SSHRC Explore Grant

SSHRC Explore Grant (UW-SE)

The UWindsor - SSHRC Explore Grants (formerly (HSSRG grants) is non-renewable seed funding that provides opportunities for researchers to conduct research and other scholarly and artistic activities that aid in strengthening their future external grant applications. These grants are administered by the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS). Adjudication will be conducted through a peer review process comprised of a committee consisting of four to six faculty members, broadly representing the relevant Faculties, along with the Executive Director, Research and Innovation (as Chair). The committee composition will be renewed from time to time.

It is required that all SSHRC Explore Grant applicants apply for external funding upon the completion of the SSHRC Explore grant.

The maximum funding amount per grant is $5,000. The UWindsor – SSHRC Explore fund is substantially augmented by a special allocation of monies from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

The Explore program has one annual cycle, and applications are due by February 26, 2024.

Applications accepted through the ERSO Research Portal

UWindsor - SSHRC Explore Grants are intended to:

  • Contribute financial support to eligible applicants to help them establish a research program or initiate a new project that will attract external support;
  • Provide seed money for well-defined projects that may lead to applications for external grants by individuals or groups; and,
  • Provide research funding for discrete independent research projects leading to publications/scholarly and creative work.
  • To support applications for external funding.

 

Applicant Eligibility

  • All full-time Faculty members, Librarians, and Ancillary Academic Staff who hold a Tenured/Continuing appointment, tenure-track/Continuing appointment or a Limited Term appointment are eligible to apply. The term of appointment for all applicants who hold either a renewable or term appointment must cover the time frame associated with the proposed research. 
  • Applicants must not have other funding for developing the research project in question.
  • Applicants who are eligible to apply to both the UWindsor SSHRC Explore Research Grant (UW-SE) and the Women’s Grants shall apply to one program only, and shall not hold more than one UW-SE or Women’s Grant during the two-year term of any awarded grant.
  • Applicants who receive funding from this grant program are eligible to apply for a different project during the second year of their award, provided that a progress report for the currently funded project is submitted. The progress report must clearly demonstrate that a complete application has been submitted to an external agency using funds from their previous award.
  • The research program must be in the areas normally supported by SSHRC.  For a complete list of research grants by discipline, please visit the SSHRC website (www.sshrc.ca).
  • If you received Explore funding in the past three years and have not applied for external funding, your application will not be eligible.
  • Priority will be given to early career researchers within five years of starting their academic appointment.
  • Mid and late-career researchers will be eligible if they propose a new pathway in their research; however, priority will be given to early-career researchers.
  • Your application will not be eligible if you hold any internal grant funding.
  • Your application will not be eligible if you hold any external grant funding.
  • It is expected that all Explore applicants will apply for external grants following the term of their Explore grant.
  • If you have not submitted a final report for any previously awarded internal grant (i.e.. from any internal grant program), you will not be eligible to apply to the Explore program.

 

Eligible Expenses

  • Conference calls and other ‘virtual’ meetings between prospective collaborators
  • Travel to meet with prospective collaborators (conference travel is not eligible)
  • Student research assistance
  • Editing of research grant by a professional editor
  • Statistical consulting
  • Office expenses (not to exceed 10% of total award)
  • Actual costs of use of specialized research equipment (equipment purchase is not an eligible expense)

The University of Windsor’s Office of Research Finance will administer grants awarded under this program in a manner similar to other research grants.  Any funds not spent within the time allocated for the research project will revert to the research fund, to be redistributed to other research projects.

The grant holder is responsible for any over-expenditures with respect to this grant. Please check with the Office of Research and Innovation Services for questions regarding eligibility of other expenses.

Although these grants are funded in part with monies made available to the University by SSHRC, the approved funding is a University of Windsor internal grant. The project grant title on the successful applicant’s CV, the project grant title should be UWindsor-SSHRC Explore Award.

Grants are for a maximum of two years, beginning June 1, 2023, and terminating on May 31, 2025. After the termination date, the research account established 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 in exceptional circumstances. The grant holder must contact ORIS regarding such an extension.

Successful applicants must receive approval for all research that involves human subjects, biohazards, radioisotopes, or animals from the appropriate institutional research compliance bodies, e.g. Research Ethics Board, before funds are released.

 

Reporting

All grant holders must submit a final report, detailing the impact the award had on their work, within one month of the termination of the award.  Grant holders who fail to submit a report will be ineligible for future internal grants.  The information supplied in these reports will be used to report grants’ outcomes to SSHRC. Grant holders who fail to submit a report will be ineligible for future internal grants.

Applications accepted throught the ERSO Research Portal

Deadline: February 26, 4:00PM annually
Submit to: ORIS via email

Submit a Final Report