Important Updates - August 26th 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.
News and Events
Research on quantum technologies in partnership with G7 and Nordic funders
Call for Proposals
The international Canada–G7–Nordic call for proposals on quantum technologies aims to support multilateral or bilateral collaborative research projects in quantum science and technologies. Each project must include at least one Canadian researcher and at least one eligible international collaborator from Germany (DFG), Japan (JST), the UK (UKRI EPSRC) or Nordic countries (NordForsk). International collaborators should consult their respective national funder’s instructions to determine whether they must submit a copy of the proposal or other application materials through their national funder’s process in parallel with the submission to NSERC.
The Canadian applications are due on September 24, 2026, before 8:00 pm (ET).
Funding Opportunities
New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Exploration 2026: NOI Deadline Approaching
Submit your NOI early and connect with the ORI for support
NFRF Exploration supports high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research that pushes beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries and has the potential for transformative impact. Funding Available: Up to $125,000 per year (including indirect costs). Researchers can participate in only one application to the NFRF Exploration competition at a time, either as a nominated principal investigator (NPI), co-principal investigator (co-PI), or co-applicant.
Submission of an NOI is mandatory. Once an NOI is submitted, it will be forwarded to the Research Office for review. If you need to make changes to your NOI at this stage, please contact researchsupport@trentu.ca. After the ORI has submitted the NOI to the agency, no further changes can be made.
To avoid last-minute technical issues, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their NOI to the ORI no later than 12:00 pm on August 17. NOI Deadline: August 18, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Full Application Deadline: October 20, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. (ET)
FujiFilm Disease Modeling Research Grant
Up to $5,000 worth of reagents
This research grant is designed to help accelerate breakthrough discoveries for innovative research projects by supplying scientists with high-quality materials that promote cell survival, stability, and reproducibility during model development and discovery research. Fujifilm is looking to support bold ideas that bridge mechanistic insight and real-world impact in areas of focus such as:
- iPSC-based disease modeling
- 2D and 3D cell culture and organoid systems
- Functional assay development
- Translational disease research
Applications are due by September 25, 2026 11:59 PM PDT | September 26, 2026, 2:59 AM EDT | September 26, 2026, 8:59 AM CEST
Research on quantum technologies in partnership with the NRF of Korea
Pre-Announcement
The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) is leading this international joint call. The official launch is planned for late August.
This call aims to leverage the complementary interests and research expertise of Canadian and Korean academic researchers to support bilateral research projects in quantum science and technologies. Successful Canadian teams may receive up to $750,000 per project ($250,000 per year, for three years).
Applications are due by October 7th 2026.
Research Awards
Nominations are open
The awards recognize Mitacs-supported innovators whose work is helping turn research, talent, and partnership into real-world impact for Canada. If you know a student, postdoctoral fellow, professor, start-up founder, entrepreneur, partner organization, or research team whose work deserves national recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Self and peer nominations are accepted across all award categories.
For full details, eligibility, and nomination requirements, visit the Mitacs Innovation Awards webpage.
Nominations are due by September 8th 2026.
GROW Program Reminders
DG Evaluation: Reading Like a Reviewer to Strengthen Your Application – Panel Discussion (with Dr. Omar Alam and Dr. Wenying Feng)
August 26, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm via Zoom, Registration link
This session provides an insider look at how NSERC Discovery Grant applications are evaluated, featuring insights from Dr. Omar Alam (1507: Computer Science) and Dr. Wenying Feng (1508: Mathematics and Statistics). Drawing from their experience as DG Evaluation Group members, they will discuss how reviewers interpret the criteria, what consistently strengthens or weakens an application, and how panel discussions shape final outcomes. Participants will learn practical strategies for positioning their proposals to align with reviewer expectations and stand out in a competitive field. The session will conclude with time for questions and open discussion.
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
NSERC Discovery Grants (DG): Practical Insights from a DG Reviewer (with Dr. Sanela Martic) NEW DATES
September 23 and September 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Bata Library 411, in-person, Registration link
Are you preparing an NSERC Discovery Grant (DG) application? Join us for a series of practical workshops led by Dr. Sanela Martic, NSERC DG Review Committee member (1501: Genes, Cells and Molecules), to gain insights into evaluation criteria and strengthen your application. The Excellence of the Researcher, Merit of the Proposal, Training of HQP personnel evaluation criteria will be covered across two sessions, with content distributed between two workshops.
Tri-Agency Narrative CV with Dr. Letitia Henville
September 15, 10:00 am – 11.30 am via Zoom, Registration link
In this practical, evidence-based 90-minute presentation, you'll learn how to write the new, narrative-style Tri-Agency CV, which is replacing the Canadian Common CV (CCV) across CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC funding programs. Led by Dr. Letitia Henville, an award-winning freelance academic editor and author of the University Affairs column “Ask Dr. Editor,” this session will show you how to move beyond simply listing your outputs and toward articulating the outcomes and impacts of your work — the changes, benefits, and evidence of influence that make a narrative CV compelling to peer reviewers. Drawing on original interviews with over 150 Tri-Agency reviewers, Dr. Henville will walk you through how to write each required section of the CV: Personal Statement, Most Significant Contributions & Experiences, and Supervision & Mentorship. Participants will also receive six English- and six French-language narrative CV templates, annotated example contributions, and links to relevant resources.
Reminders
Reminder: Stem Cell Network funding available for regenerative medicine
Key Deadlines
LOI submission deadline is Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Full application submission will open to eligible LOI applicants on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Full application submission deadline is Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Reminder: Canadian Race Relations Foundation - National Anti-Racism Fund (NARF) Project Grants
The CRRF is accepting applications from organizations working on anti-racism projects in Canada. Only certain project objectives are eligible, and CRRF welcomes policy-oriented projects. Projects must be implemented between April 1, 2027, and March 31, 2028. The budget can be $25,000-$125,000.
Key Deadlines
Expressions of interest are due September 2. The internal deadline is two weeks in advance. Selected application will be invited to the full application, which is due to CRRF by December 4.
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: Natalie Beavis Collaborative Research Grant
Applications are being accepted for the Natalie Beavis Collaborative Research Grant. This $21,525 grant supports collaborative research projects between Trent and PRHC and includes Mitacs funding to support a Trent student. See the Terms of Reference for full details.
Applications are due by September 25th at 5 pm ET.
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: NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants Program
Tools and Equipment Funding
ORI reminds faculty that the NSERC Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants Program supports the acquisition of research equipment for natural sciences and engineering research programs. Grants of up to $150,000 are available for eligible equipment purchases.
Researchers considering an application are encouraged to connect with ORI and begin preparing materials in advance of the competition deadline.
Internal Deadline: October 6, 2026
Reminder: Ontario Pork Call for Research 2027
Submit LOI by October 13
Research projects should focus on
- Innovation of technology and automation, or
- Trade policy, economics and consumer studies, or
- Testing potential improvements to current swine industry practices.
LOI due October 13, 2026
Full proposal due by January 22, 2027
If the project is related to African swine fever, please reach out to jessica.fox@swinehealthontario.ca.
Brianne Lisinski
Research Operations Coordinator
Office of Research & Innovation
(705)-748-1011 ext. 7050