits to student training Link between research objectives,
methodology, and budget
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionBudget (3)
Do you need to travel? Why? Be precise. Which conferences and to
what purpose? Computer hardware/software and other
equipment--be reasonable. No luxury items!
Tailor the number of students and their level of expertise to the project--writing a book doesn’t require 6 PhDs as RAs
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionBudget Justification
Use all the provided space! Don’t leave doubts If you ask for $ for something, explain
why it is an essential item
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionTraining
Work with graduate students to date ? What’s typical in your program? (If you
have few opportunities, explain that) Supervisions, committees, research
assistants employed Skills training for their careers Value-added in their programs Outcomes through co- and/or single-
authored publications/conferences
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionPresenting your curriculum vitae
The percentage of score given for the Record of Research is 40% for New researchers and 60% for Established researchers
6 year record--from 2003, NOTHING earlier; carefully organized with full bibliographic detail, consistent format (no cut and paste!), full page numbers
Most important research achievements page is for earlier accomplishments
Productivity from previous grants Reviewers will check: “R”/forthcoming etc. Don’t create doubts
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionExtenuating Circumstances/Career Interruptions
Make sure they are “special” Deal with circumstances succinctly and matter-of-factly Cancer, death of spouse/children, divorces, ageing parents,
legitimate leaves (child birth, parental leave…)
SSHRC’s Comment: Professional reasons - heavy teaching load, along with
administrative duties (be careful of this item) Decision at Committee discretion___________ Committee Member’s comment: Having to teach, sit on committees, write a book…are not
seen as Extenuating Circumstances
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionResubmission of SRG Application
Read the external readers’ reports AND the committee’s comments
Ask for feedback (colleague, mentor) Explicitly address previous weaknesses
in revised application Use the page provided to address
comments (what I’ve done to answer concerns)
Choose new assessors Don’t complain
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionWhat Happens After I Submit
SSHRC sends to external reviewers--increasingly difficult, so pay attention to your own list of assessors (14,000 potential assessors contacted produced 5,600 reviews)
Files to committees, right at the end of the Fall Term
Each file assigned an “A” and “B” reader Meetings in Ottawa in February Large number of files, small envelope of
money Top 15% in rankings don’t get discussed
except for budget--that’s always scrutinized No discussion of files in bottom 35% after
initial ranking - unless flagged
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionAbout the Committee
Each committee member has to read from 30-40 + grants
All applications are bound by the same rules All Committee members held SSHRC grants All Committee members hold research
positions All Committee members are active and
productive researchers
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionCOMMITTEE COMMENTS: THE TOP 4
Incomplete or outdated literature review
Lack of theoretical rationale Lack of specificity and justification in
the methodology No link between the conceptual
framework and the methodology = theory => objectives => methodology => budget
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionFlagging Criteria
Significant discrepancy between scores of both readers;
Significant discrepancy between scores and assessors’ comments;
No external assessment; and, Any other issue raised by a
committee member or program officer.
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionWhat else to avoid …
Ignoring instructions No definition of roles and
responsibilities for team members/students
Loading the application with co-investigators and collaborators for CV “value” but no role
Exaggerated claims (“change the world”)
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information SessionSSHRC Tips
Present a modest, reasonable budget (think “minimum essential funding”)
Avoid, whenever possible, budgeting for professional services
Link dissemination plans to research agenda
Link student training to research needs Emphasize the outcomes
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NIPISSING UNIVERSITY SSHRC Grant Information Session Nipissing Schedule of Submission
Monday, September 21, 2009 -- 1st paper drafts dueFriday, October 2, 2009 -- Final signed paper draft
due(RS to do) Wednesday, October 7, 2009 -- Dean receives application copy + original
signature page for review and signature Tuesday, October 13, 2009 -- Director Research Services receives application
copy for review plus original signature page with Dean’s signature Wednesday, October 14th -- Original SSHRC application approved, signed, and
electronically submitted to SSHRC
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Contact Information
Janet RossGrant & Scholarship
CoordinatorPh: (705) 474-3450, Ext. 4558Fx: (705) 476-8037Em: [email protected]
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