Natural Sciences and Engineering Research

Research Development at UBCO for the Natural Sciences and Engineering is principally offered for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) programs, but as capacity permits, support is available for any competition within the natural sciences and engineering domain. Please contact the Research Development team if you would like support for an opportunity that is not listed below.

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT TEAM

 

RESEARCH SECURITY: Researchers applying to most Tri-Agency competitions must comply with new and updated Government of Canada research security requirements. More information on research security requirements can be found here.

 

Alliance Grants

Risk Assessment Form

Support

  • The Research Development team is available to support applications from an initial conversation about what is required for a successful Alliance application through to a full editorial review, as capacity permits. This includes rolling deadlines such as Alliance Advantage, Alliance Society, Alliance-Mitacs, and Alliance International, and as capacity permits, may include special calls and Alliance Missions.
  • For all Alliance streams, we strongly recommended you connect with the Research Development team in advance of writing an application to confirm accurate cost-sharing calculations, partnership structure, and page limits.
  • If you would like a criteria or editorial review, please provide at least two weeks’ notice. Note that reviews are subject to availability, and during peak season (September to October), turnaround times may be longer.
  • For Alliance-Accelerate applications, please reach out to a Mitacs representative before beginning your application, in addition to UBCO’s Research Development team.

RESOURCES

  • Alliance Program Summary (to request this resource, contact Denise Maines)
  • Alliance Annotated Template (to request this resource, contact Denise Maines)
  • Sample Grant Library (CWL required)
  • SPARC Resources (CWL required)
    • Web guide to writing your application (Advantage and Society)
    • Partner Organization Form Guide

 

Discovery Grants

Support

  • DG Summer School
    This suite of materials walks you through each stage of the DG application:

    • Part 1: What Makes a DG Successful, ‘Thinking like a Reviewer” and NOI prep
    • Part 2: Proposal – a step-by-step guide
    • Part 3: Most Significant Contributions, HQP+EDI, &  Everything Else

Materials are available at any time. Please contact Denise Maines for access. 

  • NOI reviews are available in late July. NOIs are due August 1, (or the next business day if August 1 falls on a weekend or holiday), and no RPIF is required.
  • Reviews are typically offered in the fall. Further information will be shared with researchers who submit and NOI.

resources

  • Discovery Grant Summer School Resources (contact Denise Maines for access)
  • Sample Discovery Grant Library(CWL required – click on the SharePoint link at the top of the page)
  • UBC resources from previous competitions, including a web-based Discovery Grant development guidehosted by SPARC  (CWL required)
  • NSERC pre-recorded resources and Q&A sessions

 

Research Tools and Instruments

Support

  • Reviews are available for RTI applications during September and early October on a first come, first served basis, as capacity permits. Support for resubmissions is available in the spring or summer.
  • If you are interested in a review or receiving information on deadlines and resources ahead of the competition, please contact melanie.fenton@ubc.ca.

RESOURCES

 

Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program

Support

  • There is a quota for the number of LOIs UBC is permitted to submit to the NSERC CREATE competition. An internal competition led by the Support Programs to Advance Research Capacity (SPARC) office will select LOIs in March or April.
  • The UBCO Research Development team is available to support applications at any stage (including applications to the internal competition, LOIs ahead of the May 1 deadline, and full applications for the September deadline).

 

Co-developed and additional resources are available via the Support Programs to Advance Research Capacity (SPARC) office at the UBC-Vancouver Campus.

Note: UBC resources are intended for UBC researchers only. Please do not circulate.

Natural Sciences and Engineering support spans NSERC and industry opportunities, and often involves significant coordination with the University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO), UBC Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) team, and Mitacs representatives.