A complete, maximum 4-page application (or 5 pages with bibliography/references) must be submitted by the competition deadline as a single PDF document, using 12-point Times New Roman, single-line spacing, and ¾” margin formatting. The application package must include:
- Cover Sheet (1 page)
- Project Description (2 pages maximum)
- Budget & Justification (1 page maximum)
- Bibliography/References (optional; 1 page maximum).
The Project Description for Research Seed Funding must include the following elements: (1) an explanation of the project, situated in relation to current research/relevant scholarship; (2) a brief discussion of methodology; (3) a short statement of how the research addresses the goals of this funding opportunity; and (4) contingency plans related to the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your project, if appropriate. The applicant must summarize the proposed research or scholarly activity using language suitable for a multi-disciplinary audience. The Project Description must clearly explain the significance (e.g., scholarly and/or community-based impacts, knowledge transfer and exchange impacts) of their project.
The Project Description for Workshops/Outreach must outline the workshop or outreach endeavour and its location(s); explains the significance of the proposed event(s); describes the engagement of other participants, including any community partners; provides a timeline for the proposed events; contingency plans related to the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your project, if appropriate. The Faculty of Information should play an anchoring role in any events planned for a university location.
For both Research Seed Funding and Workshop/Outreach applications, research involving Indigenous peoples in Canada must comply with chapter 9 of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (2018) on Indigenous research. This chapter also provides a very useful guide to best practices regarding respect, collaboration, meaningful participation, and non-extractive methodologies in the context of community-based or community-engaged research.
The Budget Justification should clearly outline all proposed research or workshop expenses, including but not limited to salaries/stipends, supplies/equipment, travel for data collection or knowledge mobilization.
Applications are due on Monday February 28, 2022 by 11:59pm. Please submit proposals in one SINGLE pdf file with naming convention [lastname_FI BIPOC grant] to Stephanie Fisher (s.fisher@utoronto.ca) by this date.
Evaluation Criteria:
- For Research Seed Funding applications: clarity of prose; clarity of articulation of the research problem and project goals; clarity of methodology; significance of the research in relationship to the program goals in anti-racism, social justice and/or supporting Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized scholars; appropriateness of budget. Standard Tri-Council expense eligibility requirements will apply. The adjudication committee may recommend a lower amount of funding than requested.
- For Workshop/Outreach Applications: clarity of prose; clarity of articulation of project goals; engagement of any other proposed participants; significance of the activity in relationship to the program goals in anti-racism, social justice, decolonization and/or support for Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized scholars; benefit to the Faculty of Information’s community; appropriateness of budget.
Adjudication Process:
Applications to this award opportunity will be adjudicated by an interdisciplinary group of stakeholders (students, staff, faculty, librarians, etc.) internal and external to the Faculty of Information with subject matter expertise and who have training in unconscious bias. To be successful, applicants must write their applications for non-specialist reviewers. Proposals written in a highly specialized or technical prose are likely to receive a lower ranking.
To serve as a reviewer on the adjudication committee, please complete the Reviewer Application form and email it to Stephanie Fisher, Strategic Research Development Officer, at s.fisher@utoronto.ca.
Competition Results:
Results will be emailed to the applicants. Individual scores/rankings cannot be provided, but if reviewers provide comments in their adjudication documents, that feedback can be shared with applicants upon request.
Post-Award Details:
Successful awards will be transferred to the faculty member’s commitment fund centre (CFC) following the receipt of any necessary certifications (see below).
Certifications: University certifications for research using human subjects, animal subjects, or biohazards are required (as necessary) before funds can be transferred. Certifications need not be appended at the time of application; funding cannot be released, however, until confirmation of the necessary certification is received by the Research Services Office.
