1, I have a research idea and am looking for suitable funding, how should I proceed?

If you are looking for research funding, send an email message to the Grants Facilitator (GF) in the OGPR to set up an appointment to discuss potential sponsors. A cursory description about you research will enable the GF to prepare for the meeting. At or after the meeting the GF will provide you with names of potential sponsors and application criteria. If applicable, the GF will also help you in identifying potential collaborators (or other potential users in the case of equipment grants).

2, When will the application forms for SSHRC be available on its website?

Application forms for all SSHRC programs are typically posted two or three month before the application deadline on the SSHRC web site. For major programs, the GF sends emails to Education's faculty listserv announcing the availability of application forms.

3, What are Tri-Agencies' eligible costs?

Tri-Agency eligible and non-eligible costs are found at NSERC's Use of Grant Funds web page. Please note that there are significant differences in eligible and non-eligible costs among the Tri-Agency. That is, a CIHR eligible cost may not necessarily be an eligible cost for a SSHRC program. This is clearly indicated at the webpage cited above.

4, What is the difference between a collaborator and a co-applicant?

The distinction between a co- applicant and a collaborator is usually defined by the granting agency. Typically for SSHRC programs the Co-applicant (co-investigator) is an individual who:

makes a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research,

plays a significant role in the conduct of the research, and

who may also have some responsibility for financial aspects of the research.

Note: SSHRC does not limit the number of applications in which a researcher may participate as a co-applicant (co-investigator). A collaborator is a scholar or researcher who may play various roles in a research project or program of research, including participating in setting its intellectual direction. A collaborator does not have any responsibility for financial aspects of the research.

On major SSHRC programs, collaborators do not need to be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution. They may be citizens or permanent residents of Canada or foreign citizens. SSHRC does not cover expenses that research collaborators incur in the conduct of research or research-related activity. However, the Financial Administration sections of the SSHRC Grant Holder's Guide specify certain travel and subsistence costs that may be claimed.

Typically on Education SSHRC grant applications, co-applicants are UBC faculty members in Education or in another UBC Faculty; or they are faculty members affiliated with another Canadian university. In contrast, collaborators are from the community, such as School Boards, and provide research-enabling resources.

5, What signatures does my co-applicant need on the grant application?

In most circumstances, a signature from the co-applicant is the only requirement (please check program guidelines). In the case of SSHRC, co-applicants must obtain their institutional signatures, typically from the director in their institution's office of research services (or equivalent).

6, My collaborator is from an institution other then UBC, how should I arrange for transfer of funds?

For organize transfer of funds from UBC to another institution, please email Dean Kuusella, Research Awards Manager, ORS, or call him at 604-822-8582. Typically he would need your UBCProject Grant (PG) number, the name of the individual to whom the funds have to be transferred, his or her affiliated institution, and the value of the transfer.

7, What is the difference between a New Scholar and a Regular Scholar?

The fundamental distinction between a new scholar and a regular scholar is that a new scholar has not had the opportunity to establish a record of research achievements after graduation, where as a regular scholar has been a grant holder on previous research grants and has established a record of achievements. In addition to this, particularly for SSHRC, there are other criteria that define a new scholar. These can be viewed at SSHRC's definitions web page.

8, Can I submit two distinct applications for a SSHRC Standard Research Grant and accept only one, should both of them be approved for funding?

No, an applicant cannot submit more than one SSHRC Standard Research Grant application at a time. If you have another distinct research program for which you are seeking funding, the Grants Facilitator in the OGPR may be able to direct you to another funding program.

9, This is my first appointment at UBC, but not in another country. How would that affect my eligibility for research funding?

If this is your first appointment in Canada, but you have had previous faculty appointments in another country, your eligibility will be determined by the sponsor. For example, for the Canadian Foundation for Innovation Leaders Fund (previously called the New Opportunity Fund), the applicant must have been appointed at UBC within 14 months of the application deadline (regardless of previous appointments in another country).

10, What is the Faculty's standing on Research Time Stipend (AKA “release time”)?

Faculty of Education policy on Research Time Stipend is currently under review and when it is drafted, it will be posted on the OGPR web page.

11, Should I adhere to trainee stipend values posted on the OGPR website's Budget Information Page, or should I use the agency's posting about how much to budget for trainees?

You can opt to use the stipends posted on the OGPR's website (an hourly rate), or use those set by the agency. The main thing to consider is that any stipends that you request for research trainees do not exceed the maximum amount allowable by the agency and these are usually listed in the agency's budget guidelines. For information about Tri-Agencies stipends for research trainees please go to Compensation-Related Expenses on NSERC's USE of Grants Funds web page.

12, When should I bring my application up to the OGPR for signing and when should I pick it up?

For major grant applications (such as SSHRC Standard Research Grants) you should bring your application to the OGPR three working days before the agency's application deadline. This will give you enough time to obtain an institutional signature from the Office of Research Services. For other grant applications, two working days would suffice. In all cases, please leave your contact number and personnel from the OGPR will notify you when your application is ready to be picked up.

13, When will the results of a funding program be announced?

It can take up to six months after the application deadline for the results to be announced.

14, When will I receive the granting agency's written comments?

This depends on the agency. Some agencies send results and comments concurrently. In the case of SSHRC, UBC's SSHRC Coordinator informs faculty about the results of the competition and subsequently faculty receive written comments directly from SSHRC.

15, I have received reviewers' comments from the granting agency, but they are in French, which I cannot read. Where can I get assistance with interpretation?

If you receive reviewers' comments in French and need assistance with translation, please contact the GF in the OGPR . The OGPR handles these requests on a case-by-case basis.

16, May I look at copies of previous successful grant applications?

You may look at a previous application at the discretion of the Principal Applicant on that application. It is more advisable to draft your proposal without looking at someone else's first, to prevent overwhelming your thought processes. When your application is in its preliminary drafts, the OGPR can facilitate a peer review process for you from a seasoned grant writer.

17, How should I determine how much overhead I should factor into my budget?

The amount of overhead that should be factored into your budget depends upon the sponsor. For some standard sponsors, such as the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the amount of overhead that UBC collects is posted on the UILO website

18, What should I do when the application deadline for UBC's HSS Travel Grants falls before my abstract has been accepted?

When UBC's HSS Travel Grant application deadline falls before you receive notification about the acceptance of your abstract, apply by the deadline regardless. When you receive the letter of acceptance, please notify Linda Leathley, Manager, Faculty Research Services, at 604-822-4003 or leathley@mail.arts.ubc.ca

19, How much is allowed as per diem expenses for travel?

Per diem travel costs are not set by the funding agency. These are determined by UBC. In accordance to UBC's Travel Policy, applicants can claim per diem amount of $50.50 CAN for travel within Canada and $50.50 US for travel in the United States and other countries. Please review details on UBC's Travel and Entertainment Policies on the Office of the University Counsel's web page.

20, Can I apply for UBC's HSS International Conference Travel Grant to attend a conference in the United States?

Travel expenses to conferences held in the USA are not eligible for funding through UBC's HSS International Conference Travel Grant.