Important Updates - July 14th 2026
Regular updates outlining research opportunities and special activities emailed to faculty on behalf of the Office of Research & Innovation.
For any questions or concerns, please kindly direct your response to research@trentu.ca, as this will ensure it reaches the appropriate contact.
Funding Opportunities
LOI due July 17
Grain Farmers of Ontario has released their funding opportunities with the following priorities:
Develop integrated weed, disease, and insect pest management strategies that consider multiple management options, biology and epidemiology of the pest, and prevention of pest resistance to trait and pesticide control measures.
Funding available: Average is $30,000 per year for up to 5 years. Overhead rate is 25%.
Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call
Applications Close August 17 - Don't Miss Out
There’s still time to apply to the Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call. Applications will be accepted through to August 17, 2026.
See the Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call page for answers to frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question there, your Mitacs Advisor will be happy to assist.
Canada-UK-US Call for Proposals: Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface
Explore potential collaborations
This joint initiative brings together NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research that improves understanding of wildfire risks, impacts, and solutions for prevention, mitigation, adaptation, and recovery. Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations are encouraged.
Projects must involve a UK academic collaborator, with optional participation from U.S. researchers, and may address environmental, social, health, economic, cultural, and built-environment dimensions of wildfire resilience. Proposals are required to address at least two of the program aims, including the development of interventions and solutions for adaptation, mitigation, and recovery.
Canadian researchers eligible to hold NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR funding may participate. Funding is available through a lead-agency model, with the UK project lead submitting the application on behalf of the international research team.
Key Dates
Expression of Interest deadline: July 30, 2026
Full Proposal deadline (by invitation): October 1, 2026. Internal ORI deadline: September 10, 2026
NFRF Exploration 2026 Competition
The 2026 NFRF Exploration Competition has been launched. This program supports high‑risk, high‑reward, interdisciplinary research that pushes beyond traditional approaches and encourages bold, innovative thinking. Exploration grants are designed for projects that bring together disciplines in unexpected ways, explore novel ideas that may carry a risk of failure, and have the potential for significant impact across economic, scientific, artistic, cultural, social, technological, environmental, or health domains.
Teams may include one coPI and any number of coapplicants or collaborators. Applicants may only participate in one Exploration application at a time (as NPI, coPI, or coapplicant).
Funding available: Up to $125,000 per year (including indirect costs).
NFRF will host information webinars for both the NOI and full application stages. Dates and links will be posted on the program page as they become available.
NOI deadline: August 18, 2026
Full application deadline: October 20, 2026. Internal deadline: September 29th 2026.
Full program details are available on the NFRF Exploration 2026 competition page.
GROW Program Reminders
Brilliant Budgeting: Balancing the breakdown and the objectives (with ORI Facilitators)
July 16, 10:00 am – 11:30 am via Zoom Registration link
This session will focus on how to develop a well-justified budget with detail and accuracy and will include a presentation on cash and in-kind contributions. The session will highlight how to use your budget justification to connect your grant sections together and complement details in other sections of the application for maximum clarity. The session will include reviewing successful examples from funded applications.
Health/CIHR Grants Interest Group: Project Planning & Strategy (with Shawna Wicks)
July 21, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, Bata Library 411, hybrid (Zoom) Registration link
This session will feature a presentation of a Research Canvas planning tool. It will be followed by discussion of strategically planning your research questions and experimental progression to generate preliminary data and manage budgets, facilitating targeted grant submissions.
July 21, 10:00am-12:00pm, virtual, Registration link
This session is for early-career researchers, first-time applicants and established researchers looking to understand the various granting programs offered by SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) for faculty members. We will cover basic information about a variety of SSHRC programs, application components, support available through the ORI and tips for successful applications. Time will be set aside for questions.
EDI in Practice: Strengthening Your NSERC Discovery Grant Application (with ORI Facilitators)
July 22, 09:30 am – 11:00 am via Zoom, Registration link
This session will provide practical guidance on addressing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) requirements within the NSERC Discovery Grant application. Participants will gain insight into how to meaningfully integrate EDI considerations into their research program and training plans strengthening both the quality and competitiveness of their proposal.
SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (PEG) (with Breanne Whitwell)
July 23, 1:00pm-3:00pm, virtual, Registration link
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (PEG) program, including requirements of the application. We will describe individual elements such as project descriptions and budgets and discuss best practices and common pitfalls for each. We will also cover the requirements of the partner organization, including the contributions and letter of support that the partner must provide. Time will be set aside for questions.
SSHRC Insight Grant (IG) (with Breanne Whitwell)
July 29, 10:00am-12:00pm, virtual, Registration link
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the SSHRC Insight Grant (IG) program, including requirements of the application. We will describe individual elements such as project descriptions and budgets and discuss best practices and common pitfalls for each. Time will be set aside for questions.
Introduction to Research Funding in the Social Sciences & Humanities (with Breanne Whitwell)
August 13, 12:00pm-1:30pm, virtual, Registration link
This session is for newly hired faculty, early-career researchers, first-time applicants and those looking to understand various internal and external sources of funding for faculty researchers in the social sciences and humanities. We will cover information about a variety of funding sources, support available through the ORI and tips for successful applications. Time will be set aside for questions.
SSHRC Connection Grant (with Breanne Whitwell)
August 19, 1:30pm-3:30pm, virtual, Registration link
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the SSHRC Connection Grant (CG) program, including requirements of the application. We will describe individual elements such as project descriptions and budgets and discuss best practices and common pitfalls for each. We will also cover requirements related to matching contributions and letters of support from sponsoring organizations. Time will be set aside for questions.
SSHRC Insight Development Grant (IDG) (with Breanne Whitwell)
August 20, 10:00am-12:00pm, virtual, Registration link
This session is for early-career researchers who are ready to apply for external funding or established researchers looking to explore new research questions or approaches. The session will provide a comprehensive overview of the SSHRC Insight Development Grant (IDG) program, including requirements of the application. We will describe individual elements such as project descriptions and budgets and discuss best practices and common pitfalls for each. Time will be set aside for questions.
SSHRC Partnership Development Grants (PDG) (with Breanne Whitwell)
September 1, 10:00am-12:00pm, virtual, Registration link
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (PDG) program, including the requirements of the application. We will describe individual elements such as project descriptions, evidence of the partnership, and budget, and discuss best practices and common pitfalls. We will also cover the requirements of partner organizations, including the contributions and letters of support that partners must provide, as well as possible university contributions. Time will be set aside for questions.
Reminders
Reminder: SSHRC Connection Grant (CG)
These grants support knowledge dissemination events and outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives. Connection Grants support workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, summer institutes or other events or outreach activities.
Key Deadline Information
Due to the Civic Holiday and University closure on August 4th, applications are due to SSHRC by July 31st, 2026. Complete applications are due internally by July 17th.
The next CG deadline is November 2, 2026.
Reminder: NSERC Alliance Quantum Grants
New funding released
LOI is mandatory to advance to full competition.
Reminder: 2nd Arctic Youth Conference
The Call for Proposals is now open for workshops, panel discussions, skills-building sessions, exhibitions, cultural activities, etc.
Reminder: SSHRC Destination Horizon Grants
SSHRC Destination Horizon Grants support social science and humanities researchers to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other “associated countries” researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to Horizon Europe—Pillar II calls for proposals. These are not grants to conduct research or to implement existing Horizon Europe projects. Similar to the SSHRC Connection grants, proposals are expected to respond to objectives of the Research Partnerships program. Destination Horizon Grants are valued at up to $15,000 for one year and must be fully matched by cash contributions from Trent.
There is a required internal notice of intent for interested applicants: Notify the ORI of your intention to submit by emailing researchsupport@trentu.ca by Monday, July 27.
Full applications are due to the SSHRC by September 22, 2026. The internal deadline is August 24, 2026. The next SSHRC deadline will be January 22, 2027.
Reminder: SSHRC Insight Grant (IG)
Insight Grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities and are best suited for established researchers. Project budgets must be between $10,000 and $500,000. The project length can be anywhere from two to five years. All applicants are encouraged to reach out to Breanne Whitwell as early as possible to notify ORI of your intent to submit and receive details about the internal submission process.
The ORI is offering a comprehensive virtual information session regarding the Insight Grants on July 29th from 10:00am-12:00pm. To register for Insight Grants. SSHRC is offering an information webinar on August 20 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. To register for SSHRC.
The SSHRC deadline is October 1, 2026.
Note: there is an internal deadline three weeks prior to SSHRC’s deadline for this grant application, and all applicants are encouraged to reach out to Breanne Whitwell as early as possible to notify ORI of your intent to submit and receive details about the internal submission process.
Reminder: SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (PEG)
SSHRC is now accepting applications to the Partnership Engagement Grants. There are four in-takes/deadlines per year. These grants provide short-term and timely support for partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector. The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and challenges facing organizations in non-academic sectors. Projects are 12 months and have budgets up to $50,000.
Applications are due to SSHRC by September 15, 2026. The next deadline is December 15, 2026. Complete applications are due internally at least 10 business days in advance.
Reminder: SSHRC Partnership Development Grant - Applicants
Partnership Development Grants support the development of research and/or related activities in the social sciences and humanities by fostering new partnerships with existing and/or potential partners or by designing and testing new partnership approaches for research and/or related activities that can result in best practices or models. There are internal deadlines for this grant application, and all applicants are asked to reach out to Breanne Whitwell no later than August 14th to notify ORI of your intent to submit, and to receive details about the internal submission process. Applications are due to SSHRC by November 16. The internal deadline is November 2.
Reminder: SSHRC Partnership Development Grant – Co-Applicants - Letters of Engagement/Support
For Trent co-applicants on SSHRC Partnership Development Grant applications hosted at another institution, requests for Trent partner contributions and/or Letters of Engagement must be received by ORI no later than October 1, 2026, or six weeks prior to when the Letter is required by the host institution, to ensure sufficient time to discuss and secure confirmation of requested resources and sign any documentation required for the application. If all required resources have already been confirmed by the researcher, requests may be received one month prior to when the Letter is required by the host institution (i.e., by October 16th).
Please contact Breanne Whitwell if you have any questions or concerns.
Reminder: SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant - Changing Nature of Security and Conflict
The 2026 Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSG) competition will mobilize, examine and synthesize social sciences and humanities research on The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict. The resulting syntheses will help identify roles the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors could play in promoting more inclusive and equitable societies; and could inform development of effective tools and technologies, robust policies, and sustainable practices needed to support the path toward a diverse and inclusive future for all.
KSGs support researchers in producing specific outputs: "knowledge synthesis reports" and "evidence briefs". KSGs are not intended to support original research. Rather, they are intended to support the synthesis of existing research knowledge and identify knowledge gaps.
Applications are due to SSHRC by December 3, 2026. The internal deadline is November 19.
Brianne Lisinski
Research Operations Coordinator
Office of Research & Innovation
(705)-748-1011 ext. 7050