NSERC Ship Time Program 2023

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

All eligible applicants (including co-applicants) must hold a Discovery Grant (or be successful in the current Discover Grant competition) to be eligible to receive a Ship Time grant. 

Ship Time applicants may apply for more than one vessel at a time. Should the two vessels be part of the same project (e.g., a remotely operated vehicle and a support vessel), only one application is to be submitted.

Please note that NSERC does not consider requests for supplements to existing Ship Time grants. For questions about ship time associated with other NSERC programs, please contact the appropriate program staff.

Summary

The Ship Time program allows those holding an NSERC Discovery Grant (DG) to apply for additional funds to access vessels in support of their research programs.

This Ship Time program is aimed at all NSERC-funded researchers who intend to use a vessel for their DG-supported research in the coming years. It applies to the following: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)/ Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, undersea vehicles operated by the  Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility or other similar research platforms, and any other vessels crewed in conformance with the  Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (or similar, for foreign vessels).

Application Procedure

Applicants whose research is, or will be, supported under the DG program must submit their completed Ship Time application by September 1. Applicants who intend to access a  Canadian Coast Guard vessel, also need to contact DFO science staff directly for their full application requirements.

For each project requiring a vessel, submit the following documents (except in cases where the vessel is combined with a remotely operated vehicle):

• Application for a Discovery Grant – Ship Time (Form 101)
• Canadian Common CV (CCV) for the applicant and each co-applicant
• quotation for all vessels to be used
• additional material (e.g., letters of support), as required

The onus is on the applicant to submit a complete application that conforms to the presentation standards requested by NSERC. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected or disadvantaged.

Submission Process

1. Complete your application in the Research Portal. 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. 

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 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

Note that 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 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 Friday, August 18, 2023.

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.

Duration of Grant

The normal duration of Ship Time grants is one year. Two-year grants will be considered in exceptional circumstances, where the project completion requires a firm commitment of funding for more than one year. Applicants who need to confirm funding for expeditions taking place well into the future should contact NSERC to discuss.

Resources

Canadian Common CV

Application Instructions

NSERC Ship Time Program Contact

Overhead

N/A (Not Applicable)

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

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.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Applicants are encouraged to increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups in the natural sciences and engineering as one way to enhance excellence in research and training. Where applicable, consideration of sex, gender and diversity in the research design should be addressed in the proposal. EDI considerations should be developed into the rationale of the composition of research teams and trainees. For more information, applicants should refer to the application instructions and the NSERC guide on equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research.