News and Events

Canada Research Chair searches launching soon

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, in collaboration with Faculties, will soon launch searches for seven Canada Research Chairs. These are a combination of external and internal searches for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 chairs:

• External Tier 1 CRC in Aquatic One Health/One Water-One Health (Science)
• Internal Tier 1 CRC in Innovations in Automobility: Advancing Sustainable and Secure Transportation (Engineering)
• External Tier 2 CRC in Indigenous Law and Policy in Canada: Governance, Rights, and Global Advocacy (Law)
• Internal Tier 2 CRC in Advanced Materials Science (Science)
• Internal Tier 2 CRC in Quantum Innovations and Experimental or Theoretical Physics (Science)
• Internal Tier 2 CRC in Green Materials, Chemistry, and Infrastructure (Engineering)
• Internal Tier 2 CRC in Decent Work and Economic Growth (Business)

The searches will be conducted in alignment with UWindsor and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat recruitment and nomination requirements. For further information, contact Jessica Lukas.

Research Ethics Board under new leadership

Please join in welcoming Rachel Zand as interim chair of the UWindsor Research Ethics Board. Dr. Zand has more than 20 years of experience conducting research and creating research ethics policy, strategy, and training. She is president and owner of Zand Consulting Inc., offering research ethics governance, management, and review services to academia, government, and private companies.

Dr. Zand is the former director of Human Research Ethics at the University of Toronto and served on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB), including two years as president. She co-created REB 101, a staple in the training of new research ethics administrators across Canada, and helped develop standard operating procedures for REBs that review multidisciplinary research. She also helped Clinical Trials Ontario launch a pilot Observational Health REB Qualification program. Now called the Multidisciplinary Research REB Qualification, it is being rolled out to research institutions throughout Ontario.

Dr. Zand takes over as chair of the REB from Suzanne McMurphy who has provided outstanding leadership and service to our research community over multiple tenures as REB chair. Our deepest thanks to Dr. McMurphy for ensuring that UWindsor research involving human participants meets the highest ethical standards.

In the coming weeks, Dr. Zand will meet with key campus stakeholders. She will also host open sessions to meet faculty and staff. Contact her at ethics@uwindsor.ca.

Share ideas at this week's Think Tank 

Join WE-Spark Health Institute June 20 for its next Think Tank. Presenters include Dr. Ziad Kobti, director of UWindsor's School of Computer Science, speaking on leveraging AI for data-driven innovation in health care; Dr. Catherine Vanner of UWindsor's Faculty of Education addressing sexual violence in Ontario schools; and Feeding Windsor Essex founder Roger Fordham, who will address using collaboration and research to fight food insecurity. This event will be held via Zoom, 1-3 p.m.

Webinar planned for NSERC Research Tools and Instruments applications

The Office of Research and Integrity Services will be hosting a Research Tools and Instruments webinar July 24, noon to 1 p.m. via Teams. The purpose of the webinar is to stimulate conversation about equipment needs and to begin early preparation of applications.

Researchers invited to join online directory

The Canada Foundation for Innovation invites researchers to join the Research Facilities Navigator. The Navigator is an open-access, searchable directory of facilities at universities, colleges, hospitals and government departments.

Since its launch in 2013, the Navigator has helped researchers attract partnerships with industry, connect with academic collaborators from Canada and abroad, and meet students interested in furthering their training in state-of-the-art facilities. List your lab on the Navigator here.

New link for Data Management Plan platform

The DMP Assistant platform recently migrated to national infrastructure. As part of this process the old domain (assistant.portagenetwork.ca) has been retired and will no longer connect to the correct page. The DMP Assistant is available by using this link: dmp-pgd.ca.

Funding Opportunities

Form 100D – Consent to Provide Limited Personal Information about HQP to NSERC

All NSERC applicants must ensure they have a Form 100D completed for all HQP where their limited personal information is described in your CCV and/or your application.

NEW!  NSERC-CNSC Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative (Phase II) 

The NSERC-CNSC Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative is intended to support activities that will:

• increase the scientific information available to support regulatory decision-making and oversight
• increase capacity to regulate SMRs
• enhance the capabilities of Canadian universities to undertake research related to SMRs
• increase training and help produce a new generation of nuclear scientists, engineers and policy makers

Research proposals must address one or more of the 15 specific research challenges and knowledge gaps outlined on NSERC’s website.

Letter of Intent external deadline: July 17

Letter of Intent internal deadline: 10 business days prior to external deadline

A new ERSO file is required for the LOI.

Full application external deadline: Nov. 6

Full application internal deadline: 10 business days prior to external deadline

A new ERSO file is required for the full application, if invited.

NSERC - Discovery Horizons (pilot)

Discovery Horizons grants support investigator-initiated individual and team projects that broadly integrate or transcend disciplines to advance knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). In the context of this funding opportunity, the term “interdisciplinary” should be understood to fully encompass all research that connects, crosses or falls in between the traditional disciplines of the three agencies, including transdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, convergence research and other approaches at the interface. This is NSERC’s entry-point to the tri-agency interdisciplinary peer-review mechanism.

