LFS Today Mar 22, 2022 | LFS Intranet 2020

News

New Business Expense Rules will be available for faculty and staff on April 1, 2022

At some time, most employees at UBC will need to use university funds to conduct university business. UBC’s Business Expense Rules form the framework for incurring and reimbursing these expenses and help ensure we all use public funds reasonably, appropriately and efficiently.

The updated Business Expense Rules have been approved and will come into effect on Friday, April 1, 2022, and will be available on the UBC Finance website. In the meantime, you are welcome to review the Business Expense Rules [PDF] in advance to prepare and familiarize yourself with the updated rules.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Backups are important!

For computers not connected to the Internet, cloud-based backup tools are not available to backup your data. In this case use an external backup drive, typically a 2 to 4 TB conventional disk-based spinning hard drive, to backup your data on a recurring schedule using a backup software tool. In Windows, File History can be used for backing up and Time Machine can be used for MAC OS .

Can I restore a deleted file in Windows?

Yes, deleted files are tagged as deleted and left in the Recycle Bin. Files can be restored as long as you have not emptied the files from the recycle bin. Once emptied, there is no guarantee you can recover these files, as these files are tagged to be overwritten.

For more information on how to backup your devices, please contact the LFS Learning Centre at it@landfood.ubc.ca.

NSERC Funding Opportunities to support National Quantum Strategy

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, is announcing an investment of $137.9 million through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) grants and Alliance grants. These grants are an important next step in advancing the National Quantum Strategy and will reinforce Canada’s research strengths in quantum science while also helping to develop a talent pipeline to support the growth of a strong quantum community.

These new investments will build on close to $384 million in funding that NSERC has provided for quantum research at Canadian post-secondary institutions over the last 10 years.

Accepting applications as of March 15, 2022:

CREATE ($5.4 million) supports efforts to develop, attract and retain top quantum talent in Canada. Funding is available through the annual CREATE competition. For the current competition, NSERC will fund at least three CREATE Quantum initiatives.

Accepting applications as of April 1, 2022:

Alliance International Quantum grants ($29.7 million) will provide support for researchers in Canada to work with international researchers from the academic sector to establish and grow international research collaborations and projects in quantum science and technology.

Accepting applications in spring 2022:

Alliance Quantum grants ($62.4 million) will reinforce, coordinate and scale up Canada’s domestic research capabilities in quantum science and technology through partnerships with organizations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Alliance Consortia Quantum grants ($40.4 million) will develop large-scale research collaborations and enable improved synergy across Canada’s regional quantum research and innovation hubs, federal laboratories and other centres and stakeholders. These grants will enable a strengthened national quantum research and innovation community that is connected to industry applications and government needs.

Events

Mar. 22 – IRES Faculty Seminar with Danielle Ignance

Broadening our approach to find community-driven solutions to environmental challenges

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (Pacific Standard Time)
Location: AERL Theatre, Room 120 (2202 Main Mall)

OR via Zoom (must register in advance)

Abstract: Communities are facing ever-growing socio-ecological challenges due to the devastating impacts of pollution and climate change. Solving such complex environmental challenges will require new partnerships, connections, and collaborations that bring together many forms of knowledge, perspectives, and ways of communicating. We are at a unique moment where we can reimagine how science and scientists connect with society and the environment while re-centering the voices of knowledge holders from marginalized communities. Going beyond the peer-review publications and moving to include many forms of writings, knowledge sharing, artwork, and communication will be needed to find community-driven solutions to environmental problems.

Biography: Dr. Danielle Ignace is a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe, an ecophysiologist, and science communication enthusiast. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC. She studies how climate change and species invasions impact forest ecosystem health and Indigenous communities. Dr. Ignace is a Research Associate at Harvard Forest, Associate Editor for the journal Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, and is a Science for Social Equity Fellow (of Fair Count) finding community-driven solutions to climate change and pollution. As a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the American Society of Plant Biology and as an Indigenous woman in STEM, she is deeply committed to developing Indigenous curriculum and her unique perspective bridges Indigenous communities, people of color, and scientists.

Mar. 24 – Join us for a special FNH Seminar

Join us for a special FNH Seminar on March 24^th at 3:45 in room FNH 220

Topic: Current status of research at Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Speaker: Katarzyna Świąder, Ph.D., Dept of Functional and Organic Food, Faculty of Human Nutrition, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences.

Dr Swiader is an Assistant professor at Warsaw University of Life Science with 46 publications. She is expert in sensory analysis and new trends in food production. She teaches in the area of design, sensory analysis of food, and functional foods.

Refreshments served at 3:30. All welcome.

Mar. 30 – Research Security Workshop Series

Research Security Workshop Series

The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Victoria have put together a workshop series on research security. A series of three engaging and thought-provoking one-hour conversations about evolving geopolitical risks and their impact on University research is set to begin on Wednesday, March 30th.

March 30, 10–11 a.m PT: Current Issues & Considerations
Representatives from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and from Innovation, Science & Economic Development will speak about current issues and considerations with regard to research security at post-secondary institutions.
April 4, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. PT: Academic Perspectives on Research Security
A faculty member from the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria will provide an academic perspective on the CSIS and ISED presentations from the previous week.
April 13, 10–11 a.m. PT: Research Partnerships, Geopolitical Risk & National Security Law

The purpose of the workshop is twofold: 1) To introduce and discuss the NSERC National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships; 2) To discuss the complexities at the intersection of geopolitical risk, academic research, and institutional autonomy.

