NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplements - Fall 2011 Grants Competition

Please forward the following information ASAP to researchers who may wish to shorten the duration of their current Discovery Grant and reapply sooner so they can be possibly considered for the Accelerator Supplements this coming Fall 2011 Grants Competition. NSERC is offering this option again this year to universities to submit a limited number of researchers who meet the objectives of the program.

This is TIME-SENSITIVE so please observe the deadlines indicated below:

UofT Quota: 8
Internal Deadline (for receipt of names from Unit Heads by e-mail): June 23 (Wednesday)
NSERC Deadline: July 14 (Wednesday)


NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplements (DAS)

The Discovery Accelerator Supplements provide substantial and timely resources to a small group of outstanding researchers who have a well-established research program and who are at a key point in their careers at which they can make, or capitalize on, a significant breakthrough, but who are being held back by insufficient funds.

Useful Links
Program Description: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/DGAS-SGSA_eng.asp
FAQs: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/DGASFAQ-SGSAFAQ_eng.asp

Important Reminders
1 – Researchers do not apply for the Supplements. They may be nominated during the annual competition for Discovery Grants by their respective Evaluation Groups, if they have been recommended for a substantial increase in funding.
2 – Duration and Value of the Awards: $120,000 over three years.
3 – Researchers selected by the University will have to submit a Notification of Intent to Apply (Form 180) on August 1 and a Discovery Grant Application by November 1. The duration of their current Discovery Grant would be terminated as of March 31, 2011 with the one-year automatic extension to March 31, 2012.
4 – NSERC cannot guarantee that applicants will be put in the DAS pool nor a supplement will be awarded nor that the previous Discovery Grant funding level will be maintained.

Internal University Procedures
1 – Researchers selected by their departments must have the APPROVAL of their administrative unit head.
2 - If there is more than one such request from an administrative unit, these must be ranked by the Unit Head.
3 - The names must be submitted by the administrative unit head to Research Services by e-mail by 5:00 p.m. on June 23rd. We regret that we cannot accept late submissions due to the short timeline.
4 - If more than 8 requests are received, requests will be further adjudicated by a committee to select the strongest candidates.