Faculty

Faculty: Apply for Grants or Fellowships

Applying for grants or fellowships is a vital endeavour for all faculty to fund research or career goals. 

For funding questions and support on CFI and Tri-Council grant applications, contact Marlene Ramos at marlene.ramos@smu.ca. 

To aid in this process, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research divides such opportunities into these general categories:

Internal funding

  • funding from Saint Mary's University, available only to current SMU faculty or SMU graduate students

External funding

  • funding opportunities from other institutions or agencies, which can be further separated into two broad categories:
    • funding from Canadian institutions, available only to Canadian faculty or graduate students                                                                                                 
    • funding from global institutions, available to non-Canadian faculty or graduate students

Opportunities

Internal Funding Opportunities

The Three Internal Grant Programs available are:

- FGSR Strategic Research Grants

  • May request grants between $5,000 - $15,000 which is normally to be utilized within 2 years.
  • This grant has been suspended for 2024.

- FGSR Small Internal Grants in Aid of Research

    - Saint Mary’s University Accessibility Research Fund

      Application and Guidelines for an Internal Grant for New Faculty  - Deadline October 15

      Sample Internal New Faculty Grant - To show the detail the FGSR Research Committee is expecting.

      Course Release for Research Purposes - Deadline November 3

      Course Release for supervision of PhD students - Deadline November 3

      Grantee's Progress Report
      Required to reapply for Internal Grants or to extend the granting period of Internal Grants. Submit your Grantee's Progress Report to the Research Grants Officer at rgo@smu.ca.

      International Conference Participation Travel Fund
      Application and guidelines - Deadlines March 15 and October 15

      Teach for a Week in Europe this Summer

      Full-time faculty and staff interested in the opportunity to teach for a week in May/June 2024 at a Saint Mary's partner institution in Poland or Croatia are encouraged to contact The Studio’s Global Learning Office. Please email Miyuki.arai@smu.ca for more information.


      External Funding Opportunities

      For all external grants, please inform the RGO of your intention to apply in advance of Tri-Council and other funders' deadlines. A review of draft applications by our internal College of Reviewers requires a minimum of two weeks lead time

      Funding Programs

      New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)

      Transformation:

      The Transformation stream is designed to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge with the potential to realize real and lasting change (high-reward). The challenge may be fundamental, leading to a scientific breakthrough, or applied, with a social, economic, environmental or health impact. Projects are expected to be world-leading, drawing on global research expertise where relevant.

      • NOI deadline: closed
      • LOI deadline: closed
      • SMU Internal Review deadline: Monday, August 19, 2024
      • Application deadline (by invitation only): September 5, 2024
      • Competition Information: 2024 Transformation Competition

      Idea to Innovation (I2I) grants

      Application deadline:
      January 8, 2024 
      April 2, 2024 (SMU internal deadline: March 18, 2024)
      June 25, 2024 (SMU internal deadline: June 10, 2024)
      September 16, 2024 (SMU internal deadline: September 2, 2024)

      Notice of decision: 11 weeks past the deadline


      NSERC Discovery Grants (DG)

      • Duration: Up to five years
      • Notice of Intent: Aug 1, 2024, before 8 pm (ET) 
      • SMU internal review deadline: Monday, October 14, 2024
      • Full application: Nov 1, 2024, before 8 pm (ET); 

      NSERC Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants (Individual and Project)
      • Notice of Intent: Aug 1, 2024, before 8 pm (ET)
      • Subatomic Physics Project applications requesting $500K or more per year: Oct 1, 2024, before 8 pm (ET)
      • SMU Internal Review deadline: Monday, October 14, 2024
      • Application: Nov 1, 2024, before 8 pm (ET); 

      NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI)
      • Duration: 1 year
      • Value: Up to $150,000
      • SMU internal review deadline: Monday, October 7, 2024
      • Application deadline: October 25, 2024

      SSHRC Insight Development Grant (IDG)

      • Application: closed
      • Value: $7,000 to $75,000
      • Results announced: June 2024

      SSHRC Insight Grant (IG)
      • Application: closed
        • Stream A: $7,000 to $100,000
        • Stream B: $100,001 to $400,000
      • Results announced: April 2024

      SSHRC Connection Grants (CG)
      • SMU Internal Review deadline: two (2) weeks before the SSHRC deadline
      • Application due every Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, and Nov 1, before 8 pm (ET)
      • Value:
        • Events: $7,000 to $25,000
        • Outreach activities: $7,000 to $50,000; higher amounts can be considered if well justified
      • Results announced: at the end of each funding cycle (January, March, June, September)

      SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants (PEG)
      • SMU Internal Review deadline: two (2) weeks before the SSHRC deadline
      • Application every Mar 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, and Dec 15, before 8 pm (ET)
      • Value: $7,000 to $25,000 for 1 year
      • Results announced: at the end of each funding cycle (August, November, February and May)

      SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (PDG)
      • SMU Internal Review deadline: Monday, October 28, 2024
      • Application: Nov 15, 2024, before 8 pm (ET)
      • Value: $75,000 to $200,000 for 1 to 3 years
      • Results announced: March 2025

      SSHRC Partnership Grant (PG)
      • Stage 1: Feb 10, 2024 (closed) 
      • Value: up to $20,000
      • Results announced: June 2024
      • Stage 2 (by invitation only): closed
      • Value: up to $2.5 million
      • Duration: 4 to 7 years

      CFI JELF-Unaffiliated
      • Please consult with the Associate Vice-President, Research before applying.

      CFI JELF-Partnership: CRC/CERC, NSERC Alliance, SSHRC Insight Grants and Partnership Grants programs
      • Please consult with the Associate Vice-President, Research before applying.
      • Infrastructure proposal should be submitted to the CFI at the same time that the corresponding partnership proposal is submitted (see partner websites for deadlines).


      Post-Doctoral External Funding Opportunities

      Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships 

      The 2023-24 competition is closed.

      The 2023-24 competition was launched in April 2023 and the application deadline will be September 20, 2023 (20:00 EDT). Please note that Saint Mary's University's internal deadline is AUGUST 18, 2023. Eligible individuals who wish to be considered should send a message of interest and their CV to Research Grants Officer, Marlene Ramos at rgo@smu.caSelection will be based on individual merit, potential for a successful research career, and alignment with Saint Mary's University's strategic priorities. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is designed to support world-class postdoctoral researchers. The fellowship provides $70,000 per year for two years (taxable and non-renewable). The program is open to both Canadian and international researchers who have recently completed a PhD, PhD- equivalent, or health professional degree. Applications must be completed in full collaboration with the proposed host institution.


      Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

      The internal deadline has passed.

      Doctoral Scholarship based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership. 

      Saint Mary’s University has a quota of nominations we can forward to the national competition.

      Eligible students who wish to be considered should send a message of interest and their CV to Research Grants Officer, Marlene Ramos at rgo@smu.ca by SEPTEMBER 15, 2023.

      The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada's ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.


      Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellowship

      Applications must be received by no later than Friday, April 26, 2024.

      For more information, contact: info.imfg@utoronto.ca

      The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) offers a $60,000 Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellowship to support researchers who have completed their doctoral dissertation in a relevant discipline no more than three years prior to the submission of the fellowship request (i.e. between September 1, 2021 and September 1, 2024). Relevant disciplines could include economics, public finance, economic development, planning, urban studies, geography, sociology, political science, law or another field which draws upon the skills required for the analysis of public policy, especially in the areas of municipal finance and governance.

      Please note that applicants must have completed all requirements for their Ph.D. before September 1, 2024.

      In addition to pursuing an intensive research project, the post-doctoral fellow is expected to participate as a member of the IMFG team.

      Core responsibilities include:

      • Presenting their research in the form of two seminars at IMFG, with the first in the fall of 2024 and the second in the spring of 2025.
      • Preparing two original research papers for publication by IMFG.

      Other responsibilities, based on the fellow’s interests and IMFG’s research agenda, could include:

      • Planning IMFG conferences, events or roundtables, in conjunction with IMFG staff;
      • Preparing research papers for publication as part of one or more of IMFG’s three publication series;
      • Developing other IMFG research projects and initiatives; and
      • Providing research assistance and support to the IMFG Director.

      The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow (pro-rated for those holding a partial appointment) recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and training and the needs of the supervisors' research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work.

      Fellowship recipients are expected to live in Toronto, Canada, while pursuing their research, and will have the opportunity to participate generally in the intellectual life of the larger University of Toronto community. IMFG is situated within U of T’s School of Cities, allowing the recipient to benefit from the broad network associated with the school and its affiliates.


       

      Other External Programs of Interest:

      Fulbright Canada Research Chairs program

      Fulbright Canada Research Chairs are intended for Canadian citizens who are exceptional scholars and/or experienced professionals who wish to conduct research and/or lecture in the United States.

      Fulbright Canada Research Chairs are pre-arranged affiliations that allow scholars to conduct research/lecture on subjects important to that university. Partner universities are excited to welcome the Fulbright Visiting Chairs into campus life and encourage them to engage with students, faculty, and the broader community. Fulbright Visiting Research Chairs can guest lecture in university courses, mentor students, lecture in public venues, network, and promote their research while representing the Fulbright program, and their home and host institutions.

      The award values range from US$25,000 to US$50,000 and from four to nine months.  Awards typically begin in either September 2025 or January 2026.

      The competition opens May 2024 and awards are to be taken up in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
      Applications are accepted until - TBD 


      The Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research

      The Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research is funded by a generous donation from the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation, building upon the wishes of its founders, Mr. Vaclav Mach and Dr. Hanni Gaensslen, to support mental health research. 

      Each year for ten years, $100,000 will be available to be awarded to one person (or a research team of up to three persons) per competition. The Prize is awarded with the expectation that the recipient(s) will continue to demonstrate excellence in their field of work. If no appropriate candidate is found, the Prize will be deferred for one year.

      Eligible candidates are exceptional rising star researchers who are 45 years of age or younger at the application date, are Canadian citizens or have landed immigrant status in Canada, and are currently residing in Canada or are residing abroad but are committed to return to Canada within six months from the date of being awarded the Prize. In addition, candidates must be affiliated with a Canadian academic or clinical institution and their research shall be in a mental health discipline. 

      Please refer to the Prize Guidelines for full eligibility requirements and additional application details.

      The 2023 deadline date for applications is closed.