The call for applications for this initiative is now closed.
Mitacs has partnered with Inria, to support student mobility between Canadian universities and Inria Research Centres in France.
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria is an exciting competitive initiative that provides the opportunity for faculty members and PhD students at Inria Research Centres in France to build an international research network and undertake research abroad at Canadian universities.The Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria provides funding to support PhD student research projects in Canada.
The call for applications will open on January 13, 2016, and will close on March 4, 2016, at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). This is a competitive call and a limited number of awards are available. Successful applicants can begin their research project once the award is approved and all supplementary documentation has been received. Students must begin their research project no later than December 31, 2016.
- Mitacs will provide a $5,000 research award to the Canadian supervisor to support student travel expenses, research-related expenses, and student stipend.
- In addition, Inria will continue to pay PhD students their salary and will directly pay for the student’s airfare through Inria’s travel agency.
The Globalink Research Award – Inria provides an opportunity for faculty at Canadian universities to strengthen existing international research collaborations and connect with colleagues around the world through the mobility of graduate students.
Student recipients of the Globalink Research Award – Inria will develop research skills, cultural fluency, and a professional network, becoming part of Canada’s generation of global innovators.
Benefits:
- Simple and quick application process, with results announced in May 2016
- Strengthens international research collaborations
- Funding provided to support the student’s travel costs
Contact Mitacs International at international(at)mitacs.ca if you have any questions regarding the application or eligibility requirements.
How it works
Mitacs will begin accepting applications for the Globalink Research Award – Inria on January 13, 2016, and the call for applications will close on March 4, 2016, at 5 p.m. PST.
- PhD students and their host university academic supervisors submit Globalink Research Award – Inria applications directly to Mitacs by email at apply(at)mitacs.ca. In the subject heading of your email, please state “[student first and last names]_GRA-Inria”.
- Approved projects last a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks abroad.
- Mitacs will provide a $5,000 research award to the Canadian supervisor to support student travel expenses, research related expenses, and student stipend.
- In addition, Inria will continue to pay PhD students their salary and Inria will directly pay for the student’s airfare through Inria’s travel agency.
- The Globalink Research Award cycle begins with the submission of a research project and is complete upon Mitacs’ receipt of the final report and exit surveys.
Host academic supervisors in Canada are responsible for providing prospective Globalink Research Award – Inria recipients with preparation, direction, and support prior to and during their research project, in conjunction with the policies of their home institutions. They must also assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs portion of the research grant (which will be held at their university) and cover expenses as outlined in the “Award Funding” section.
Mitacs strives to ensure that Globalink Research Award – Inria students have a high-quality research experience with internationally recognized professors who facilitate expanding their knowledge and provide hands-on training in their field of study.
Travel to the destination prior to the approval of the award is not permitted and neither Mitacs nor Inria is responsible for any costs incurred before the application is approved. Travel may not be initiated until Mitacs has received all documents, including the International Pre-departure Form, and Mitacs Student Code of Conduct and Ethics Form, and the application has been approved.
Eligibility
Student Eligibility
In order to be eligible for a Globalink Research Award – Inria, a student must:
- Be a French citizen, permanent resident, or international student
- Students cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree or been employed.
- Be registered for full-time studies at an Inria Research Centre in France as a PhD student and remain as such throughout the duration of the award.
- Be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years or older).
- Demonstrate skills and interest suitable to the project(s) in question.
- Have identified a research member at their home institution to supervise the project and administer the funds.
- Have identified a host academic supervisor who is a recognized faculty member at a university in Canada.
- Meet all necessary travel requirements for the intended destination.
- Have not previously been awarded a Globalink Research Award. Students are eligible to receive ONE Mitacs Globalink Research Award per academic lifetime.
Visa Requirements
The successful applicants for Globalink Research Award – Inria who will be traveling to Canada to work on a research project will need to ensure that they have the appropriate immigration documentation in place, including an appropriate work permit. Please note that you must have the appropriate work permit in place prior to starting your Globalink Research Award research project. While Canada has bilateral agreements with various countries, including France, that allow visitors to enter Canada without a visa, this is not applicable for individuals from these countries here for the purpose of work, including research. It is important to have a valid work permit prior to arrival in Canada, as without one the research project cannot commence, the student applicant is jeopardizing any future ability to enter Canada, and Globalink funding will be denied. Mitacs will work with each successful student applicant to ensure they have all the necessary documentation required to apply for a work permit is created, and these details will be contained in the outcome letter issued by Mitacs.
Home Institute Academic Supervisor Eligibility
An academic supervisor for recipients of the Globalink Research Award must:
- Be a research member at an Inria Research Centre in France who is eligible to supervise graduate students .
- Adhere to institution’s policies regarding research abroad.
- Approve a faculty member at an eligible host university in Canada to collaborate with and host the student during the research project.
- Be willing to supervise and support the student with the development of the research plan and oversee the project.