Letter of Intent external deadline: June 16 (LOI internal deadline has passed.)

Full application external deadline: Oct. 20

Full application internal deadline: 10 business days prior to external deadline

A new ERSO file is require for the full application, if invited

Research Portal now open!

The Research Portal is now open for the Discovery Grant Notice of Intent and Subatomic Physics Notice of Intent. External deadline for both: Aug. 1, 8 p.m. EST

These are not competitive and are submitted directly to NSERC. There is therefore no internal deadline and no ERSO file required for both of these NOIs. Please contact your research coordinator Brayden Labute (Engineering projects) or Michelle Nevett (Natural Science projects) for questions or if you would like a review of your NOI materials.

External Funding Opportunities for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Contact Natasha Wiebe if you intend to apply.

SSHRC facts and figures

Recent SSHRC adjudication committee members

NEW! SSHRC Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (replaces SSHRC and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships)

• NOI due UWindsor – June 23.
• Application due UWindsor – Aug. 7.
• Application due SSHRC – Sept. 11

NEW! SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis – The Arts Transformed

• NOI due UWindsor – Oct. 3
• Application due UWindsor – Nov. 3
• Application due SSHRC Dec. 2

Webinar for this competition will be held Oct. 2, 11 a.m. to noon. Registration link to be added to the funding opportunity page.

NEW! Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants

The ICLR Connection Grants fund activities to engage with and exchange knowledge that contribute to wholistic, interdisciplinary and distinctions-based approaches. Valued at up to $50,000, these grants are reserved for researchers affiliated with First Nations not-for-profit organizations, Métis not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous not-for-profit organizations serving more than one distinction, or Indigenous postsecondary institutions.

• NOI due UWindsor – June 23
• Applicatioon due UWindsor – Aug. 12
• Application due SSHRC Sept. 23

Webinars for this funding opportunity will be held in English on June 25, 1-3 p.m., and in French on June 26 at 10:30 to 12:30 p.m.

NEW! Indigenous Science and the Impacts of Plastic Pollution

This joint initiative of Environment and Climate Change Canada and SSHRC provides up to $237,500 a year for up to two years for research that addresses knowledge gaps about the potential impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities through the various stages of the plastic lifecycle, focusing on social, cultural and economic impacts. For this funding opportunity, at least one partner organization must be an Indigenous partner in Canada. Proposals should demonstrate that project priorities have been designed through consultation with, co-developed with, or initiated from Indigenous communities and/or organizations.  

• NOI due UWindsor – July 30
• Application due UWindsor – Sept. 4
• Application due SSHRC – Oct. 16

Webinars for this funding opportunity will be held in French on June 26, 1-2:30 p.m. and in English on June 27, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

SSHRC Partnership Development 2025

• Co-applicant NOI due UWindsor – Aug. 1 (for applications submitted by other universities)
• Application due UWindsor – Oct.8
• Application due SSHRC – Nov. 15

SSHRC Connection: August 2025

• Application due UWindsor – July 3
• Application due SSHRC – Aug. 1

SSHRC Aid to Scholarly Journals 2025

• NOI due UWindsor – July 20
• Application due UWindsor – Aug. 6
• Application due SSHRC – Sept. 11

SSHRC Partnership Engage: September 2025

• Application due UWindsor – Aug. 15
• Application due SSHRC – Sept. 15

SSHRC Destination Horizons: Fall 2025

• Expression of Interest due oris@uwindsor.ca – noon Aug. 11
• Application due UWindsor (by invitation only) – Sept. 8
• Application due SSHRC – Sept. 22

SSHRC Insight 2025

• Application due UWindsor – Aug. 18
• Application due SSHRC – Oct. 1

SSHRC Partnership Grant Stage 2: 2025 (for co-applicants on non-UWindsor submissions)

• NOI due UWindsor – June 30
•  Application due UWindsor – 15 days prior to submitting university's internal deadline
• Application due SSHRC – Oct. 29

NEW! SSHRC Partnership Grant Stage 1: 2026

• NOI due UWindsor – July 31
• Application due UWindsor – Dec 8
• Application due SSHRC – Feb 10

 SSHRC Connection: November 2025

• Application due UWindsor – Oct. 1
• Application due SSHRC – Nov. 1 

NEW! SSHRC Connection: Feb 2026

• NOI due UWindsor – Nov 30
• Application due UWindsor – Jan 5
• Application due SSHRC – Feb 1

 SSHRC Partnership Development 2025

• Application due UWindsor – Oct. 8
• Application due SSHRC – Nov. 15

SSHRC Partnership Engage: December 2025

• Application due UWindsor – Nov. 15
• Application due SSHRC – Dec. 15

NEW! SSHRC Insight Development: 2026

• NOI due UWindsor – Nov. 30
• Application due UWindsor – Jan. 5
• Application due SSHRC – Feb. 2

FHSS Scholarly Book Awards

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) offers grants to offset the costs of publishing or translating scholarly books that make important contributions to the humanities and social sciences.

