Funding and Award Opportunities

For Trainees

Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship

This scholarship award is based on superior academic achievement and research potential, as demonstrated by a GPA of 3.5 or higher, awards, and publications.

 

Paul Man Award

The Paul Man Award is in honour of Dr. Paul Man, Division Director of Pulmonary Medicine from 1986 to 2001 for his exceptional contribution to translational research. Translational Research includes work that contains elements or components of bi-directional clinical/basic science research. 

Ballermann Translational Research Fellowship Award

This fellowship award will provide support for a trainee from the Department of Medicine for dedicated research (basic and clinical) done within the Department.

 

Dr. Barbara Romanowski Publication Award in Sexually Transmitted Infections

This research award offered by the Division of Infectious Diseases is for students, residents or fellows in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

 

Dr. Jutta Preiksaitis Publication Award for Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts

This research award offered by the Division of Infectious Diseases is for students, residents or fellows in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

 

Department of Medicine Research Calendar

The DoM Research Calendar highlights deadlines for important funding opportunities, as well as research events such as webinars and information sessions.

Other Funding Opportunities

VP Research and Innovation Office

• Funding Opportunities Database
  The VPRI database contains funding opportunities for researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees. 
• Funding Deadlines Calendar
• Internal Honours & Prizes
• External Awards - Summer and Fall 2024 database

• FoMD Funding Opportunities
• FoMD Sponsor Listing
• FoMD Research Awards

Faculty of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Studies Awards and Funding

Learn more about awards and funding opportunities for trainees. 

Applying for Funding

Eligibility

Am I eligible to apply for and hold research funding?

Academic Faculty Members appointed under Schedule A of the Collective Agreement are eligible as principal applicants and project holders. 

Other categories of individuals may be eligible to apply for research funding as principal applicant and serve as the project holder as per UAPPOL Policy on the Eligibility to Apply for and Hold Research Funding Policy.

Your appointment letter outlines your research eligibility. If it states "ineligible", please contact your Division Director regarding changing your status.

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How Do I Apply for Research Funding?

• Requesting New Research Proposals. Application and proposal requirements vary according to each sponsoring agency. Read more about preparing your applications or proposals.
• Institutional Approval for Grant Applications. The Research Services Office is responsible for approving and signing research applications (proposals) on behalf of the University.

Links Related to Applying for Funding

• Research Administration Roles and Responsibilities Procedure
• Eligibility to Apply for and Hold Research Funding Policy
• Researcher Home Page Login
• Quick Reference Guide: Request for New Application/Proposal Project
• Request for Administrative Application Access - Peoplesoft eTRAC(Word)
• Researcher Services
• Conflict Policy – Conflict of Interest and Commitment and Institutional Conflict

Resources for Proposal Development and Writing

CIHR Applications

• CIHR website
• How to Complete the CIHR Academic CCV Quick Reference Guide
• Biosketch Quick Reference Guide
• CIHR Project Grant Quick Reference Guide
• CIHR Project Grant Submission Checklist for RAS Internal Review
• CIHR Project Grant Evaluation Criteria Quick Reference Guide
• CIHR Project Grant Application Guide for Pillars 2 to 4
• DoM CIHR Internal Review
• FoMD CIHR Internal Review
• VPRI Successful Grants Library - learn from others' past experiences writing grant applications.

Resources for Budget Development 

• Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration
• Health Research Funding Application Budgets & Justifications

Indirect Costs of Research

Indirect Costs of Research (ICR) or “overhead” are expenditures incurred that are not directly attributed or traceable to specific expense activities to a specific research effort, yet are real costs that must be included in a research project budget.

The minimum indirect cost recovery rate for research grants, contracts and technical service agreements is 30% of direct costs; limited exceptions are noted in the UAPPOL Indirect Costs of Research Procedure. Proposals and applications that do not include ICR will not be approved unless there are exceptional circumstances.

• How to Calculate Indirect Costs of Research

U of A Resources

• Research Partner Network. This network provides a broad range of institution-wide research support including grant application development, networking events and workshops.
• Research Partner Network Events & Training
• U of A Vision and Strategic Planning Documents. These resources will help you align with U of A's vision and strategic plans for research and academic excellence.
  • SHAPE: University of Alberta Strategic Plan
  • Forward with Purpose: A Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation
  • Research Impact Services
  • Braiding Past, Present and Future: University of Alberta Indigenous Strategic Plan
  • Strategic Plan for EDI

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Managing Your Grants

How Do I Manage My Grant Funds?

