Research Seed Money

Seed Money for Educational Research Grant Application 2008 (147 KB PDF)

Seed Money for Educational Research Grant Application 2008 (71 KB Word)
Applications due: April 2, 2008, 4:00 pm
Graduate Studies and Bureau of Research Office, Rm. A106

Guidelines for Applicants

Only one application may be submitted per researcher (as applicant or co-applicant). The upper limit is $5,000 for a maximum of one year.

  1. Eligibility Criteria
    Funding will be provided for purposes such as seed funding for a significant new initiative, an exceptional opportunity in an existing research program, and field/library work related to research. It is expected that normally at least 50% of the funding would be used to support graduate students as research assistants.

    Eligibility: Researchers must satisfy one of the following criteria:
    • Hold a Tenured/Continuing appointment
    • Hold a Tenure-track/Continuing appointment
    • Hold a Continuing Adjunct appointment
    • Hold a Renewable Adjunct appointment
  2. Adjudication Criteria
    Funding will be provided for specific research projects by a peer review process. The perceived quality of the proposed research, as documented in the application itself, and need are the most important criteria used by the Adjudication Committee in reaching recommendations for funding.
  3. Funding Criteria
    1. The Committee considers requests for assistance in the following categories:
      • graduate research assistants (it is anticipated that this will normally constitute at least 50% of the funds applied for);
      • clerical help;
      • purchase of books and materials;
      • actual costs of use of specialized research equipment;
      • transportation/travel costs for research purposes and for travel purposes to present significant scholarly work related to the proposed project;
      • subsistence for research purposes and for travel purposes to present significant scholarly work related to the proposed project.;
      • photocopying, duplicating, telephone, and other incidental expenses.
    2. There may be more applications than can be fully supported from the limited funds available and the Committee may award partial funding. Applicants are required to explain how partial funding may be helpful to their projects in question #6 of the application form.
    3. The Adjudication Committee will not consider applications for expenses already incurred.
    4. Funds may not be spent for purposes not covered by the terms of the award.
    5. Researchers who require office assistance for word processing in connection with a research project should, as far as possible, use the regular services of the University. If this is not adequate, full explanation should be provided about the cost of preparing approved material.
    6. Payments made to research assistants must be consistent with the article on Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment in the Collective Agreement. Research assistants will be paid at a rate appropriate for their qualifications. Applicants are expected to engage Faculty of Education graduate students as research assistants, when possible. If full time graduate students are employed on a part-time basis, care must be taken not to violate the limitations on time commitments by such students. Where highly skilled operations are involved for which research assistance is not available at regular rates, the Committee will consider requests for higher rates.
      Note: As all payments (on a casual and on a regular basis) for clerical help or student assistants, are subject to deductions for Canada Pension Plan and Unemployment Insurance, applicants should add 10% Benefits over the amount they will need for assistance in these categories.
    7. When travel by the grantee is essential to the research program, travel expenses may be included as a budget item. The estimate of cost will be based on economy-class airfare, or comparable rail or bus fare, as the situation may justify. Approved automobile travel for field investigations will be estimated at the current Faculty of Education rate.
    8. Subsistence grants will be made in accordance with current University policy. It should be noted that persons travelling outside Kingston and staying in one location for extended periods of time (in excess of two weeks) are expected to secure moderately priced long-term living arrangements.
    9. Funding may be provided to prepare material for publication, e.g. typing, the preparation of drawings or charts, etc.
  4. Program and Application Criteria
    1. The upper limit is $5,000 for a maximum of one year.
    2. Applications for grants must be made on the forms that accompany these guidelines.
      1. Grants will be of one-year duration, beginning May 15 and terminating April 30. After the termination date, the research account set up for the administration of the award will be closed and any remaining funds will be returned for the next competition. An extension of up to six months may be granted. Written request for an extension should be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Bureau of Research and should explain the reasons for the requested extension
      2. All grant holders must submit a brief report, including the impact the award had on their work, within 6 months of the termination of the award. Grant holders who fail to submit a report will be ineligible for further grants. Submit these to Education Graduate Studies and Bureau of Research Office.
    4. Support from Seed Money for Educational Research should be acknowledged in all publications arising from the research. The published acknowledgement should be demonstrated by provision of a copy of the publications, where feasible, or by a photocopy of the acknowledgement made in a book. Submit these to Education Graduate Studies and Bureau of Research Office.