The Robbins-Ollivier Excellence in Equity Award Call for Expressions of Interest (Deadline: September 27, 2024) 

The Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) is pleased to announce a call for expressions of interest for The Robbins-Ollivier Excellence in Equity Award 2024 competition.  

This award aims to:

• fund bold and potentially game-changing institutional-level initiatives that will challenge the status quo, spark change and take action to address persistent systemic barriers within the institution research ecosystem and academia more broadly;

• recognize faculty members who contribute their time, expertise and lived experience to help address inequities in their institution, the research ecosystem and academia; and

• provide opportunities for students and trainees to contribute to this important work.

The objective of the award is not to fund research in EDI disciplines but rather to fund initiatives to be implemented within the institution to identify and/or address systemic barriers.

Funding Available:

Three separate awards of up to $100,000 over one year will be awarded to successful institutions. The award provides a total of $100,000 over one year, with the potential for a one-year no-cost extension, to a faculty member or a team of faculty members nominated by an eligible institution, to fund the implementation of bold and potentially game-changing initiatives led by the nominated individual or team that:

• contribute to the understanding of the persistence of systemic barriers in the nominating institution and, by extension, the research ecosystem and academia more broadly; and/or

• identify innovative measures that could be implemented within the institution to change the status quo and break down those barriers in the long term.

Nominations are limited to initiatives that help identify and/or address systemic barriers within the nominating institution and, by extension, the research ecosystem. Research projects in EDI-focused disciplines will not be accepted.

Lakehead University will submit one nomination to this competition on November 5, 2024; however, expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr. Jocelyn Bel, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion research facilitator at edi.research@lakeheadu.ca by September 27, 2024. 

All expressions of interest will require the following: 

a) Description of the proposed project (four pages maximum for English)

The project description must be developed by the nominee(s) and must include:

• a title and summary, written in plain language, describing the uniqueness, importance and explicit objectives of the proposed initiative (maximum of 100 words);

• a detailed description of the proposed initiative that shows how it is bold and potentially game-changing;

• the expected impacts/outcomes, in terms of changing the status quo and sparking change towards a more equitable institution and/or research or academic ecosystem;

• who will be involved in helping implement the initiative (e.g., faculty, students, administrators) and what their specific roles will be;

• how co-creation with individuals from underrepresented groups (racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, women, individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities) will be conducted; and

• how best practices in equity, including intersectionality, will be applied within the project.

b) Budget (one page maximum for English)

Provide a detailed one-year budget for the initiative that shows how the $100,000 award will be used to meet the objectives stated in the project description.

• Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

• teaching/administrative release for the individual(s)

• student/trainee stipend(s) or salary

• research costs according to the Chairs Administration Guide

Additional details and requirements can be found here. 

Page limits do not include references. Diagrams, tables and images are counted toward each page limit. Any additional documentation provided outside of that listed above will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed by the committee. The proposals will be assessed by an internal review committee and ranked based on the listed selection criteria for this award. The highest-ranked nomination will work with the Office of Research Services to amend the application before being submitted on behalf of the institution for November 5, 2024. 

The CCS Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research recognize individuals who have made, and are making, valuable contributions to the cancer research ecosystem in Canada. Recipients are leaders in their fields who exemplify excellence in science and outstanding service to the scientific community.

The Project Grant program is expected to:

• Support a diverse portfolio of health-related research and knowledge translation proposals at any stage, from discovery to application, including commercialization;
• Promote relevant collaborations across disciplines, professions, and sectors; and
• Contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.

These grants provide short-term and timely support for partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector. The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. In addressing an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity, these partnerships let non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities on topics of mutual interest.

More than just a scholarship, the three-year program offered by the Foundation aims to train engaged leaders with the skills required to turn their ideas into actions and contribute concretely to addressing the challenges of their communities, Canada, and the world. They will benefit from exchanges, networking, and events with the Foundation’s Fellows and Mentors, all of whom are leaders in their respective fields.

At the end of the process, about fifteen candidates will be selected to participate in this unique program, receiving a generous scholarship that can reach up to $210,000 in total, including:

• Up to $50,000 per year for three years to cover tuition and living expenses during their doctoral research.
• Up to $20,000 per year for three years to cover the costs of research travel, networking, participation in Foundation events, and to improve their knowledge of Canada’s official languages.

All scholarship aspirants can apply by visiting the Foundation’s website: Become a Scholar | Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. They can come from a range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, business schools, public health schools, and law faculties. Their research must be related to at least one of the Foundation’s four themes:

• Human Rights and Dignity
• Responsible Citizenship
• Canada and the World
• People and their Natural Environment

Doctoral Award

An opportunity for promising individuals, pursuing a PhD, to begin the process of becoming future independent investigators in the field of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

• Amount: $129,000
• Duration: 3 years
• Eligibility: Within 18 months of starting PhD program; within 36 months of starting PhD program if it is a direct entry from bachelor’s to PhD.

Postdoctoral Award

Graduates with a PhD or MD who wish to gain additional research experience within an established research environment.

• Amount: $150,000
• Duration: 2 years
• Eligibility: Graduates with a PhD or MD; Within 18 months after obtaining a PhD—can be extended if there are exceptional circumstances.

New Investigator Operating Grant

Designed to help launch the careers of outstanding researchers who are within the first 6 years of their initial academic appointment.

• Amount: $200,000
• Duration: Up to 4 years
• Eligibility: Within the first 6 years of initial faculty position

The Governor’s Award provides financial support to academics who are recognized for their expertise and research in areas important to the Bank's core functions.

The award consists of a $30,000 annual research grant for a term of up to two years, subject to an annual review and confirmation process.

 If you are interested in being nominated for this award, please contact please contact Dr. Batia Stolar, Associate VP, Research & Graduate Studies at bstolar@lakeheadu.ca.

The WSIB is now accepting proposals for the 2025 Research and Grants competition!

Initial proposal deadline: Friday, October 11, 2024

The WSIB’s Research and Grants Program aims to enhance workplace injury and illness insurance system outcomes by supporting innovative proposals that help advance our strategic mandate. The proposals funded through the program will help to strengthen Ontario's workers' compensation system and deliver on our priority of making Ontario a safer place to work.

Research priorities

The WSIB’s 2025 Research and Grants Program will focus on applied research that can help make Ontario the safest place to work. Three considerations for the competition include:

1)            how we work

2)            how we approach health and safety

3)            how we support return-to-work and recovery

The Research and Grants Program is committed to supporting the WSIB’s strategic priority of effective management through the operating practices of the program on an ongoing basis.

Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that align to the topics of interest identified in the Research and Grants agenda. Highly practical research and training proposals aligned to the four primary considerations are also accepted.

*Note: we are using a new grant management system for our application process this year. For more information about the program and how to register for the grant management system, please visit our website.