Special Response Fund for Trainees (Ukraine)

Wooden fence painted in the colours of the Ukrainian Flag

Direct impact is defined as: i) a trainee who was expected to return to Ukraine in 2022 but cannot because of the current crisis; or ii) a trainee who cannot continue their planned course of studies or research in Ukraine because of the crisis and is now in Canada. The student must be in Canada at the time of the application to the SRFT.

Following the recent statement by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and further to the commitment of the three federal granting agencies to support researchers and students impacted by the crisis in Ukraine the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) have established a limited-time Special Response Fund for Trainees (Ukraine), or SRFT-Ukraine, to initiate or maintain the employment or financial support of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are directly impacted by the crisis in Ukraine.

This additional funding for grant holders will support trainees, defined as graduate students or postdoctoral researchers, through salaries and stipends.

Eligibility

The applicant (a Tri-Agency or NFRF grant holder) must hold an active grant (including the automatic extension period) awarded under one of the eligible Tri-Agency funding opportunities at the time of application. Grant holders must also maintain an active grant (including the automatic extension period) during the entire period of tenure of the SRFT-Ukraine.

Eligible existing grants:

  • NSERC
  • SSHRC
  • CIHR (N.B. Most CIHR-funded grant programs that support trainees are eligible [CIHR salary and training awards are excluded]. To verify if your grant/funding program is eligible, contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.)

Levels of Support

Existing or new graduate students or postdoctoral researchers can be supported, through salaries and stipends, for a period of up to 12 months. (Requested amounts will be pro-rated to reflect the expected duration of support.)

  • Master's level: Up to $20,000 maximum
  • Doctoral level: Up to $25,000 maximum
  • Postdoctoral level: Up to $45,000 maximum

How to Apply

Applications are being accepted by the Tri-Agencies via continuous intake until Dec. 22, 2022. A ROLA proposal is not required.

Grant holders must complete and submit one of the two forms below (one form per trainee). The form, once completed, must be emailed to researchoffice@uwo.ca for:

  1. Research account verification; and
  2. Institutional signature before submission to the Agency(ies).

Forms

By submitting either of these forms, the grant holder attests that:

  • The trainee will participate in research activities associated with the direct costs of this grant;
  • The trainee is directly impacted* by the crisis in Ukraine;
  • The trainee is not benefiting from other tri-agency funds for the same purpose; and
  • The trainee’s support would end or not be possible if the requested funds were not granted.

Contact

For additional information, visit the Tri-Agency site links above, or email researchoffice@uwo.ca.