Receive & Manage Funding

After securing funding and notifying Research Services Office (RSO), researchers can set up their research project account. Once established, they can access funds and initiate their research. Subsequently, research administration activities mainly revolve around financial management and progress reporting.

Throughout the process, researchers can rely on Research Administrative Services for support in:

• Finalize Funding Documentation
• Activate Project Account
• Manage Funding
• Project Close-Out
• Forms Cabinet

Watch Managing Research Projects.

Review of Expenditures

Eligible Spending & Sponsor Audits

Refer to the Guide to Financial Management - Expenditure Approvals, Expenditure Transaction Processing: Research and Special Purpose Projects regarding the University's framework for electronic approvals.

Watch Reviewing & Verifying Research Grant Expenditures.

Over-expenditures

When a research project has an unauthorized over-expenditure, the RSA will deactivate the project within approximately nine days after month-end to prevent further over-expenditure. 

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Delegation of Signing Authority

Authorization is granted to the Principal Investigator/Trust Holder (account holder) to make expenditures that are in accordance with University policy and procedures and are compliant with granting agency/donor terms and conditions. 

Authorization to expend funds can be delegated (refer to Delegation of Signing Authority Procedure). Delegation must be in writing and on file at the Unit.

Delegation of Signing Authority (Sponsored Research Funds) Form

Many sponsors require that research funding terms be set out in a contract. The University is committed to entering into research contracts that embody principles of fairness, accountability, open disclosure of research results, and research carried out with the highest possible standards.

Signing Authority. RAS is the signing authority for research contracts, not researchers.

Contracts are reviewed and approved in accordance with the University's Contract Review and Signing Authority Policy found on UAPPOL. The Research Administrative Services (RAS) coordinates the review and signing of all research contracts. This includes:

• research contracts with single or multiple sponsors
• technical service contracts
• subcontracts for research involving other institutions
• master agreements
• research network and inter-institutional agreements
• memoranda of understanding for research projects

RSA has template contracts available for these situations, or can review contracts provided by sponsors.

Related Links

• Key Concepts and Steps to a Signed Research Contract
• Contract Review and Signing Authority Policy
• Understanding Contracts (video)

More Information on Managing Your Grants Funds

• Account Terms of Reference
• Subgrants
• Amendments. When project terms and conditions change, amendments are required to the award or agreement.
• Tri-agency Renewal. The Tri-Agency streamlined and simplified the administration and use of grant funds by launching the new Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) which strives to promote efficiencies and provide greater flexibility to both administering institutions and grant recipients in ensuring the appropriate accountability and use of grant funds.
• ConsignO Memo. ConsignO is a user-friendly electronic signature cloud platform that enables recipients to sign documents from anywhere using desktops, smartphones and tablets. ConsignO provides a reliable audit of signature authenticity in accordance with industry standards.

Purchasing Goods/Services

How do I purchase goods/services using grant funds?

SupplyNet is the university's web application (e-procurement platform) for purchasing and paying for goods and services. A variety of goods and services are available and include office supplies, lab equipment, and shredding services. The table below provides a sampling of commodities available through our Preferred Suppliers in SupplyNet. For a comprehensive list of our preferred suppliers and available commodities, visit the SupplyNet.

A Corporate Purchasing Card is available for employees who regularly purchase low dollar goods or services that are not available from Preferred Suppliers and that do not require a SupplyNet PO.

• Corporate Purchasing Card Reconciliation Process
  • How to Reconcile Your Credit Card Statement
  • Demo: PCard Reconciliation

For more information, read Purchasing goods and services at the U of A: An overview of the four different purchasing methods available.

Links Related to Managing Your Grants

• Core Services Administrative Guide. Designed to support general administrators in navigating the university's financial and human resources processes, the newly expanded core services administrative guide offers practical information, tools, links and documents.
• Preferred Supplier Agreement Contract List
• SupplyNet Requester Access
• User Reference Guide — Ordering Goods and Services