Host University Academic Supervisor Eligibility
The host faculty supervisor for the Globalink Research Award must:
- Be a faculty member at a Canadian university who is eligible to supervise graduate students and can hold Tri-Council funding.
- Be eligible to supervise graduate students.
- Adhere to university policies with regards to visiting students.
The call for applications for this initiative is now closed.
PhD students from an Inria Research Centre in France who meet all eligibility criteria and have an identified research project and a host supervisor at a university in Canada must submit an application directly to Mitacs.
- Submit your complete application by March 4, 2016.
- Save your completed application as a PDF and send by email to apply(at)mitacs.ca. In the subject heading of your email please state “[student first and last names]_GRA-Inria”.Mitacs recommends keeping individual PDF files to less than 2MB.
- Save only the signature page of the proposal as a scanned PDF.
- Contact Mitacs International at international(at)mitacs.ca if you have any questions regarding the application or eligibility requirements.
Travel to the destination prior to the approval of the award is not permitted, and neither Mitacs nor Inria is responsible for any costs incurred before the application is approved. Travel may not be initiated until Mitacs has received all paper work, including the International Pre-departure Form and Mitacs Student Code of Conduct and Ethics Form, and the application has been approved.
A complete application includes the following:
- Proposal application (please use template provided)
- Signature page signed by all parties, including host university’s Office of Research Services (or equivalent thereof)
- Student CV (students must use the template on Mitacs website)
- Letter of Research Support and Student Reference from both the home supervising professor and host supervising professor. Each letter must:
- Be written on the university letterhead and signed by the supervisor.
- Include the supervisor’s contact details, including title, department affiliation and university or institution, in English or French.
- Include details outlining supervisory and/or financial support for the student and the research project.
- Describe the proposed student’s academic and research qualities and abilities to complete the project. Highlight any outstanding achievements (e.g., high-impact research results, awards) by the proposed student.
- Be submitted via email to Mitacs at apply(at)mitacs.ca. In the subject heading of the email state “[student first and last names]_GRA-Inria”.
- Host Supervisor’s CV in English or French, outlining their:
- Funding history
- Publications
- Graduate students supervised
Applicants are asked to submit the following documents at least three weeks prior to their intended departure to commence their research project:
- Mitacs Student Code of Conduct and Ethics Form*
- International Pre-departure Form*
- Any supplementary documents, as applicable
*The International Pre-departure Form and Mitacs Student Code of Conduct and Ethics form can be submitted after the submission of the application; however, funds will not be released until Mitacs receives these forms.
Expectations of Participants
All parties involved with the Mitacs Globalink program must comply with the Canadian home university’s policies regarding the ethical conduct of research and scholarly activities. Any issues or disputes around research or academic misconduct will be subject to the home Canadian university’s processes following their institutional policies.
Expectations of the Student
Prior to and during the Globalink Research Award – Inria, recipients are expected to:
- Identify a home academic supervisor who will supervise the project and help to develop a research plan in partnership with a host academic supervisor at a host university in Canada.
- Develop a research plan in partnership with the academic supervisors at their home institute and host university.
- Make all necessary pre-departure preparations in consultation with the appropriate university office(s), including:
- Applying for appropriate travel documents including passport and visa, and consulting the relevant foreign mission where necessary
- Obtaining comprehensive medical and health insurance appropriate for travel destination
- Obtaining appropriate immunization and/or prophylaxis for regional destinations and ensure that their routine immunizations are up to date. Consultation with travel medical and all health care providers is strongly recommended.
- Registering with the applicable foreign office of their country of citizenship before leaving their home country
- Registering with the home institution’s Safety Abroad Database and or equivalent thereof
- Attending all mandatory sessions prior to departure and during the project as stipulated by the home institution
- Ensuring compliance with home institution policies surrounding research abroad
- Ensuring compliance with host university policies surrounding visiting scholars
- Making appropriate travel bookings
- Organize monthly status meetings with academic supervisor(s)
- Provide updates on the status of the project to Mitacs, as required
- Ensure confidentiality of partner university information as specified in the research plan
- Prepare a final report for Mitacs at the conclusion of the project that details the research performed, its results and any recommendations, with input from the home and host academic supervisors
- Complete a Mitacs exit survey within one month of the completion of the project.
Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria recipients are expected to work full-time on their research project for the duration of their award, in accordance with home university policies. If they require time off from their research, they are expected to seek permission from their supervising professor(s).
