Research management
This section is a key reference page for research managers at the University of Ottawa. This page is broken down in 4 principal sub-sections, as follows:
- Regulations in Research
- Management of Research
- Eligible Expenses
- Human Resources Management in Research
Regulations in Research:
- Policy 47B: The goal of this policy is to define working conditions for staff members who are paid from sources other than the University’s operating funds such as grants, research grants and external contracts. This policy does not apply to Postdoctoral Fellows nor to any employee who is a member of a recognized bargaining unit at the University of Ottawa.
Additionnal information - Roles and Responsibilities in managing research: The administration of research funds at the University of Ottawa is carried out by numerous centralized and decentralized units, teams and individuals. With ever increasing administrative and accountability requirements being imposed by our research sponsors, it is essential that all who participate in the administration of research funds understand the nature and importance of their contributions to the sound management and administration of the research funding entrusted to us by our research sponsors.
- Institutional Signatures: Most of the external sponsors require an institutional signature on funding requests. This signature certifies that the information provided in the application is true, complete, accurate and consistent with institutional and the sponsor’s policies to the best of the applicant's knowledge.
- Policy 48: The purpose of this policy is to define the regulations regarding grants, research contracts and service contracts administered by the University of Ottawa.
- Responsible Conduct of Research: This section provides detailed information in regards to the various policies that play a role in the conduct of research.
- Ontario Sales Tax for goods and services for research purposes: This note is intended to the personnel authorized to purchase goods and services for research purposes. As a reminder, many purchases for a research project qualify for a conditional exemption from the Ontario Sales Tax. In general, when utilized at 100 % for research purposes scientific equipment, laboratory equipment and laboratory supplies (re-usable) are exempt from the Ontario Sales Tax. It is important to note that before you process the payment of an invoice that has an Ontario Sales Tax you must verify if this purchase is eligible for research or not.
Management of Research:
- Financial administration of research grants and contracts 2011: This memo wishes to remind you, as Principal Investigators on a variety of research grants and contracts and also of the Principal Investigators’ basic administrative and regulatory compliance responsibilities.
- Quick Reference - Basic Administrative Requirements Research Grants and Contracts 2011: This document helps readers get the most information in the quickest time. This table contains key information en Grants and Contracts for 2011.
- General Research accounts: Researchers must not only ensure the quality of their work, but must also ensure that they meet standards set by the sponsor. An ongoing effort to maintain awareness of these standards can help to prevent problems and to build a lasting relationship with the sponsor.
- Extension: The period of validity (start and end date) is a critical component in research management. In some cases, agencies allow automatic extension periods for the research to continue. Below you’ll find tables summarizing the options concerning extensions for some of the agencies.
- Management principles for start of new year and year end in research: This document illustrates and describes the basic management principles applicable at year end and beginning of year in research management.
- Year end process (French only): This PDF presentation serves as a reminder and update on financial year end procedures
- Summary of rules for closing of grants: This document aims to provide the key rules concerning expenses, extensions and validity periods.
- Faculty contribution to a research project: This situation applies when a faculty provides ‘faculty funding’ to a research project.
- External contribution: This situation applies in the case of a non-refundable contribution without any restrictions on the professor’s research.
Eligible Expenses:
- 2009 Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide: The administration of funds granted by an Agency is carried out by the grantee, the institution and the Agency. Refer to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Roles and Responsibilities in the Management of Federal Grants and Awards for more details on administration of funds granted. The present document provides essential guidelines, rules and regulations of financial management in research.
- Guidelines for Granting Organizations on Eligible Material Expenses / Type of Supplies: Paper and Office Accessories Table: This document provides the key guidelines to the reader applicable to the management of eligibility of research expenses.
- Eligibility of Research Expenditures: This table format document offers key answers concerning a wide range of expenditures categories in research, as to whether they are eligible or not.
Human Resources Management:
- Forego Remuneration - Forego Remuneration Form: The option to forego remuneration is applicable in the following situations, and will only be considered by completing the official Forego Remuneration Form:
- Professor is nominated as a Director, Vice-Dean or Dean
- Professor is nominated as the Director of an academic program
- Professor is assigned an administrative responsibility within the Department or Faculty (ie. Evaluation of course outline/program development of new course/outline, etc.)
- Salary Level Allowable by the Tri-Council: This table format document gives all the key information concerning the maximums, minimums and exceptions for CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC salary levels.
- Human Resources Management: This table provides a summary or student remuneration (French Only)
- The 10 hour rule: Article 31.1.: When a full‐time graduate student is hired for a teaching or research assistantship, the total number of contracted hours of work will not exceed an average of ten hours per week over the academic session as required by the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.


