Overview |
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Value & Duration |
Between CDN $50,000 and CDN $100,000 for 1 to 2 years |
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Stage 1: LOI Deadline |
April 12, 2024, 23:59 PM ET |
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Stage 2: Full Proposal Deadline |
June 28, 2024, 23:59 PM ET |
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Results |
August 2024 |
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Program Start |
January 2025 |
Supporting emergent areas of data science is a core activity of the Data Sciences Institute (DSI) that helps to fulfil its mission of bringing people together for collaborative generation and application of new ideas in the data sciences.
Through the Emergent Data Sciences Program, the DSI funds leading researchers to galvanize, support, and advance data science work in key interdisciplinary areas where the University of Toronto excels or has the potential to excel. Primary funded activities should prioritize research concentration on leading topics with the objective of building or strengthening communities and linkages within the University of Toronto. Example activities that are eligible for funding include workshops, seminars, conferences, distinguished lectures, and training sessions that range in length and should involve long and short-term visitors, postdoctoral fellows, and students.
The DSI encourages proposals for Emergent Data Science Programs that include a broad span of activity that can lead to the development of innovative data science methodologies, deep connections with computation and applied disciplines, new training programs, collaboration, knowledge mobilization, and impact beyond the academy. Ideal program proposals should establish or elevate interdisciplinary activity that advance the data sciences by pursuing the next big-but-yet-unknown data-driven field or computational or analytic breakthrough. Thoughtful blue-sky ideas are welcome.
Situated within the broader DSI ecosystem, Emergent Data Science Programs will run for one or two years, with a potential for extension and further funding. Programs should aim to draw a global presence in their research scope and in the diversity of their visitors and distinguished lecturers. Proposed Emergent Data Science Programs should include a longer-term plan that outlines how the research activities could be sustained beyond the initial DSI funding period, which could include activities such as working towards implementing new education programs or applying for a significant external research grant.
The DSI will fund Emergent Data Science Programs for $50,000 to $100,000. Funding can be used to invite visitors, to support postdoctoral fellows and students to assist with organizing program activities, and to develop community-building events. In addition, Emergent Data Science Programs will receive administrative support from DSI staff to coordinate events, communications, and programming as well as grant-writing support.
Applicants should apply in teams of at least 2 PIs who will act as program Co-Leads. Co-Leads should come from different disciplinary units within the University of Toronto or DSI partner institutions; proposals should explain how the disciplinary backgrounds of each Co-Lead will contribute to interdisciplinary excellence within the Emergent Data Science Program.
Successful applicants will be required to:
For applicants looking for examples of active EDS programs, please see Toward a Fair and Inclusive Future of Work with ChatGPT (co-sponsored by the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society) and Causal Inference: Bringing together data science and causal inference for better policy recommendations.
The DSI is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
The award is open to PIs who meet the following criteria:
Applications are submitted via the DSI Good Grants application portal.
Register an account and select “Start Application” for “Emergent Data Sciences Program.”
The application is divided into tabs; each tab includes a set of instructions and fields to fill out. These instructions are also highlighted below.
Applicants will need to complete the following fields.
Tab 1: Start Here
Tab 2: Administrative Information
Tab 3: Team Information
Click “Add contributor” and a series of fields will appear. You will need the following information for each PI:
Tab 4: Proposal
Rationale, Goals, & Objectives (maximum 500 words): comment on the following:
Impact & Alignment (maximum 500 words): comment on the following:
Roles, Expertise, & Collaboration (maximum 500 words): comment on the following:
Unit Head Signatures: Please use the provided template, convert to .pdf, and upload unit head signatures for all PIs.
Tab 5: CVs
Upload a CV for each PI.
Demographic Survey
Once an application is submitted on or before March 8th, the applicant or the person submitting on their behalf will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to a Demographic Survey. While this survey is required, when filling it out respondents have the option to select “Prefer not to answer” for all questions. This link should be shared with all PIs who will have until March 15 to fill it out.
If invited to stage 2, applicants will be able to edit their LOI into a full proposal. Information on the "Team Information" and "Proposal" tabs can be updated, and written responses to the "Rationale, Goals, & Objectives," "Impact & Alignment," and "Roles, Expertise, & Collaboration" questions can increase their word counts from 500 to 1000 words. New proposal components will become available:
Program< (maximum 1000 words): comment on the following:
Potential Participants (maximum 250 words): comment on the following:
Training (maximum 250 words): comment on the following:
Metrics of Success & Impact (maximum 250 words): comment on the following:
Sustainability Plan (maximum 250 words): comment on the following:
Budget
Suggested Reviewers
Letters of Intent will be reviewed by members of the DSI Research and Academics Committee. Reviewers will be asked to consider the following categories:
Full proposals will be sent to external reviewers and then selected by a review panel. Applicants will have a chance to suggest external reviewers in their proposals.
All application materials can be submitted directly onto the form. Certain fields on the form ask for uploads and require the following templates:
