CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF)

As these are institutional funding applications, the eligible recipient is defined as the eligible institution that receives and administers CFI funding as part of a proposal for an infrastructure project.

The researcher(s) listed on the proposal must be:

• A recognized leader or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in the proposed research field(s)
• Engaged in or embarking upon research/ technology development that is original, internationally competitive and of high quality; and
• A current faculty member with a full-time academic appointment or a candidate that the institution is in the process of recruiting to a full-time academic position in an area of strategic importance

Two main streams currently exist for JELF application submissions:

1. Unaffiliated JELF (Stand-Alone) - This stream allows institutions to provide individuals or small groups of researchers (up to three) with research infrastructure necessary to conduct their research program.
   • Unaffiliated JELF competitions are held three times a year in February, June and October.  While the majority of Queen's JELF applications involve a single applicant, up to three candidates may be listed on the proposal when there is a demonstrated need to share infrastructure. When more than one candidate is listed, a justification of the need for the infrastructure must be articulated for each candidate. Sharing of infrastructure is encouraged provided the candidates have sufficient access to carry out the proposed research program.
     Applicants should review the CFI Guidelines with Application Form for unaffiliated JELF and request support from an Institutional Programs Research Projects Advisor.
      
2. JELF Partnerships - This stream is a joint application process developed with the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, the Canada Excellence Research Chair Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

   • CFI is currently partnered with the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), NSERC, and SSHRC as follows:

     • CRC/CERC: The CFI partners with TIPS' Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program and Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program to create competitive packages for the funding of infrastructure and research support and to help reduce the burden on both applicants and reviewers. Requests for CFI-JELF infrastructure support should be made by institutions at the time of nomination or renewal of the CRC/CERC as the CFI deadlines match the partnering agency (i.e. CRC/CERC) deadlines.

     • NSERC: The CFI partners with the NSERC Industrial Research Chair (IRC) program to create competitive packages for the funding of infrastructure and research support and to help reduce the burden on both applicants and reviewers.  IRC grants assist universities to build on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major research endeavor in science and engineering of interest to industry. They also assist in the development of research efforts in fields that have not yet been developed in Canadian universities but for which there is an important industrial need.  There are no deadlines associated with these submissions.

     • SSHRC: CFI partners with the SSHRC Insight Grants and Partnership Grants programs to create competitive packages for the funding of infrastructure and research support and to help reduce the burden on both applicants and reviewers.  The CFI deadline for JELF Partnership applications associated with SSHRC Insight Grants is October 15 annually.  The Letter of Intent deadline for CFI JELF Partnerships associated with SSHRC Partnership Grants is February 15 annually.

       Interested applicants should review the CFI Guidelines with Sample Application Form for JELF Partnership.

Eligible costs are defined as the costs of acquiring or developing research infrastructure. The institution must report the full cost of each item. The taxes net of credits received may be included. Taxes must not be calculated on an in-kind portion. Examples are below:

Eligible costs (more details available within CFI Policy and Program Guide)

• Research equipment and components
• Shipping, transportation and installation of research infrastructure, including brokerage fees, excise taxes and duties
• Warranties and/or service contracts
• Software subscriptions and licences
• Laboratory furniture
• Communications infrastructure essential for the research activities described in the proposal
• Travel to a manufacturer, dealer or supplier to select research infrastructure
• Initial training for the main operator(s) of the research infrastructure. It is expected that the main operator(s) will train other users. Alternatively, an initial group training session may be provided by the vendor at the institution.
• Salaries (including benefits) of professional, technical and managerial personnel, consultants and contractors directly involved in the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, construction or renovation of the infrastructure
• Construction or renovation of space essential to house and use the infrastructure or to conduct the research activities described in the proposal
• Acquisition of a database or the time-limited design and development of a database to the point that it is ready for exploitation by a designated research community
• The costs of retaining professional, technical and managerial personnel, consultants and contractors directly involved in the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, construction or renovation of the infrastructure are eligible
• Infrastructure projects may involve the construction of a new building or the development of new space in an existing building (e.g. new floors, reconfiguration of existing space) when space is essential to house and use the infrastructure or to conduct the research activities described in the proposal (includes purpose-built collaborative space essential for the proposed research and primarily used for research activities)
• Either the acquisition of a database or the time-limited design and development of a database to the point that it is ready for use by a designated research community
• Advanced Research Computing (ARC) in consultation with Compute Canada may be eligible wherein the cost encompasses both the software and environment needed for a given discipline to effectively use these types of infrastructure, and needs such as high levels of data security and integrity as may be required by specific disciplines or researchers (typically, such systems cost more than $100,000)

Step 1: Confirm with your Faculty that you have a CFI JELF allocation and notify Institutional Program Contacts of your intent to apply.

Step 2: Acquire necessary quotes, floor plans, etc. for inclusion in your JELF application. If renovations may be required, submit the online Planning and Renovation Request Form as soon as possible. If advanced research computing is required, Queen's Centre for Advanced Computing as soon as possible.

Step 3: Submit the draft sections of your application for feedback prior to the internal deadlines (the current internal guide with deadlines will be provided to PIs separately by the assigned Research Projects Advisor for each competition; the guide will also include tips, TRAQ instructions and sample quotations).

Step 4: Make the necessary revisions, obtain all required documentation and upload all content into the researcher portal, CFI Awards Management System (CAMS) prior to the established internal deadline.

Step 5: The Institutional Research Projects Advisor will submit all CFI applications via our institutional portal in CAMS on the deadline day and upload the final version of the application into TRAQ.

Step 6: Complete the Ontario Research Fund – Small Infrastructure Fund (ORF-SIF) application for matching provincial funds according to internal guidelines. After scheduled review and revisions, submit final version for institutional signature. Applications will be submitted to OMCU by their established deadline.

• CFI Guidelines for unaffiliated JELF Applications
• CFI Guidelines for JELF Partnership Applications