Senate Research Report - January 2024

  Research News鈥 

Queen鈥檚 Strategic Research Plan Renewal

The Vice-Principal Research (VPR) is currently undertaking the renewal of Queen鈥檚 Strategic Research Plan. The renewal process was initiated this past fall, and the VPR continues to engage with stakeholder and draft the revised plan.

The current Strategic Research Plan expired at the end of 2023. However, the plan will remain active until the renewal process is complete. The VPR anticipates that the renewed plan will be presented to the Senate Advisory Research Committee and Queen鈥檚 Senate for approval this fall.

Safeguarding Research Announcement

The Federal Government announced, on January 16, 2024, its new (STRAC). The policy creates the new (NROs) and an updated list of .

The new STRAC policy will go into effect on May 1, 2024 and will be applicable to all federally funded applications submitted from that date. All researcher named in funding applications to the federal granting councils and Canada Foundation for Innovation will be required to sign an attestation form indicating that they do not have an affiliation with a NRO on the federal government鈥檚 list.

The Vice-Principal Research Portfolio has established a research security team ( researchsecurity@queensu.ca) to support researchers. A town hall event is being planned for the coming weeks to provide more detailed guidance to the research community and to answer any questions in preparation for the implementation of the STRAC policy. If there are any questions about this new policy, please do not hesitate to contact Ricardo Smalling ( smalling@queensu.ca), the Director of Research Security at Queen鈥檚. If researchers so desire, questions about the federal implementation may also be directed to the of Public Safety Canada.

Horizon Europe Funding Call

Canadian researchers are eligible to apply for and . The primary focus of Pillar II is shared global challenges: climate, energy, digital economy, and health.

Horizon Europe is the deepest form of collaboration offered by the European Union (EU) in research and innovation. Canadian researchers are now eligible to collaborate in calls under Pillar II on equal terms with entities from the EU Member States and will have access to networks of research in the EU and 18 other countries associated with Horizon Europe. Pending finalization of the EU-Canada Agreement (expected in late 2024), Canadian researchers will be eligible 鈥渂eneficiaries鈥 under a Transitional Agreement.

The timeframe from call closure to successful grant agreement finalization is typically up to eight (8) months (i.e., late 2024 for applications submitted in early 2024). Researchers interested in Horizon Europe opportunities can learn more from their appropriate Research Projects Advisor.

Learn more about the Horizon Europe funding call

University Student Summer Research Fellowships Update

The Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF) offers a unique opportunity for any continuing undergraduate students to enhance their research abilities while being mentored by a faculty researcher. Students have the option to pursue disciplines in fields unrelated to their own or in their specific area of study.

The USSRF will award 70 fellowships this year. Fellowships span 16 weeks of full-time work and are valued at $9800, with additional benefits such as vacation pay and fringe benefits. The deadline for submissions is March 4, 2024.

Learn more about the USSRF program

Call for Queen鈥檚 Research Integrity Officer

The VPR seeks a tenured faculty member to serve in a part-time role as the Queen鈥檚 Research Integrity Officer. Research integrity represents the foundational commitment of the University to strive for and adhere to the values of honest, truthful, fair, respectful, and responsible research and scholarly practices. Research integrity as a concept applies to all university (non-course-based) research and is governed by the Senate Policy on Integrity in Research. Queen鈥檚 University is responsible for ensuring that the Senate Policy aligns with funding agency requirements, especially the , which is responsible for ethics and integrity in Canada.

Integrity Officer appointments are typically held for a three-year period. The application deadline is February 15, 2024. For more information, please contact research@queensu.ca.

Bruce Mitchell Research Program, Doctoral Trainees

The VPR received 167 applications to a university-wide call for submissions to enhance high-quality research training environments through support for new doctoral trainees to Queen鈥檚. This Bruce Mitchell Research Program competition will provide a maximum of 50 doctoral trainees, through the selected faculty members, with $35,000 per year for four years. Application adjudication will take place by mid-February.

Learn more about the Bruce Mitchell Research Program

  Recent Honours and Awards

  • Nancy Ross (Geography and Planning) has been awarded the 2023 Melinda S. Meade Distinguished Scholarship Award in Health and Medical Geography from the American Association of Geographers
  • Jacalyn Duffin (Medicine) received the 2023 AMS Healthcare History of Healthcare Project Grant Award