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NSERC Discovery Grants

Details
Opportunity NameDiscovery Grants
AgencyNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
ValueVariable
Indirect CostsIneligible
DurationUp to 5 years
Deadlines
Notification of Intent to Apply (NOI) due at agency08-01-2024, by 8:00PM
Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review10-18-2024
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review10-25-2024, by 9:00AM
Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due at ORS for mandatory review10-30-2024, by 9:00AM
Application due at agency 11-01-2024, by 10:00AM
Objective

The Discovery Grants program assists in:

  • promoting and maintaining a diversified base of high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering in Canadian universities;
  • fostering research excellence;
  • providing a stimulating environment for research training.

The program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals rather than a single short-term project or collection of projects. These grants recognize the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances. Discovery Grants are typically five years in duration and are considered “grants in aid” of research, as they provide long-term operating funds and can facilitate access to funding from other programs but are not meant to support the full costs of a research program.


Eligibility
  • You must hold or have a firm offer of an academic appointment at an eligible post-secondary institution.
  • Your position at the eligible post-secondary institution must (for university faculty):
    • require you to engage in natural sciences and engineering research that is not under the direction of another individual.
    • permit you to supervise or co-supervise the research of postdoctoral fellows or students registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
  • Your faculty appointment must not be conditional on obtaining NSERC grants or other non-NSERC sources of support, including salary support.
  • Your salary must not be paid by NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR grant funds. Exceptions include: scientific directors of Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and those under the agencies’ salary support programs.

How to Apply

The Office of Research Services (ORS) treats the SSHRC Insight Grant, the NSERC Discovery and NRS Grants, and the CIHR Project Grant differently from all other external competitions. For these competitions, the NOI does not require an ORS checklist and can be submitted directly to the agency portal without Institutional review. 


For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca