Purpose
The purpose of the of the Trent Durham Dean’s Research Awards is to support the further development of research on the Trent University Durham campus and, in doing so, to build research capacity, facilitate successful external grant applications, and support the scholarly productivity of Trent Durham faculty members.
Program Priorities
The funding from the Trent Durham Dean’s Research Award is designed to assist researchers in meeting some of the direct costs of their research. This award has been flexibly structured to provide support for a wide range of activities that will enhance the faculty on Trent University’s Durham Campus national competitiveness in terms of external research support. Such support includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- seed grants for high quality, original and innovative projects of a short-term nature that are prerequisite to long-term external support;
- development grants to defray the costs associated with the preparation of large-scale research initiatives for which external research support is being sought;
- bridge funding for ongoing programs of research previously supported by Tri Council funding and eligible for future Tri Council support; and
- funding for other high quality, innovative projects that fall outside those areas supported by the national granting agencies
The top priority considered is need. Need must be articulated by the applicant in a way which makes clear that it represents not simply a lack of funding but a specific plan to obtain (or keep) external funding for which this is an important and well thought out step, or reasons why the nature of the research may not lead to a viable external funding opportunity. Priority is given to proposals which demonstrate the potential for publication, knowledge mobilization activities, HQP training, or community benefit. The quality of the proposal and the research will also be evaluated.
Application Deadlines
Two competitions are held annually. The application deadline dates are May 1st and January 6th. If these dates fall on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to apply for the grant, the applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
- A full-time academic staff member;
- Post-Doctoral Fellows or Limited Term Appointments, provided that the proposed research project doesn’t extend beyond their appointment at Trent or they have a permanent faculty member on their research team
- Adjunct Professors, where Trent University is their only academic appointment (Adjunct professors who hold academic rank at another Canadian institution are not eligible), provided that the research doesn’t extend beyond their appointment at Trent or they have a permanent faculty member on the research team
- Must have concluded any project from a previous Trent Durham Dean’s Research Award and have submitted a final report.
All proposed research must have a Trent Durham faculty member on the research team to be considered eligible for this opportunity. This faculty member does not need to be the Principal Investigator.
Students are not eligible to hold Trent Durham Dean’s Research Awards, however, Trent University encourages researchers to employ students in their funded research.
Duration and Value
The amount that can be awarded for this grant is $2,500 to $5,000 normally tenable for 18 months. If the Grant is not expected to be spent by the end of 18 months, recipients should write to both the Dean and to the Office of Research and Innovation to explain the circumstances and request an extension. The Fall/Winter competition will include up to four (4) awards of $2,500. The Summer competition will include up to two (2) awards of $5,000.
Funding
Support is provided for the direct costs of research. Direct costs include:
- Research Assistants and Technical Personnel;
- Actual costs of use of specialized research equipment;
- Research related travel (i.e. field work, meetings with co-investigators, travel to libraries, etc.);
- Publication charges;
- Supplies not normally provided for research by the University (should not exceed 10% of total award).
The program does not provide funding for:
- Conference Travel;
- Purchasing of specialized research equipment;
- Equipment servicing;
- Visiting professors or lectureships;
- Travel costs for leaves, including research or study leaves; and
- Costs of research leading to a degree for the principal or co-investigators. Similarly, this program does not provide support for research conducted by graduate students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements unless such research is part of the faculty member's ongoing research program.
All items must be essential to the conduct of the proposed research and must be carefully justified. Retroactive expenses and/or previously committed expenses are not to be included in budget proposals.
Application Procedure
Applications for the Trent Durham Dean’s Research Awards can be completed and submitted through the Trent University MyTrent portal. The application form can found under:
Services > Learning and Research > Internal Grants > Trent Durham Dean’s Research Award
Evaluation Process and Criteria
Applications for Trent Durham Dean’s Research Awards are reviewed and adjudicated by the members of an award committee formed by the Dean of Trent Durham.
Evaluation Considerations
The Committee will review all requests and award full, partial, or no funding based on the following considerations:
- Demonstrated Need for Funding
- Merit of the proposal and research excellence
- Training and Development of Highly Qualified Personnel
- Knowledge Mobilization Activity (if applicable)
- Excellence of the researcher
Conditions of the Award
Research supported by the Trent Durham Dean’s Research Awards must comply with the University policies on the conduct of research, specifically the University policy on research ethics and, where applicable, the University policies on research involving the use of animals, human subjects, or biohazards. It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to secure the appropriate approval for the proposed research; funds will not be released until all such approvals have been obtained. If appropriate approvals have not been obtained and forwarded to the Office of Research within six (6) months following the award notice, funds will automatically be returned to the Trent Durham Research Awards. Grant-holders may request to extend the period within which approvals must be obtained by writing to the Office of Research Services, to the attention of the appropriate contact person noted for that competition, prior to the return of funds as noted above. Such requests must include a justification.
Research grants must be used for the project and purposes described in the application. Grant-holders wanting to transfer funds from one budget category to another in response to changing research needs or to use funds for a new budget item must secure the prior written approval of the Office of Research services.
The award recipient is responsible for the use of the funds and for any over-expenditure of research accounts. Expenditures must comply with University regulations concerning the use of research funds and must be made in accordance with standard University financial procedures. Books, equipment and other materials purchased under Trent Durham Research Awards must be available for general research use following the completion of the grant.
Trent Durham Research Awards are normally active for a period of 18-months. Awards terminate on the date specified in the award notification letter and any unspent funds are automatically returned to the program. Grant-holders may request to have the period of the award extended by writing to the appropriate contact person in the Office of Research Services noted for that competition no later than one month prior to the end date of the award. Such requests must include a justification for the extension.
Within three months of the completion or termination of the grant, a final report must be submitted to the Office of Research Services and to the Office of the Dean, Trent Durham GTA This report should not exceed one page and should describe: what was accomplished, including a summary of the major research findings; the plans for research dissemination, including an indication of any publications/paper presentations resulting from the grant or in press/in preparation; research personnel trained; external funding that has been obtained or applied for as a result of the project; and future funding prospects. Subsequent applications for research support will not be considered unless all final reports pertaining to previous awards have been submitted to the Office of Research Services and Dean.
Grant-holders are requested to acknowledge the assistance of Trent Durham Research Awards in all publications and media coverage resulting from this support.
Notification
Applicants will be notified of the committee decision within 3-4 weeks of the competition deadline.
Appeals
The committee will not entertain appeals of its decision
Past Recipients
December 2022 Competition
Dr. Nadiya Ali, “The Pathways of Re-entry: Communicative Flows of Racialized Counterpublics”
Dr. Ken Chen, "The Effects of Marketing Big Data Analytics on Breakthrough Innovation Potential”
Dr. Mary Chiu, “Exploring Personal Recovery in Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Mental Health & Brain Conditions”
Dr. Parvinder Hira-Friesen, "Labour Market Exploitation of Canadian International Students”
May 2023 Competition
Dr. Korri Bickle (Primary Investigator), Dr. Jennifer Eastabrook, & Dr. Kaitlin Fredricks, "An exploratory study of conceptualizations and experiences of success among young people"
Dr. Helen Haines (Primary Investigator), & Dr. Jennifer Newton, "Application of Photogrammetry to Archaeological Field Recording and Classroom Education"
Dr. Marina Morgenshtern, "In Search for Inclusion and Recognition: A Training Video on Immigrant Experiences in Durham Region, Ontario"
Dr. Roger Lohmann, "Open Access Publication Subvention for "Dogs and Their Humans: Pacific Interspecies Cultures"