The world of research funding can be tricky to navigate - there are numerous acronyms, offices, agencies, and regulations to keep track of. Here's a list of answers to frequently-asked questions we hope are helpful.

What is Advanced Draft Feedback?

Advanced Draft Feedback (ADF) is an entirely optional service HSS Grants Facilitators provide to applicants who wish to have their proposals reviewed prior to the formal submission of an application. It is meant to:

• review how your research questions, methods, and objectives are presented and structured within the application
• to ensure draft length of documents or texts are approximate to the maximums determined by an application
• review your materials in light of any previous commentary you may provide
• review the components of your research project, in particular how they relate to the budget, the training of highly qualified personnel, and knowledge mobilization
• flag any commitments or contributions that will require documentation
• provide direction on budget items in particular rates of pay, terms governing assistants, contractors, post-doctoral fellows, students, etc.
• consistency across all sections of the application

In order to let applicants consider the feedback and revise prior to formal submission, the ADF 'cut-off' point is usually 6 weeks prior to the first internal deadline for a grant competition.

Why are there numerous Deadlines?

Funding applications at Memorial University usually involve two or more deadlines - at least one, but usually two, internal deadlines, and the external sponsor deadline.

Sponsors sometimes set additional stages for applications, such as Expressions, Letters, or Notifications of Interest (EOI, LOI, or NOI) which will have their own deadlines, and often result in additional internal deadlines for each stage.

Funding proposals require review by several internal offices in order to asses commitments, and obtain approvals. Internal deadlines are provided to manage workloads within offices like Research Grants and Contract Services (RGCS), the Office of the Vice-President (Research) (VPR),  Strategic Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI), or the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The HSS Dean's Office sets its internal deadlines in relation to RGCS, SIRI, the VPR, or SGS deadlines as appropriate for submissions. 

What does an 'unconfirmed' deadline mean?

An unconfirmed deadline in the HSS Research Funding Tracker means that the internal deadline cannot be set as the submitting or reviewing office has not determined its own deadline, or an external sponsor has not publicized or released the competition deadline, but internal workload management for a reviewing office or committee requires notification of potential applicants at the earliest opportunity. If you are interested in an opportunity with an unconfirmed deadline, please contact a Grants Facilitation Officer to inquire if the deadline has been confirmed.

What is the purpose of the Memorial Researcher Portal?

The Memorial Researcher Portal (RP) is a management system designed to facilitate processing of institutional reviews of research funding applications and agreements. Funded research generates numerous documents and files alongside applications. The RP puts all of those documents in one place, and acts as a means of obtaining necessary approvals from officers tasked with reviewing and approving applications and agreements as required.

What is the difference between a ROMEO ID and a FOAPAL?

A ROMEO ID typically refers to the 8-digit identifier of a file in the Memorial Researcher Portal. If an RP file has 5 digits, it means the file has not completed the review or approval process. Typically a ROMEO ID begins with the year in which the file approvals were completed. A ROMEO ID may refer to either a research funding application or agreement, OR it may refer to an ethics clearance.

A FOAPAL, or account number, associated with research funding, can be associated with multiple ROMEO IDs, or vice versa, many ROMEO IDs may be associated with a single FOAPAL.

When discussing an application or agreement with a Grants Facilitation Officer, it's best to refer to the ROMEO ID, either the 8 digit file number for fully approved files or the 5 digit 'reference' number for applications or agreements currently under review.

What is an 'event' in the Researcher Portal?

An event is a sub-file within the Memorial Researcher Portal that modifies or references an existing approved RP file. An event ID is composed of the 8 digit ROMEO ID, and a 5 digit event ID. Events can include amendments, agreements, and other types as defined by RGCS.

What is the difference between the RGCS Funding Database and the HSS Research Funding Tracker?

They are similar tools, but with different audiences and paramters. The RGCS Funding Database provides descriptions of opportunities available to all Memorial University applicants which are reviewed by RGCS and SIRI, and the internal RGCS deadlines associated with those offices. The HSS Research Funding Tracker (RFT) provides similar descriptions of the opportunities found in the RGCS Funding Database, but also others which HSS Grants Facilitators and Researchers have discovered or applied to in previous years. In addition, it also details other research-related opportunities such as awards. Its most important task to provide HSS applicants with detailed instructions on submission of applications, including HSS-specific internal deadlines and requirements.