Research Development Grant
The broad mandate of the Research Development Grant is to encourage and support research and training at Trent University. The maximum award for a Research Development Grant is $7,000 for a period of 12 months.
The deadline for the 2025 Research Development Grant application is December 10, 2024, at 4:30 PM EST.
Online Application Process
Applications to the Internal Research Grants Program are to be submitted via the myTrent portal: sign in to myTrent and then click "Services" and then "Learning and Research." Open the “internal research grants” folder beside the eFin and Romeo logos and follow directions there to submit the application.
2024 Research Development Grant Recipients
- Dr. Denise Handlarski, Education, “Holocaust History: Pedagogy, Politics, Personal Narrative”
- Dr. Devin Penner, Political Studies, “The Political Economy of Philanthropy in Canada”
- Dr. Eugena Kwon, Sociology, “Environmental scan of push and pull factors of migration to non-gateway cities: A case study of international migrants in Peterborough”
- Dr. Janice Feng, Political Studies and Philosophy, “Writing at the heart of Anishinabewaki: Jane Johnston Schoolcraft's Politics of Refusal”
- Dr. Jenifer Hendel, Chemistry, “Sustainable methods for developing biomedically relevant carbohydrate-based materials”
- Dr. Liana Brown, Psychology, “Freezing in Parkinson's Disease: Beyond Gait”
- Dr. Mary Jean Hande, Sociology, “Towards Just Care: Forging disability and migrant justice alliances in Canadian home care systems”
- Dr. Mikhail Genkin, Computer Science, “Artificially Intelligent Autonomic Smart Buildings”
- Dr. Nicole Fice, Philosophy, “Autonomy-based Arguments Against the Criminalization of Homelessness”
- Dr. Raheleh Saryazdi, Psychology, “Designing VR Experiences for Older Adults”
- Dr. Rob Elkington, Business, “The Influence of the Diversity Icebreaker Deployed through an Ubuntu Lens on Effective Leadership and Followership in a Large Norwegian Municipality – Phase 1 (A Pilot Study)”
- Dr. Stephanie Ehret, Sociology (Criminology), “A case study on the ‘war against autism’ in the criminal justice system: Researching and analyzing a Toronto filicide case”
- Dr. Yanina Chevtchouk, Business, “Toxic Messaging across the Gender Spectrum”
Terms of Reference
Purpose
The Research Development Grant provides Trent University researchers with modest funding to develop preliminary research projects or pilot projects which:
- allow for small-scale innovation and experimentation;
- enable the hiring and training of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and,
- lead to the development and submission of larger research proposals to external funders.
When sufficient funds are available, this Grant can also provide bridge funding for ongoing programs of research which will be expanded for future Tri-Agency applications.
Eligibility
The applicant must be:
- A tenure-stream academic faculty member or academic librarian, or professor emeritus; or
- A Limited Term Appointment (LTA) faculty member provided their contract begins before the application due date and the contract end-date falls after the grant end-date.
Applicants may only submit one application as the primary investigator to one internal grant competition per calendar year. Applicants currently holding other internal research grants awarded by ORI, applicants who have not yet submitted a final report for a completed internal grant, and applicants who have held an ORI internal grant but have not subsequently submitted an application for an external funding, are not eligible to apply.
Evaluation Criteria
The overarching grant criteria are academic excellence and the advancement of knowledge, the value of the training to students, and the demonstrated need for research funds. Applicants also must demonstrate that the grant comprises a component of a larger plan to obtain external funding.
Specific evaluation criteria include:
- Academic Excellence and Knowledge Creation: The top priority of the Research Development Grant is the advancement and support of meritorious research. This is defined as research that investigates novel academic ideas, new model systems, tools, or technologies that have the potential to lead to significant academic (and non-academic, when applicable) impact.
- Demonstrated Need for Funding and Future Funding Plans: Need must be articulated by applicants in a way which makes clear that they not only currently lack the funding to pursue the proposed research plan, but that they have a specific plan to get (or keep) external funding following the completion of the grant. Researchers should demonstrate how these funds will be leveraged to strengthen their future application and indicate to which external funding agencies/programs they intend to apply.
- Feasibility of Innovation and Experimentation: Researchers should clearly indicate how the funding will allow for small-scale innovation and experimentation. Research objectives should be feasible and the proposed timeline should demonstrate that the project can be successfully completed within the period of the award.
- Student Training: Researchers should outline how this funding will aid in the professional development of undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers should provide examples of the tangible benefits for students in developing their own research skills and competencies and/or provide transferrable skills.
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Where applicable, the proposal must explain how equity, diversity, and inclusion have been considered in research practice and design.
- Budget Justification: Budgets must demonstrate the need for funding and only include eligible costs (see below). The budget justification should clearly explain how the award will provide sufficient funding to achieve the project’s objectives. Line items must be itemized and economical.
