Step I: Request to Apply (RTA)

All potential JELF applicants must submit an RTA. The online RTA form collects the following information:

• Details about the applicant(s).
• Faculty letter of support and confirmation of research space allocation (letter of support required from all involved Faculties in the case of more than one applicant).
• Summary of the proposed research and requested infrastructure.
• Relation to and alignment with existing research and infrastructure.
• Alignment with provincial research outcomes.
• Budget and quotes.
• Information about the research space and technical requirements of the requested infrastructure.

RTA applicants are encouraged to complete as much of the RTA form as possible and to ensure that the research project is innovative and feasible and that the infrastructure is well-justified. RSO guidelines for completing a JELF RTA can be found here.

The RTA will be reviewed by the Faculty, RSO, UofA Facilities and Operations (F&O), and VPRI for feasibility and, if approved, the applicant will be recommended to develop and submit a full proposal. A timeline of the RTA process is illustrated below:

RTA intake

The RTA for the October 2023 CFI intake is now OPEN and will close on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2023, at 9:00 am.

JELF RTA Intake

Depending on their Faculty and other characteristics of the proposal, researchers may request funding through one or more of the following JELF allocation streams:

1. Faculty-Managed streams: Faculties listed below manage a portion of the institutional JELF allocation directly. Applicants from these Faculties whose projects are expected to benefit their Faculty, or smaller cross-Faculty collaborative projects that are not suitable for the Strategic Priorities stream should apply to the appropriate stream:

   • Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences (ALES)

   • Engineering (ENG)

   • Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD)

   • Science (SCI)

2. Other Faculties stream (Centrally-managed): applicants from all other Faculties.

3. Strategic Priorities stream (Centrally-managed): applicants from one or more Faculties (including those from ALES, ENG, FoMD, and SCI) whose project clearly shows that it is collaborative, interdisciplinary, and aligned with an area of institutional strength and strategic importance.

More details about the allocation streams can be found in the RSO guidelines for completing a JELF RTA. More information on the distribution of the JELF allocation among the streams at the beginning of the current allocation period (2020-2023) can be found here.

The review process varies depending on the allocation stream under which the RTA is submitted.

Faculty Managed streams: the RTA is reviewed by the applicant’s Faculty, and the Faculty will recommend to the VPRI office whether or not the project should move forward to full application.

Other Faculties and Strategic Priorities streams: the RTA is reviewed by the Office of VPRI. The information provided in the Faculty letter(s) of support will be considered, but final decisions regarding allocations will be made at the discretion of the VPRI.

After the review process is complete, applicants will receive an email indicating whether or not their RTA was approved for further development and submission to the CFI. In the case of successful projects, this communication will also indicate the maximum approved CFI allocation.