This is a the first of a series of posts in which I will share with you some of the things I learned a Congress. One of the things I learned at Congress is that there are other sources of funding out there for some types of humanities and social science research.
Do your research goals include influencing policy?
And do you do work in one of the following areas:
- Learning over the lifecourse
- Employment and productivity
- Income Security
- Families and Child Development
- Seniors and Retirement
- Inclusion
- Communities and Place
- Research Methods
- Policy Instruments
If so, you might want to get on the distribution list of the Research Opportunities newsletter from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).
You do that by sending an e-mail to nc-hrsdc-research-gd@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca letting them know your first and last name, phone number, affiliation, faculty/department, and your research interest (which of the list above you are interested in). Then they will send you appropriate requests for proposals (RFP). Indicating a research interest will reduce the amount of irrelevant e-mail you receive from them.
The process is going to be different from applying for a SSHRC grant.
There will be very specific guidelines. And the RFP is likely to make much more specific demands than the more open competitions at SSHRC.
However, if your research goals fit, and you follow the instructions and seek appropriate advice from program staff, your chances of success should be good. Staff in your university Research Office will also be able to help.
I had a very interesting conversation with staff from the Policy Research Directorate at Congress and they are interested in getting more and better responses to their requests for proposals.
I plan to meet with them to get a better sense of the process, and their own frustrations with applications that don’t get it quite right, so that I can provide support to you if you decide to apply.
I’ve also signed up for the notifications (in all areas) so that I know what is coming up and can let clients who might benefit from this funding know about opportunities.
If you are not interesting in influencing policy …
That is fine. I’m surprised you read this far. This particular source of funding is not appropriate for your program of research. There will be something more relevant to you another time.
I know you feel the pressure to get external funding. And I know you feel the pressure for research to be “relevant” (whatever that means). But each individual researcher is not required to do everything.
Your research goals should lead your search for funds.
I have met too many academics who have learned of a source of funding and then tried to figure out how to develop a project that would be eligible for those funds. Inevitably, the project they develop is neither directly in their area of expertise, nor is it something they are passionate about doing.
Then, when they don’t get the money (for a project they didn’t particularly want to do in the first place) they resent the time they put into the process of applying. Time lost to research they did want to do.
Much better to have a clear sense of your own research goals, and then judge all funding opportunities that you come across in relation to those goals.
Your research goals should be somewhat flexible.
You might prioritize an aspect of your research program that you were going to do later, for example, if a suitable funding opportunity presents itself.
Or you might make minor adjustments to the nature of a project to better meet the objectives of a particular funding program.
You might consider collaborating with a colleague to put together a project that draws on aspects of both your work that relate well to the objectives of a particular funding program.
But you should only apply to a particular funding program if the program objectives and the mandate of the funding body are a good match for your own research objectives.
The best way for you to secure external funding is to focus on your own research goals.
Do excellent research. Publish your research so that you make the maximum impact on the advancement of knowledge. And apply for funding from programs that are designed to fund research like yours.
Yes, it will be competitive. All sources of funding are limited and hard to get. The people with the best chances are those whose objectives fit with the program objectives and who have demonstrated excellence in the areas required by the funder.
And if you are working in the areas listed above and you would like to do policy relevant research, get on that mailing list. Send an e-mail to nc-hrsdc-research-gd@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca letting them know your first and last name, phone number, affiliation, faculty/department, and your research interest.