Duration and Value
Trent University Research Development Grants are awarded for a period of 12 months. The maximum award value available for this opportunity shall be determined on an annual basis based on the availability of funds.
Allowable Expenses
The Trent University Research Development Grant provides support for the direct costs of research. Direct costs can include, but are not limited to:
- the hiring and training of students;
- the hiring of technical personnel;
- the actual costs for the use of specialized research equipment;
- open access fees for scholarly publications emanating directly from this grant and incurred during the period of the award;
- research-related travel (e.g., field work, meetings with co-investigators, travel to libraries and archives); and
- supplies not normally provided to researchers by the University.
The program does not provide funding for:
- conference travel, workshop travel, or other travel with the primary purpose of research dissemination;
- purchasing of specialized research equipment;
- regular repair and maintenance of equipment;
- user fees for work beyond that required to complete the proposed research;
- publication or page charges for any work not directly emanating from this project;
- costs related to the defense and publishing of student theses;
- academic or professional memberships;
- visiting professorships/lectureships; and,
- travel costs for leaves, including research and study leaves.
It is expected that at least 35% of the awarded funds will be designated for the hiring and training of Trent University student(s).
All items must be essential to the conduct of the proposed research and must be carefully justified. Expenses incurred or committed prior to the award date, or expenses committed for costs to be incurred after the end date, are not eligible and are not to be included in the proposal budget.
Budget items must comply with the research expenses eligibility guidelines as set out in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, or any related document as may be amended by the Tri-Agencies.
Application Process
An open competition shall be held annually with the deadline for submission of full applications set at 4:30 pm on December 10th. Should the deadline fall on a weekend, the deadline shall be set as the Monday following the weekend. Applications will be submitted electronically in a format that shall be directed by ORI.
Evaluation Process
Applications for this internal research grant are reviewed and adjudicated by the members of the appropriate internal Research Grant Subcommittee (Health Studies and Sciences; Natural Sciences; Social Sciences and Humanities). Applications can only be submitted in one category.
ORI will convene the research grants subcommittees to review the applications for their scholarly merit, relevance, and compatibility with the research priorities of the fund. Final funding decisions will be made by ORI based on committee recommendations and available funding. Copies of the evaluation rubric will be made available to potential applicants upon request of ORI.
If a subcommittee member submits an application, that application will be reviewed by another subcommittee regardless of the research area.
Conditions of the Award
The following conditions will be included in the letters of award to successful researchers:
- The maximum length of a Trent University Research Development Grant is 12 months, as will be indicated in the award letter. Successful applicants can hold just one internal research grant at a given time and larger projects may not be simultaneously funded by several small grants from the internal grants program.
- The Research Development Grant funds can only be used for the project and purposes described in the application, taking into consideration any suggestions or restrictions provided in the award letter. Any variance to the project budget must be approved in advance by ORI.
- Research supported by the Research Development Grant must comply with all relevant University policies as they relate to the conduct of research, specifically research involving human participants, animals, biohazards, and/or national security. Researchers are responsible for submitting applications for the appropriate approvals prior to beginning the work, and within six (6) months of the award notice.
- All student training funded through this program should incorporate the appropriate dimensions of the Guidelines for Effective Research Training.
- The award recipient is responsible for the use of the funds and for any over-expenditure of research accounts. Expenditures must comply with the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration regulations concerning the use of research funds and must be made in accordance with standard University financial procedures.
- Following completion of the research project, the successful applicant must submit an end of grant report to the Office of Research and Innovation. The report is due no later than three (3) months following the end of the grant date. Please submit the report to researchprograms@trentu.ca.
- It is expected that the projects supported by a Research Development Grant will result in the submission of a research proposal to an external funder within 12 months of project completion.
- Trent University recognizes that not all pilot projects will result in a fundable concept or project. Should a researcher determine that their proof-of-concept is not feasible for future funding, they will justify this determination in their final report.
- Books, equipment, and other materials purchased with funding from the Research Development Grant must be available for general research use, as feasible, following the completion of the Grant. All materials purchased from this funding remain the property of Trent University.
- Following completion of the research project, or at the termination date of the award, any remaining funds will be returned to ORI for the next competition. An extension may be granted by ORI should justification detailing reasons for the delay be submitted at least one month before the end date.
- Grant recipients whose grants are funded through the SSHRC Institutional Grant (SIG) must acknowledge SSHRC’s support in any outputs by including the following, “[Researcher’s name or project name] is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.” This requirement will be stated in relevant notices of award. However, on CVs and any grant applications, it must be stated that Trent University is the funder and the grant is an internal award.
Appeals
The committee will not consider appeals of its decision.
Internal Research Grant Budget Template
Please use this template for all three internal research grant applications.