Expectations of the Home Academic Supervisor
Prior to and during the Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria period, the home academic supervisor is expected to:
- Assist the student in developing a research plan in partnership with the host academic supervisor
- Provide ongoing direction and research support to the student
- Participate in status meetings, as necessary
- Assist the student with pre-departure preparations, and ensure the student maintains home university requirements and policies with regards to research abroad
- Assist the student in identifying a faculty member abroad at a university in Canada who would serve as a host supervisor
- Complete a Mitacs exit survey within one month of the completion of the project
Expectations of the Host Academic Supervisor
Prior to and during the Globalink Research Award – Inria period, the host academic supervisor is expected to:
- Assist the student in developing the research plan in conjunction with the home academic supervisor
- Assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs portion of the research grant, including ensuring appropriate expenditures consistent with the objectives of the initiative and proposed budget
- Participate in regular meetings with the student and home academic supervisor, where appropriate
- Ensure that the student has access to the appropriate lab and/or office space, internet access and computing facilities
- Assist the student in their pre-departure preparations, including providing:
- Necessary pre-departure information and or materials for smooth transition
- Documentation and support required for visa application
- Advice on appropriate travel arrangements and accommodations
- Support, information, and a safety orientation to the student in his/her dealings within the host institution
- Ensure the student can comply with the host institution’s policies and procedures for visiting scholars
- Ensure that the student’s activities at the host institution are limited to those specified in the research plan
- Provide the student with the opportunity to participate in training and research activities, as available and appropriate
- Complete an exit survey within one month of the completion of the project
Mitacs Responsibilities
Mitacs administers the Globalink Research Award – Inria. Its responsibilities include:
- Promoting opportunities to Canadian universities and faculty
- Undertaking proposal adjudication
- Collecting and managing funds from partners and funding agencies
- Forwarding the Mitacs portion of funds to host academic supervisors via university Offices of Research Services (or equivalent thereof)
- Monitoring the overall success of the initiative
Award Funding
- Each approved application is a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks abroad.
- Each approved award will receive $5,000 in direct funding from Mitacs to support student travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and student stipend.
- Mitacs support will be provided to the student’s host academic supervisor via the Office of Research Services (or equivalent thereof). The award will be administered as a research grant according to the policies and procedures of both Mitacs and the university.
- In addition, Inria will continue to pay PhD students their salary and will directly pay for the student’s airfare through Inria’s travel agency.
- Applicants must provide a detailed budget.
- No funds will be released if the completed International Pre-Departure Form and/or Mitacs Student Code of Conduct and Ethics forms are outstanding.
Travel to the destination prior to the approval of the award is not permitted and neither Mitacs nor Inria is responsible for any costs incurred before the application is approved.
Expense Guidelines
Mitacs recognizes that awarded funding may not be sufficient to cover all costs associated with travel for research projects abroad, and applicants are encouraged to seek support from other sources. Discretion should be used when allocating funds towards travel and accommodations (e.g., Mitacs funds may only be used towards lowest-cost economy class tickets for travel).
Adjudication
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria is competitive with limited awards available. All applications will undergo review by an interdisciplinary team. Proposals will be adjudicated based on the following criteria:
- Expected benefit to the student’s academic studies and research career
- Quality of the research proposal
- Level of supervision and mentorship committed by the host supervisor
- Strength of recommendation by the home supervisor
Maximum Number of Awards
Students are eligible to receive ONE Mitacs Globalink Research Award per academic life time.
Deliverables
Mitacs Globalink Research Award recipients, their home academic supervisors, and their host academic supervisors must provide the following to Mitacs no later than a month after the conclusion of the project:
A final report that:
- Summarizes research goals, research techniques used, and research outcomes
- Benefits of the international research collaboration
- Identifies benefits for the host institution
- Identifies future research plans
Exit surveys from the:
I am a student who is interested in completing a research project abroad. Can Mitacs help me find a host academic supervisor?
Students are responsible for identifying a host academic supervisor. As a starting point, we suggest speaking with your home academic supervisor to assist you in this search.
Who owns any intellectual property generated during the course of a research project?
Intellectual property is left to be shared between the university and their researchers in accordance with the intellectual property policies of the home university and host university, unless a separate agreement is negotiated between the university and researchers.
Is the Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria open for travel to all countries?
The Globalink Research Award – Inria is open for PhD student student research at universities in Canada.
Can a home and/or host academic supervisor support more than one Mitacs Globalink Research Award at the same time?
Both home and host academic supervisors can support more than one Mitacs Globalink Research Award recipient.
Does Mitacs provide funding for the host academic supervisor?
No, we do not provide financial compensation to host academic supervisors.
Can professors from any Canadian university support Mitacs Globalink Research Award recipients?
Host academic supervisors must be a faculty member at a Canadian university eligible to hold Tri-Council research funding.
My Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Inria application has been approved. When will the funds be available?
Mitacs will provide the research grant to the host Canadian university once all necessary documentation has been received. Please allow two weeks for Mitacs to process funding. In addition, Inria will continue to pay PhD students their salary and will directly pay for the student’s airfare through Inria’s travel agency.
What should my supervisors include in their letters of support?
Each letter of support should be written on university letterhead and signed by the supervisor. It should include the supervisor’s contact details, including title, department affiliation, and university or institution, in English or French. The letter should outline the supervisor’s support for the student and the research project and describe the student’s academic and research qualities and ability to complete the project.
