A Data Champion is an individual (or team) who applies their discipline-specific expertise to the promotion of a wide range of data principles, and advocates for a culture of sound data stewardship in a variety of ways. This individual (or team) is passionate about advancing Research Data Management (RDM) and sharing their knowledge to build a collaborative and researcher-led community of practice with the goal of fostering RDM best practices within and between disciplines.
The Data Champions funding call will be used to fund up to $50 000 per applicant consisting of a diverse cohort of researchers who will take on the role of ‘data champions’ at their universities, post-secondary institutions, or non-profit organizations whose activities support Canada’s DRI ecosystem. Our goal is to take a national approach where the awarded Data Champions are representative of all Canadian regions and official languages.
The goal of the Data Champion is to develop program activities that advance the awareness, understanding, development, and adoption of RDM tools, best practices, and resources in Canada. Broadly speaking, this funding call will further the Alliance’s RDM mandate by promoting sound RDM practices and contributing to a broader culture change in the conduct of digital research, and ultimately fostering excellence in Canadian research.
The awarded funds, disbursed in two installments, is to provide funds towards salaries/stipends of the data champion(s) to allow the awardee to focus on data champion activities at their organization.
Data Champion activities envisioned as part of this funding call include but are not limited to those listed below and further information on each activity can be found in Appendix A: Activities Envisioned for Data Champions under the Pilot Project.
Data Champion applications for funding will describe and expand upon these activities (or other Pilot-aligned activities identified by applicants) and are expected to address more than one of these broad areas of activity.
- training/mentoring
- promoting/advancing RDM
- addressing disciplinary challenges
- driving culture change
- informing future initiatives
This funding call is intended to support new activities or notably expand and/or innovate current activities of the data champion.
The goal of this funding call is to have local and/or regional activities that could be potentially scalable or have broader application. As such, if an application is focused solely at a local or regional level and there is no evidence of intent to scale the RDM activities nationally, the application will be scored lower than an application that identifies local and/or regional activities that could be potentially scalable to the national level. Please review the evaluation scorecard for more information on application scoring.
Yes. Funds can be used towards salaries/stipends for new roles. However, consultants and team members from ineligible organizations cannot receive awarded funds but can participate as collaborators.
We also advise applicants to describe the credentials of the supervisor and highlight the qualifications that would be required of potential candidates to fill the new role in the “Breakdown of Expertise and Commitment” section of the application.
Applications for the proposed call will be accepted from January 4th, 2022, until February 3rd, 2022. Adjudication will occur over the month of February 2022 with awardees announced early March 2022 for the project period to be from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.
The Alliance RDM Team, in collaboration with its Network of Experts, provides coordination and support for the Data Champions in fulfilling their Pilot activities.
This support may include:
- Convening regular meetings of the Data Champions cohort to share ideas and experiences, and to inform ways of initiating and improving a national Community of Practice.
- Consulting with Data Champions regarding their proposed activities through initial consultation and periodic check-ins to provide links to appropriate experts and/or resources.
- Facilitating collaboration among Data Champions on potential areas of shared interest and expertise.
- Helping Data Champions with specific activities, as capacity permits.
- Tracking progress of various activities.
Results from this Data Champions Pilot may inform future RDM/Data Champions-related opportunities.
2. Eligibility
Applications can be submitted by an individual researcher, librarian or data professional or a team consisting of these data management experts. Recipients must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution and must maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period.
The following are eligible Canadian institutions or organizations (“institution”) which includes the designation of one individual at the vice-president level to be responsible for the oversight of the grant funds:
- post-secondary institutions (universities and colleges)
- research hospitals
- non-profit organizations that are positioned within the DRI ecosystem
We welcome and encourage submissions from:
- small institutions
- Indigenous research groups
Note: Funds will be disbursed to the affiliated institution of successful applicants.
Yes. However, their participation is restricted to Project Collaborator as defined in the Data Champions Call, and they cannot receive funding.
No. Project Teams must include at least two team members, but these do not need to be from different institutions. As well, one organization can submit multiple applications.
3. Projects Evaluation
Yes. All applications submitted for funding will be evaluated as described in the Application Process Section of the Data Champions call including evaluation criteria.
No. Applications will be evaluated on their merit as described in the Data Champions Call (Section Application Process). However, consideration will be given to applications that advance RDM on a national scale, as measured by outcomes identified in the application.
4. Expenses
The Data Champions Pilot Project provides funds that are to be used specifically for salary/stipends and pay-related benefits of the applicant/team. This would allow for the applicant/team to be relieved of their regular salaried activities to now focus on Data Champion activities or to pay team members for Data Champion related work.
Successful applicants must provide proof, in the form of a letter from their institution, attesting that the funding will be applied towards new, and/or notably expanded or innovated activities already being carried out by the Applicant in support of RDM at their institution. The letter shall also indicate that the funding will be applied against salaries and benefits. Note: letter of support is not required for new roles that will be created if the application is successful.
The Alliance expects recipients of funding to comply with the Tri-Council Guide on Financial Administration and Policy Statement on the Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.
No, matching funds are not required for the Data Champions pilot project.
As awarded funding is only for salaries/stipends and pay-related benefits, all other expenses are ineligible. Funds will be disbursed in two installments at 50% of requested budget.
5. Application
Applications can be submitted through an online webform (closed).
To assist in your online submission, a fillable version of the application can be downloaded, however only applications submitted through the webform will be accepted.
Note: By submitting an application for funding consideration, the Applicant and its institution(s) acknowledge that the terms and conditions outlined in Appendix B – Grant Funding Agreement, are non-negotiable post-award.
Within five (5) working days of receipt of notification of award of funding, the Applicant must provide the following:
- Fully completed and signed Grant Agreement (refer to Appendix B – Grant Funding Agreement) with the Alliance by an authorized representative from the institution that the Applicant is affiliated with.
- Letter signed by the president/principal or delegate of the institution that the Applicant is affiliated with, that includes a statement confirming that the Applicant will be available to conduct the work outlined in its application and that this work is separate from that of their regular duties while employed by the Institution. Note: letter of support is not required for new roles that will be created if application is successful.
The Applicant agrees to participate in regularly scheduled meetings with the Alliance, both individually and as part of the national cohort, to advance Pilot objectives. Monthly meetings should be anticipated, with additional meetings held based on need. The applicant agrees to deliver on its obligations outlined in its application during the term of the Agreement.