COVID-19 Update #17 - April 15 - NSERC deadline extensions, info for residents, undergraduate research program, event changes

This is the 17th update to the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry community.

This update includes information about:

  1. NSERC deadline extension

  2. Resident updates

  3. The Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internship – Information for students

  4. See the Line event cancellation

  5. Awards of Excellence recipients and event rescheduling

  6. Correction: PPE donations

You can now access all these updates online. You can also continue to access the Travel, Education and Visitor Policy, the COVID-19 Travel Reimbursement Policy and the status of our education and research programs online.

NSERC deadline extensions

NSERC released the following statement on April 8, regarding Discovery Grant extensions and additional funding.

Research Finance and Research Western are currently working with NSERC and waiting for further direction on how grant recipients will elect to accept the extensions and an additional year of funding if they choose. As more information becomes available, we will forward it to our research community.

Extension of Discovery Grants

  • To lessen the impact due to COVID-19 and to support all of our researchers and highly qualified personnel, all active Discovery Grant recipients can elect to receive a one-year extension with funds at their current funding level. This includes grants from the recent 2020 competition. Grantees due to apply in competition 2021 can elect not to apply for funding this summer/fall during these tumultuous times.
  • This one year extension will be granted for the following programs: Discovery Grants, Discovery Grants – Subatomic Physics (Individual, Project and Major Resources), Discovery Grants – Northern Research Supplements and Discovery Development Grants. NSERC will contact grantees and universities with details on how to confirm their grant extensions.
  • In light of these extensions, the 2021 Discovery Grants competition will be for new applicants (those not currently holding a Discovery Grant) and those who choose not to accept the extension. As we develop the necessary mechanisms to support this initiative, additional details will be communicated.
  • In the meantime, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions and continue to visit this webpage, which is updated regularly. You may also continue to contact NSERC Research Grants at resgrant@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

Resident updates

  • Dr. Lois Champion has provided a new update for residency programs.
    Information includes an accreditation update, information from the Royal College, CPSO, CFPC, COFM, RDOC, and a CaRMS update.
  • You can read the latest update and all past updates online.

The Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internship – Information for students

  • The Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (USRI) was recently announced. This internship program will provide the awarded undergraduate students a minimum of $5,625 ($4,500 from Western, $1,125 from the supervisor) to conduct a research project.
  • For this competition, only remote projects (i.e. student works on the project from home) will be considered.
  • Preference will be given to projects supporting students currently completing their third year in the BMSc and Neuroscience programs.
  • Students should find a supervisor before applying (please note: the supervisor must be a faculty member with the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry).
  • The deadline to submit your application is April 21, 2020.
  • Results will be communicated to all applicants by April 28, 2020.
  • More information, including FAQs and the application form, can be found online.
  • If you have a question that isn’t answered online, please contact Sarah Smith-Periard by email.

2020 See the Line event cancelled

  • After consultation between Jayne Garland, Chair of the See the Line Committee, Dr. Davy Cheng, and Eric Lindros, Honorary Chair of See the Line, a decision has been made to cancel the 2020 See the Line event.
  • The Committee looks forward to planning the 2021 event.

2020 Awards of Excellence recipients and event rescheduling

  • Congratulations to the 2020 recipients.
  • Due to the changing nature and spread of COVID-19, and in an effort to minimize the potential risk to our faculty, staff and learners, the upcoming Awards of Excellence Dinner scheduled for June 3, 2020 at RBC Place is being rescheduled. The Dinner is now tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 30 at RBC Place London. We will, however, continue to re-evaluate this tentative date as the situation evolves over the coming months.
  • In the coming weeks, you will receive an invitation so you can purchase your ticket(s).
  • Thank you for your patience as we reschedule this event and prepare to acknowledge and celebrate the 2020 Awards of Excellence recipients.
  • We look forward to connecting with you soon and providing more details about plans to celebrate all of the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s 2020 Awards of Excellence recipients.
  • More news will be shared shortly about the presentation of the Windsor Awards of Excellence.

Correction: PPE donations

Yesterday in Dr. Cheng’s message, it was incorrectly reported that 2,120 gloves were donated as part of the overall donation of PPE. In fact, 2,120 boxes of gloves were donated.

Please send ALL communication related to the COVID-19 pandemic that you need to be shared with the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry community for faculty, staff, students, learners, trainees and fellows to Jennifer Parraga. The information will be compiled and shared with the School.

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