Speakers include representatives from CSIS, ISED, and faculty members from the participating Universities. Registration for the series went live today and more information is available here.

Deadlines

Mar. 31 – Globalink International GRA Program

1. National Research Council of South Africa (NRF SA) (South Africa- travel to Canada and travel from Canada)

Deadline: June 17, 2022
Intern Level: Full-time PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
Other requirements: For travel to Canada, intern must be a South African Citizen or permanent resident, be an NRF-funded doctoral student or postdoctoral fellow for the full duration of the Mitacs award
Themes: All disciplines
Eligible institutions: Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Central University of Technology -Free State, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Cape Town, University of Fort Hare, University of Johannesburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Limpopo, University of Mpumalanga, University of Pretoria, University of South Africa, University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Venda, University of Zululand, Vaal University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University of Technology, and Stellenbosch University
Co-funding: No financial contribution is required from the Canadian institution
Award amount: $6,000
Duration: 12-24 weeks
Application process and submission: submit to Mitacs through the local Mitacs representative (Marcelo Mora — mmora@mitacs.ca)
Note: a project may include up to 5 interns, with mobility to Canada and/or from Canada. Therefore, travel dates may differ between the multiple interns

2. French Embassy in Canada (France- Travel from Canada)
This partnership was on pause and is now open again for submission.

Deadline: Open all year
Intern Level: Full-time senior undergraduates, master’s and PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows Themes: All disciplines
Other requirements: 3 interns maximum per project
Eligible institutions: All universities in France
Co-funding: No financial contribution is required from the Canadian institution
Award amount: $6,000
Duration: 12-24 weeks
Application process and submission: Submit to Mitacs through the local Mitacs representative (Marcelo Mora — mmora@mitacs.ca))

3. UK-Canada Globalink doctoral exchange scheme — UKRI (UK- travel to Canada)

Deadline: April 26, 2022
Intern Level: PhD students
Other requirements: This scheme is open to doctoral students working in all areas of UKRI’s research remit who are funded by one of UKRI’s research councils: AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, STFC. It also includes the UKRI Artificial Intelligence Centers for Doctoral Training. funded by UKRI research council
Themes: All disciplines
Eligible institutions: All universities in the UK
Co-funding: No financial contribution is required from the Canadian university
Award amount: £15,000
Duration: 12 weeks
Internship dates: Placements must take place between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023.
Application process and submission: Instruction here. Submission to UKRI

4. Korea- National Research Foundation of Korea — NRF (Korea- travel to Canada)

Deadline: March 31, 2022
Intern Level: Full-time master’s and PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows
Other requirements: Participants applying to Canada must be Korean citizens or permanent residents of Korea. Up to 5 interns may be included in one application
Themes: All fields of Science and Technology, Interdisciplinary studies involving S&T and Humanities or Social Sciences
Eligible institutions: All universities in Korea
Co-funding: No financial contribution is required from the Canadian university
Award amount: Travel to Canada $9,000 to $15,000 (approx.)
Duration: 12-24 weeks
Internship dates: Projects must begin before December 31, 2022
Application process and submission: Submission to NRF at https://ernd.nrf.re.kr.

5. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology — KIT (Germany- travel to Canada)

Deadline: April 03, 2022
Intern Level: PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
Themes: All disciplines
Eligible institutions: KIT departments and KIT divisions
Co-funding: No financial contribution is required from the Canadian university
Award amount: $6,000
Duration: 12-24 weeks
Application process and submission: Submission to KIT at oliver.kaas@kit.edu

Apr. 29 – Alberta Land Institute Grant

Alberta Land Institute (ALI) at the University of Alberta invites interested researchers to submit a proposal for our following research initiatives:

1) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: SOIL HEALTH

(a) A maximum of $75,000 for a one-year period. The expected date of completion is July 2023. (Funding for continuation of the research may be available in subsequent years depending on the potential policy implications and the proposed approach).

(b) A maximum of $150,000 for up to two-years. The research will be funded in partnership with RDAR (Results Driven Agricultural Research). For more information on RDAR, see www.rdar.ca. (All applications in this stream are subject to pre-approval).

2) OPEN CATEGORY

A maximum of $50,000 for one-year projects. (Funding for further research may be available in subsequent years depending on the potential policy implications and the proposed approach).

All prospective applicants are encouraged to contact ALI’s research director, Eran Kaplinsky eran.kaplinsky@ualberta.ca to discuss their proposal before submitting a formal application.

Key documentation can be found on the ALI website at https://www.albertalandinstitute.ca/research/call-for-proposals

The DEADLINE for receipt of applications is APRIL 29, 2022. Applications can be forwarded to albertalandinstitute@ualberta.ca. The entire application, including the application form, personal data forms and any supplementary material, should be provided as a single PDF file.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Alberta Land Institute at albertalandinstitute@ualberta.ca or 780.492.3469.