AKA – the boring details that are also very important.

• Page = 8.5″ by 11″, portrait, single column, single sided

• Margins = 3/4″ or 1.9cm around
• Font = Times New Roman 12 pt (or a comparable font) ** to ensure that font size stays acceptable do not allow page scaling in the pdf **
• Spacing = single spaced (6 lines per inch)
• Condensed font and spacing = not allowed
• Enter your name and PIN at the top of every page (OUTSIDE THE SET MARGINS)
• Number pages consecutively following the forms

Sometimes it is preferential to choose a sans-serif font (Arial, Verdana) rather than a serif font (Times New Roman) because it is easier on the eye to read on screen, however, note that Arial 12 point is larger than TNR 12 point! So choose your font carefully. (Serif fonts generally have extensions and flares on the ends and corners of letters.)

A grant application is a very targeted document. It is used to determine whether your research will get funding. A business plan for your research program, if you will. As with any funding request, whether it be from a granting agency, a bank or a venture capitalist, you have to make sure that you give the funder the information that they are looking for so that they know you will give them what they want.

In the case of NSERC, they want to “make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports university students in their advanced studies, promotes and supports discovery research, and fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in postsecondary research projects. NSERC researchers are on the vanguard of science, building on Canada’s long tradition of scientific excellence.”

Canadian scientist = check!
Discovery research on the vanguard of science = read all about it in my proposal!

NSERC helps applicants by clearly spelling out the criteria evaluators/reviewers are measuring applications against. Print out a copy of the selection criteria and the evaluation indicators and look at them often to make sure that you are addressing each of the selection/evaluation points. I cannot stress how important this is.

Of course your research is important and significant, but if you don’t tell your reviewers why it is important and significant and how it will deliver on NSERC’s key goals, they aren’t going to help you out by approving you for funding.

For your Discovery grant proposal, NSERC says:

Using the headings below and in a maximum of five (5) single-sided pages [snip], describe the research to be supported. Provide details on:

• your recent progress in research activities related to the proposal and, in addition for renewals, the progress attributable to your previous Discovery Grant;
• the objectives of your research program – both short- and long-term;
• literature pertinent to the proposal;
• methods and proposed approach;
• anticipated significance of the work; and
• training to take place through the proposal (if none, explain why).

Images and graphics are included in the above-mentioned page limitations.

From: Form 101 Discovery Grants Program Instructions

Taking this information, I generally suggest the following headings to subdivide the required information:

• Research objectives
• Background
• Recent progress
• (restate the objectives with or without a heading)
• Proposed Research
• Significance of Research
• Training

Now, this isn’t exactly the order they suggest, but I find that it lends itself to a better flow of ideas. Sometimes background and recent progress can be intertwined, but it is important to explicitly state what you have achieved recently in the proposal (hence the separate section). You can certainly use the organization and headings that you prefer (as long as they ‘conform’ to requirements).

Occasionally I am asked, “why do I have to talk about training highly qualified personnel (HQP) in my proposal? I talk about training in my CV”. The distinction here is that your CV talks about past and current training, while your proposal talks about continuing and future training. For example, “Over the five years of this research plan, I anticipate the training of 3 MScs, 2PhDs, 1 PDF and 5 undergraduate summer students. Students graduating from my lab will have extensive experience in x, y and z, which are in high demand in the most important field on the planet.” Quantify it, spell it out, explain the significance and make it easy for your reviewers to immediately understand your output.

It is also important to pay attention to the selection criteria (you have to scoll down to find them) and the evaluation indicators (scroll down to download the pdf of the indicator matrix) to ensure that you are addressing all of the reviewers questions in a concise and easy to understand way.

Since there is a finite amount of time available before the Discovery Grant (DG) deadline (November 2, since November 1st is on a Sunday), it is important to sketch out a timeline for yourself that incorporates all of the necessary steps to complete your proposal with a minimum of personal stress. Note that I say minimum of stress — be prepared that this will be a stressful process.

By now (September 15th) you should have an idea of what your research project will entail and hopefully will have even begun fleshing out your outline. Here are some tasks to include in your timeline:

• literature search and review (to make sure that you are up-to-date)
• convert your research outline into a research proposal
• port your proposal content into the NSERC proscribed outline (more on this tomorrow)
• complete your 5 page CV attachment using the required format
• fill in the form-fillable portions of form 101 (proposal) and form 100 (cv)
• ask your colleagues to review the scientific aspects of your proposal
• do a proposal swap with a colleague submitting in the same competition
• edit, edit, edit (use a professional editor if you can *I couldn’t resist a small plug*)
• generate and input a budget
• write the plain language summary
• upload your research contributions
• assemble entire proposal package
• edit/review entire package
• get the paper signatures required by your institution (be sure to find out the internal deadline for this activity)
• fix any last minute stuff
• click submit
• enjoy a celebratory beverage of choice

You have roughly 6 weeks. Go!

With the recent reorganization of NSERC’s website, almost all of my old links are broken. Therefore, I have gone through the website to find all of the important information that you will need at your fingertips for this competition:

Discovery Grants (DG or RGPIN)

Program Description
DG Northern Supplements, Program Description

Form 101 (Research proposal) Instructions
Form 100 (Personal information/CV) Instructions

DG 2009 Competition News – includes all sorts of important information on the previous competition and the new peer review structure !Very Important Stuff!

Equipment Grants (RTI)

Program Description
Form 101 for RTI
You only have to complete one Form 100 that gets attached to all NSERC proposals.

eConsole Links

NSERC On-Line System – Remember if the web address has the word PILOT in it anywhere – you are in the wrong site!! You must be in the ebiz secure portal to complete a valid application.

Also, since all application must use the electronic submission portal this year (no paper submissions, can you believe it?!?) Here is a link to the e-console FAQ site.