MEDI Early Researcher Award

The Ontario Early Research Awards (ERA) Program helps promising, recently-appointed Ontario researchers build their research teams, and improves Ontario’s ability to attract and retain the best and brightest research talent. The ERA program is a discretionary, non-entitlement program, which is highly competitive.

Deadlines:
May 1, 2013        Applicant communicates with their Assoc. Dean Research (ADR) regarding their intent to apply

May 24, 2013      NOIs to Research Office

July 12, 2013      Full Applications to Research Office + OR-5

Eligible Applicants must be no more than five years into their independent academic research career as of July 1 2012, and no more than 10 years from completion of their first Doctorate as of July 1, 2012. Researchers who are, or have been, Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs are NOT eligible.

Awards are up to $100,000 to fund eligible expenses for a research team, and must be matched by an additional $50,000 cash from the researcher’s institution and/or partner organization.

Eligible Expenditures:
The $100,000 from the ERA and the $50,000 matching contribution will cover the following expenses for undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates and technicians carrying out the research (must be based in Ontario):

• Salary & Benefits (salaries must be commensurate with institutional remuneration scales)
• Essential & Reasonable travel expenses related directly to conferences, workshops or seminars; &
• Essential and reasonable travel and expenses related directly to offsite research activities

Evaluation Criteria:
• Excellence of the Researcher (40%)
• Quality of Research (30%)
• Development of Research Talent (20%)
• Strategic Value for Ontario (10%) - Demonstrates potential for strategic value for Ontario based on the Ontario Innovation Agenda

Accompanying the ERA full application package, the researcher will have to provide three original signed letters of reference in sealed, signed envelopes. One of the reference letters must be from a former supervisor, mentor, collaborator or corporate sponsor familiar with the researcher. Two of the reference letters must be from arm’s length sources. It is recommended that the arm’s length letters be from researchers of international stature familiar with the researcher’s work.
Links to Guidelines, Notice of Intent Forms, Application Forms & Budget Spreadsheets:
http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/era/program.asp

For more information, contact: Meg Grimes – X52935 mgrimes@uoguelph.ca