Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

2025 Details TBC - Information below is for reference only!

The Weston Family Foundation is pleased to launch a new program focused on protecting and restoring biodiversity in Northern Canada.

The Northern Biodiversity Research Program is seeking to fund applied research projects that have a demonstrated opportunity to influence conservation policy or practice in order to improve outcomes for northern ecosystems and biodiversity.

The goal of the Northern Biodiversity Research Program is to:

• Produce high-quality research findings on northern biodiversity in Canada; and

• Utilize the generated findings and knowledge at conservation decision-making processes in support of improved northern biodiversity outcomes.

Successful Projects will focus on:

• Population dynamics, ecology, health, disease, contaminants, or management studies of species of importance for northern ecosystems

• The response of ecosystems to the impacts of climate change

• The impact of anthropogenic activities on species or ecosystems

Please refer to the Program Details for more information.

Funding available per project: A minimum of $600,000 and a maximum of $3,000,000 CAD per research project will be given out for projects. Projects can extend up to three years.

Important dates:

Information webinars: May 29 (register here) and June 5, 2024 (register here) at 2:00pm EST.

Letter of Intent deadline:  June 21, 2024 at 5:00pm ET apply here

Proposal deadline: September 11, 2024 at 5:00pm ET

Award announcement: November 2024

For further information about this exciting new program, including project details, applicant eligibility, and scientific or geographic scope, please review the documents below.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any inquiries related to the program. You are welcome to send questions to David Bysouth, Program Manager for the Northern Science and Research Committee at david.bysouth@westonfoundation.ca

Relevant documents:

• RFA

• Program Details

• Letter of Intent Template

• FAQs

This application’s Letter of Intent (LOI) does not require review by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) or Research Grant and Contract Services (RGCS). If you are invited to develop a full proposal, then a Departmental, HSS Dean's office, and RGCS review is required. Therefore, in addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, you will also be required to submit the proposal through Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP) at that time. In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file.

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.