SSHRC Explore Grants

Call for Proposals 2024-2025

The SSHRC Explore grant is made possible by block funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to the University of the Fraser Valley. Explore grants are designed to support small-scale Social Science and Humanities research projects with modest funding requirements for researchers at any stage in their careers. Funds are provided by SSHRC and adjudicated/distributed by the University of the Fraser Valley. Because of this, they are required to align with SSHRC's three main pillars (Talent, Insight, and Connection), and have subject matter that is eligible to be funded by SSHRC. 

Research should be original and relevant to the academic field, as demonstrated in the proposal. It should provide meaningful experiences for students/research trainees.

Eligibility

• Applications may be submitted by an individual researcher or a team of researchers.
• The Principle Investigator (or applicant) must be Type B, regular faculty.
• Applicant may only hold one Explore Grant per year.
• Funds are not intended to complete or supplement tri-council or other currently-funded projects (internal or externally funded).

Evaluation and Adjudication

A committee of UFV researchers will adjudicate all applications. The committee will be made up of a broad range of researchers; however, it will be incumbent on the applicant to ensure the proposal is presented in language that an educated generalist audience can evaluate.

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

Your application will be evaluated based upon the following criteria and scoring scheme:

Challenge – the originality of the proposed research probability of making a significant contribution to knowledge (40%)

• Originality, significance and expected contribution to knowledge
• Appropriateness of the literature review/context provided (eg. Enough context has been provided academically and otherwise, for the reviewer to understand the importance of the proposed research)
• Appropriateness of the theoretical framework
• Appropriateness of the methods/approach
• Quality of training and mentoring to be provided to students, emerging scholars and other highly qualified personnel, and opportunities for them to contribute
• Potential for project results to have impact within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities

Feasibility – the design of the project, and its probability of successful completion (30%)

• Appropriateness of the proposed timeline, and probability that the objectives will be met
• Expertise of the applicant or team in relation to the proposed research
• Appropriateness of the requested budget, justification of proposed costs, and, where applicable, other cash and/or in-kind contributions
• Quality and appropriateness of the knowledge mobilization plans, including effective dissemination, exchange, and engagement with stakeholders within and/or beyond the research community

Capability– the experience/expertise of the applicant (and co-applicants) and their knowledge to complete the proposed research (30%)

• Quality, quantity, and significance of past experience and published and/or creative outputs of the applicant and any co-applicants, relative to their roles in the project and to stage of their career
• Evidence of past knowledge mobilization activities (eg. Films, performances, commissioned reports, knowledge syntheses, experience in collaboration / other interactions with stakeholders, contributions to public debate and media), and of impacts on professional practice, social services, and policies, etc.
• Quality and quantity of past contributions to the development of training and mentoring of students, postdoctoral researchers, and other highly qualified personnel

The adjudication committee will be asked to score each proposal for each of the three criteria above. Applications must receive a score of at least 50% in each criterion in order to be considered for funding. Once scored, applications will be ranked and funded until funding is exhausted.

Grant recipients must acknowledge SSHRC support for their research or research-related activities.

Questions?

For assistance with your SSHRC Explore application, please contact Ash Lalani -ash.lalani@ufv.ca 

For assistance with Romeo, please contact Kelly Tracey - kelly.tracey@ufv.ca. 

Application Instructions

An individual researcher or a team of researchers may apply to this fund.

To apply, log on to UFV ROMEO, select Apply New and find the application form called “SSHRC Explore Grants”.

This is a hybrid application, with some information to be completed in Romeo, and some provided through PDF’s that you can upload. All uploaded documents should be in 12pt. Times New Roman font with minimum ¾” borders and in PDF format.

(Instructions for how to complete a form in ROMEO can be found on the UFV Research, Engagement, and Graduate Studies (REGS) webpage.)

In the Romeo Application, please be sure to complete the following information:

Project Info Tab
Provide the project title and proposed start and end dates.

Project Team Info Tab

Romeo will automatically provide your information as the Primary Investigator. Check your information, and add details for any other investigators who will be working with you on this project. If Co-Investigators are from other institutions, you can contact Kelly Tracey and have them added to the database.

Project Sponsor Info Tab

It is not necessary to complete this tab.

SSHRC Explore Grant Tab

Project Title

Project Summary and Description

This should be a PDF document, maximum 5 pages, 12-point font, suitable for an educated generalist audience who may not be familiar with your discipline.

Summary
Page one of the attachment should have only the Summary. This should be a summary of the proposed project, maximum of 300 words, and should briefly explain the project, emphasizing its originality and the importance of proposed outcomes.

Project Description
Pages 2-5 should be the Project Description. In as much detail as possible, describe the project providing context that demonstrates its originality and importance to the field of research and, if applicable, to the community/industry/other stakeholder groups. Provide enough detail on theoretical framework/methodological approach for an educated, generalist audience to evaluate the quality and feasibility of the research being proposed. Please use the following sub-headings in your document:

Objectives
Provide the key objectives of the proposed research.

Context
Discuss the scholarly and social contexts in which your proposed project is situated. Cite relevant, recent research in order to demonstrate why this project is original and significant to your discipline and (if applicable) has a strong probability of having impacts beyond the academic sphere. 

Methodology
Provide a detailed description of the methods and approach that will be utilized in order to achieve the proposed objectives. This can include a project timeline, theoretical lenses applied, details on data collection, subject recruitment, number of participants, analysis, etc. Be sure to specify whether important individuals/groups/organizations have consented to participate in this project, and how the knowledge created will be mobilized to key stakeholders (both those participating in the project and those who would have an interest in the results).

Student Training/Roles and Responsibilities
Provide details on how many students will be engaged in this research, how they will be recruited (particularly efforts made to ensure diversity and inclusion in the research team), what their roles and responsibilities will be, how they will be trained, and what skills they will acquire through participation in this project.

Budget
Download and complete the Budget template found in the Attachments Tab. Please provide explanation and justification for each of the costs listed. A clear justification supports the committee in understanding the feasibility of the proposed research.

Conflict of Interest Declaration
Declare any potential or perceived conflicts of interest in completing the proposed project.

Compliance and other information
Respond to the questions, providing details of any HREB or other certification needs that might relate to this project.

Attachments

Attach the Project and Budget Documents as PDFs.