maximum two pages (PDF attachment)
INSTRUCTIONS
Using the categories listed on the Funds Requested from SSHRC page, explain how you will use the funds in each budget category to achieve the project objectives. Justify any funds that appear in the category “Other”.
Full justify all budget costs in terms of the needs of the research, keeping in mind that the appropriateness of the requested budget and justification of the proposed costs are a sub-criterion within the Feasibility criterion. It is imperative to distinguish between types of travel when explaining your travel expenses. The types are:
- Travel for research purposes; and
- Travel for communication purposes (e.g., conference travel)
Briefly describe all attempts at obtaining funds from other sources and, if applicable, provide details in your budget justification.
Equally important is the justification for budget costs for research assistants or associates who are not students. These expenditures must be fully justified in terms of the needs of the research. Also, justify the number of students to be hired relative to the objectives of the proposed research.
For tools for research and related activities: Within the page limit, you must include in your Budget Justification a table clearly indicating the amounts by item (e.g., professional/technical services, supplies). This presentation is mandatory, as these separate amounts cannot be included individually in the Funds Requested from SSHRC module. Provide clear justification for each item proposed.
Notes:
- Insight Grant funds cannot be used for remunerations and/or travel and subsistence costs of presenters or guest speakers, or for research cost of collaborators.
- No team members (applicant, co-applicant or collaborator) may be remunerated with grant funds, including postdoctoral fellows serving in any of these capacities.
- Consultation fees are eligible for expert and/or professional and technical services that contribute directly to the proposed research as long as the service is not being provided by a team member or other persons who status would make them eligible to apply for a SSHRC grant.
STRATEGIC ADVICE
Every item in your budget request should have a counterpart elsewhere in the application. For example, requests for research travel should link to the Methodology section of your Detailed Description, conference travel should link to your KMP module, etc.
Provide breakdown of costs, including:
- For student costs: an hourly wage x number of hours spent on the project, and a reminder to the reviewers of how they will spend these hours (tasks/responsibilities)
- For conferences: include airfare, ground travel, accommodations, per diem, conference fees, etc.
Budget Red Flags:
- Conference Travel in Y1: remember that IG results come out in April. If you are requesting funding for a conference taking place early in the project (i.e., June/July/Aug, as little as 2 months in to the project), it needs to be extremely well-justified, and clear how it links to the proposed project (and not past/ongoing work).
- Workshop Costs: While some costs associated with workshops are eligible, keep in mind that projects whose primary goal is to organize a workshop are ineligible for IG funding.
- Student Funding that is incompatible with student responsibilities:
- Large student teams often draw closer scrutiny from review committees. If you are requesting funding for many students, ensure that their distinct roles (or the sheer quantity of work) has been sufficiently detailed in the student training plan.
- Full-year funding (stipends) for PostDocs are also closely scrutinized. Some committee members see this as “out and out living support”, or worry that the PostDoc is actually carrying out the majority of the research, and the PI has just “put their name on it”. If you indeed need the support of a full time PostDoc, consider showing the dollar amount as an hourly wage multiplied by a number of hours, with project-related tasks to be carried out during that time.