Discovery Grants Fall

Eligibility

Note: please check the NSERC website regularly for updates and new information due to COVID-19. 

Research Program Eligibility

• The program of research must be primarily in the natural sciences and engineering;
• The intended objectives of the research must be, primarily, to advance knowledge in one of the natural sciences or in engineering.
• Note: as of 2015, team applications are no longer accepted.

If your research is health-related, please ensure that the research challenge lie within the natural sciences and engineering. Projects that include the use of methodologies, tools, techniques and knowledge from the natural sciences and engineering are not automatically considered eligible by NSERC.

Eligible for NSERC support:

• • • Research in animal health and veterinary medicine
    • Research in nutrition related to food components, nutraceuticals, or functional foods.
    • Research seeking to further our understanding of fundamental processes in humans.
    • Research whose primary purpose is the development of monitoring and diagnostic technologies (such as health IT, in-vitro diagnostics, diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring, and endoscopic devices) unless it is at the clinical trials stage. The research challenge must lie within the natural sciences and engineering
    • Research whose major challenges lie in the natural sciences and engineering (materials science, engineering, computer science, chemistry, etc.) which could eventually lead, among other applications, to the treatment or prevention of human disease.

Not eligible for NSERC support:

• • • Research involving the refinement of already existing technology for facilitating clinical therapies or health delivery systems.
    • Research whose primary purpose is the investigation or development of vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), or other therapeutic agents for human applications.
    • Research whose primary purpose is the investigation/treatment of injuries or human performance.
    • Research seeking to develop animal models of human diseases in order to study primarily the disease state, or treatments for injuries or diseases represented by the model.
    • Applied research for disease treatment, diagnosis or prevention.
    • Research involving clinical trials.

If your research is in Psychology, NSERC considers eligible applications that relate to fundamental psychological processes, their underlying neural mechanisms, their development within individuals, and their evolutionary and ecological context. Fundamental processes are understood to include: 

• • Sensation and perception;
  • Sensorimotor integration;
  • Motivation, emotion and reward;
  • Learning and memory;
  • Cognition and language;
  • Sleep, arousal and the chronobiological modulation of behaviour; and,
  • Statistical methods for analysis of psychological data.

NSERC does not support clinically-oriented research.

See Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

Applicant Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a Canadian academic appointment of no less than 3 years (you may be at any point in this appointment).
• Applicants whose primary appointment is not at an eligible Canadian academic institution (e.g., you have a position in industry) are only eligible to hold funds for the purposes of student support (stipends, travel).
• See NSERC - Eligibility Criteria for Faculty.

Summary

The Discovery Grants program supports ongoing research programs (with long-term objectives, as opposed to a research project defined by short-to-medium-term objectives) in the natural sciences and engineering fields. The objectives of the Discovery Grants program are to:

• promote and maintain a diversified base of high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering in Canadian universities;
• foster research excellence; and
• provide a stimulating environment for research training.

The overall merit assessment of each application is based on the combination of ratings agreed to by the evaluation group for each selection criterion: Scientific or Engineering Excellence of the Researcher, Merit of the Proposal, and Contribution to the Training of Highly Qualified Personnel. In addition to these selection criteria, applications are also assessed with regard to the cost of the proposed research relative to the normal costs in the discipline.

Submission Process

Notice of Intent

The NOI is mandatory when applying for a Discovery Grant. Applicants who do not submit a NOI cannot submit a full application later in the fall. The information contained in the NOI allows NSERC to start some aspects of the review process, including preliminary assignment to an Evaluation Group, selection of external reviewers and verification of the eligibility of the subject matter.

1. Complete the Notice of Intent form on the NSERC Research Portal
2. Attach your NSERC Canadian Common CV (CCV)
3. Submit the NOI through the NSERC Research Portal by the deadline of August 2, 2022 8:00 pm ET (6:00 pm MT)

NOTE: when you submit the NOI, it goes directly to NSERC (it does not come to Research Services). The NOI does not require institutional approval and there is no internal deadline. Please ensure that your NOI is final before submitting. Late applications will not be accepted. NSERC will not accept revisions to a NOI submitted before or after the deadline date.

Full Application

This competition will be run through Research Management System (RMS).

1. Complete your application in the NSERC Research Portal using the "Discovery Grants (Fall 2022)" as the funding opportunity. Once the application is complete (including required attachments and your CCV), verify each section, and then press "Submit". Your application will be sent to the Research Services Office. Please ensure your application is final and complete; Research Services will not review drafts, and, once received, your application may be submitted to NSERC without further notice. The final deadline for submission of your application is noon on Thursday, October 27, 2022.
2. Complete the Pre-Award record in RMS (login at https://research.ucalgary.ca/rms) and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. Ensure you receive all required approvals in advance of noon on October 27, 2022. 

• Your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in the Research Portal (a paper copy is not required) and the RMS Approvals have been received.
• The final deadline of 12:00 p.m. on October 27, is a hard deadline. The three-day deadline ensures that Research Services is able to complete a basic review of the application and secure institutional signature in a timely fashion.

3. As an optional service, if you would like a detailed review, Research Services must receive your complete RMS approvals record and NSERC Research Portal application by 4pm on October 18, 2022.

• The detailed review includes a detailed review of the application, checking for eligibility and UofC commitments and risk, compliance with program guidelines, completeness of application, and the opportunity for feedback to improve the application.
• The basic administrative review involves a minimal check of the application for eligibility and any UofC commitment or risk.

Resources

• Instructions for the NOI and full Application
• Instructions for the NSERC Canadian Common CV
• Canadian Common CV Help Manual
• Impacts of COVID-19
• Discovery Grants Information Centre
• Discovery Grant Tips for Applying (video)
• Webinar slides on How to submit the full Discovery Grants application
• NSERC Research Portal
• Discovery Grant Merit Indicators
• Competition Results and Statistics
• Selecting the Appropriate Granting Agency
• Addendum to the guidelines for the eligibility of applications related to health
• Frequently Asked Questions for the Evaluation of HQP Criterion
• Guide for Applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application
• Library of Successful Applications: the Research Services Office maintains a library of successful applications, which includes over 100 Discovery Grant applications from the 2016-2021 competitions. Sample applications are available to faculty members to assist with the preparation of their own applications. Please contact Danielle Demiantschuk indicating the Evaluation Group of application(s) you are interested in viewing.

Relevant Documents

dg_merit_indicators_eng.pdf

faq_evaluation_hqp_eng.pdf

instructions_to_external_reviewers.pdf

mandate_eng.pdf

dg_webinar_cy2022_e.pdf

internal-edi-guide_oct2021_rso.pdf

dg-internal-rso-guide-for-applying-2022.pdf

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Applicants are expected to increase the inclusion and advancement of under-represented and disadvantaged groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. Applicants should refer to the Discovery Grants application instructions and the Guide for Applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application.

Required Signatures

NOTE: Please consult your Faculty ADR regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Please submit a completed Pre-Award RMS record, along with a finalized copy of your grant application, to Research Services. The University of Calgary requires that all grant applications be approved prior to submission via signatures of the Principal Investigator, U of C Co-Investigator(s), Department Head, Faculty Associate Dean Research/Dean, and Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research), collected in that order in RMS.

Click here for the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy, to understand what your signature means. Please see the Agency guidelines for details of what signatures are required on the grant application. These may differ from internal requirements.