Canadian authors may apply. Grants are paid to the publisher.

Law Foundation of Ontario Responsive Grant 2025

Responsive Grants support unmet financial needs of nonprofits, charities, and Indigenous groups working to improve access to justice for the people of Ontario.

• Expression of Interest due Foundation – No deadline
• Application due UWindsor (if invited) – 15 days before submission to Foundation
• Application due Foundation (if invited) – TBA

Funding Opportunities for Health Research

CIHR announcement on CV styles for competitions

CIHR recently announced it is transitioning to a new narrative-style tri-agency CV for competitions and moving away from the Canadian Common CV (CCV). To provide sufficient time to adapt to the new CV format, the new tri-agency CV will not be used for the Fall 2025 Project Grant competition.

Contact Dominika Boron for health research inquiries

Team Grants: Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention

The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and partners have launched this funding opportunity to unite interdisciplinary research teams to advance the biological and mechanistic understanding of cancer etiology, genesis, and risk to identify new targets and approaches for cancer prevention, risk reduction and early detection.

Application deadline: June 19 (if registered by April 1 deadline)

Harmonized Tri-agency Scholarship and Fellowship Programs

The scholarship and fellowship programs administered by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC have been streamlined into a new harmonized talent program called the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The CRTAS aims to support the next generation of innovators by providing funding and high-quality research training, cultivating research skills, fostering creativity, and empowering awardees to make significant contributions to the Canadian research ecosystem, economy, and prosperity. Applications open this summer.

New Frontiers in Research Fund — Exploration Competition

The goal of the Exploration stream is to inspire high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research. Exploration grants support research that pushes boundaries into exciting new areas. Researchers are encouraged to think outside the box and undertake research that would defy current paradigms; brings disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives; and has the potential to be disruptive or deliver game-changing impacts.

Funding Amount: $250,000 (up to $125,000 per year for two years)

Notify Nicole Noël in ORIS of your intent to apply as soon as possible.

• Internal deadline for draft Letter of Intent: Aug. 15
• Internal deadline for draft application: Oct. 6
• Final deadline for full application submission to Tri-Agency: Oct. 21

Changes to Mitacs Accelerate program

There are no longer limits to the number of Mitacs Accelerate units that can be applied for by Ontario universities. UWindsor will no longer be holding internal competitions and researchers are welcome to apply for as many units as projects require. For joint Mitacs-NSERC applications, please include in your applications only Mitacs units as far ahead as March 2029.

For further information, contact Joseph Santarelli or your research coordinator.

Understanding Identity-Based Violence and Marginalization

This initiative of the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation seeks to foster research aimed at advancing peace, reducing violence, and addressing marginalization.

• Award value: $7,000
• Number of awards: 4
• Award duration: 1 year

Faculty researchers from any discipline are invited to submit proposals that explore identity-based violence and marginalization on campuses and in communities. The focus may include, but not limited to, experiences of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Asian racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, homophobia, ableism, and gender-based marginalization. Applicants must not have other funding for developing the research project in question. Priority will be given to early career researchers.

Applications are not yet open.

Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute (CANSSI Ontario) Ontario Funding Opportunities

Data Access Grants: Up to $5,000 to cover costs associated with accessing large data sources for data-intensive research. Each proposal must involve two faculty members from different academic units across CANSSI Ontario's 12 partner universities. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Workshop/ Lecture Program: Up to $1,000 to facilitate workshops and lectures in emerging fields including applied statistics such as biostatistics and financial statistics, organized by faculty at CANSSI Ontario partner institutions. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Contact Dominika Boron to apply and for additional information.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

Applying for a grant with an equity, diversity and inclusion component?

Please see the resources below for information and guidance.

• Gender Based Analysis+: Explore GBA+
• Past ORIS webinar offerings
• Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan

Tri-Agency Resources

• Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research - A guide for applicants to New Frontiers in Research Fund competitions
• Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada

CIHR-Related Resources:

• Canada Research Chairs Unconscious Bias Training Module
• Course on Research Ethics – TCPS 2: CORE
• Background context on Indigenous Health Research
• CIHR Learning Modules
• Sex and Gender Considerations in Health Research

NSERC-Related Resources:

• NSERC Framework on EDI
• Dimensions Charter
• Strengthening Research Excellence through Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Guide for Applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application
• NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research

SSHRC-Related Resources:

• Guidelines for the Merit Review of Aboriginal Research
• Indigenous research
• SSHRC's equity, diversity and inclusion dashboard
• Guide to Including Diversity Considerations in Research Design for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Award Applicants
• Guide to Addressing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Considerations in Partnership Grant Applications

Find more funding opportunities