NSERC Discovery Grant Program Information and Timelines for Fall 2022 Applications

*Important: Please see attached form for links to all necessary actions for applications, such as the Research Portals and all inofrmation regarding webinar times*

Please review the information below regarding:

1) NSERC Discovery Grant (DG) deadlines and internal timelines

2) Internal peer review process

3) Information sessions and webinars

4) Other resources

1) NSERC DG deadlines and internal timelines

Review the Discovery Grants program description before applying.

Notification of Intent to Apply Stage

Applicants must submit a Notification of Intent to Apply to NSERC in the Research Portal by August 2. Applicants are not required to submit the NOI to Research Services in advance for review and signature. However, applicants may request feedback on their NOI (optional) if submitted sufficiently before the deadline.

Application Stage Research Services 

Review and feedback (optional)

Applicants may submit a draft copy of their application for internal review (clarity, completeness, adherence to guidelines, etc.) by October 17.

Application submission process

1) Complete the application using the Research Portal.

2) Generate a PDF of the application and submit it for UPEI approval using the Romeo Researcher Portal by October 25, ensuring that Research Services will receive the application by October 27.

3) Upon receipt of UPEI approvals, you will be notified to proceed with submitting your application in the Research Portal by October 31. NSERC’s deadline for submission is November 1.

Note: For assistance with the Romeo Researcher Portal, please contact Jordan Minx, Research Services Liaison, at jminx@upei.ca or 902-566-0843. 

2) Internal peer review process

Research Services coordinates an optional internal peer pre-review process for the Discovery Grant competition. The process will be as follows:

1) Applicants will notify Leslie Cudmore at lcudmore@upei.ca of their intent to participate in the peer-review process by August 2. This will enable the selection of the most appropriate peer reviewer.

2) Applicants will submit a draft of their application (proposal with attachments, budget and CV) by September 1 to lcudmore@upei.ca. These documents will be sent to the selected peer reviewer for review & feedback.

3) Feedback will be returned by early October to provide the applicant with time to implement the suggestions before the application deadline. 

4) Other resources

Discovery Grants Information Centre

Please consult NSERC’s Discovery Grants Information Centre for links to several helpful resources, such as resource videos, the peer review manual, and competition statistics.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Applicants are expected to increase the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented groups in the natural sciences and engineering to enhance excellence in research and training. For more information, refer to the Discovery Grants application instructions and the Guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application.

Tools and resources for Implementing EDI in research, including FAQs to support individuals writing NSERC Discovery Grant applications, can be found here (a project funded by the Canada Research Chairs program and the Secretariat à la condition féminine, in collaboration with the Université de Sherbrooke).

UPEI EDI Resources Information about equity, diversity, and inclusion can be found on the EDI Office website. UPEI faculty, staff, and students also have access to a wide range of information, training, and resources on the myUPEI EDI site.

Contributions to Training

Applicants are advised to consult NSERC’s Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring before applying. The Guidelines provide examples of forms of contributions as well as quality and impact indicators.

Open Access and Research Data

Grant holders must comply with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. For UPEI information and resources, see http://library.upei.ca/openaccess. UPEI’s institutional repository, IslandScholar, can assist scholars in complying with the policy. The Library can also assist with research data management planning and can help applicants to determine the data management resources required for their application. For more information, please contact Kim Mears at 902-566-0453 or kmears@upei.ca.