IDEA Lab: launch grants

The Athabasca University Research Office invites applications from faculty researchers to be part of the next cohort.

Deadline: TBA

Overview

As a leader in open and online education, Athabasca University is transforming the future of digital-first university research through IDEA Lab. IDEA Lab—an award-winning strategic and signature digital research asset at Athabasca University—is a cloud-based virtual research domain.

Through AU’s secure research cloud, IDEA Lab researchers have access to a full range of cloud-based tools that can be used for virtual computing power, storage, servers, databases, analytics, and more. This also includes RONIN, a tool designed specifically for researchers to allow researchers to use cloud-based tools more easily. By leveraging these assets, IDEA Lab helps researchers go further faster through collaborative development, delivery, and dissemination of research.

IDEA Lab supports research from all disciplines and is positioned to support researchers regardless of digital literacy or familiarity with cloud computing.

Success stories and use cases

Examples of some Amazon Web Services (AWS) products researchers have been using through IDEA Lab to date include:

AWS public datasets which overlap with their research area
AWS Translate to translate text from one language to another in bulk
AWS Transcribe to generate interview transcripts quickly
Machine learning via AWS Textract to extract text from handwritten notes, historical documents, and images
AWS QuickSight conveys research findings in new and engaging ways
Machine learning via AWS Comprehend and AWS Comprehend Medical to analyze text, identify objects, and determine speaker sentiments
AWS Amplify towards novel app usage for research
AWS SageMaker to build, train, and deploy machine learning (ML) models for a variety of use cases

While AU has a strategic partnership with AWS (Amazon Web Services), which can be easily leveraged through IDEA Lab research projects, IDEA Lab researchers aren’t required to use AWS products for their research projects. Beyond AWS, IDEA Lab researchers also have Athabasca University's REDCap instance to meet their survey and database needs and have used 3D/VR tools.

These examples only highlight new ground covered to date—exciting other ways to trailblaze in research through IDEA Lab include, to name a few possibilities:

Managed database services (e.g. Relational, MySQL, PostgreSQL, NoSQL, etc.) using AWS Aurora, AWS DynamoDB, or AWS RDS.
Machine learning-powered image and video analysis through AWS Rekognition
Quantum computing through AWS Braket
High-performance computing through AWS HPC

Beyond Athabasca University, other sample case studies of starting points, emerging trends, and successful uses demonstrate additional research potential across disciplines and experience levels.

Support for IDEA Lab researchers

Researchers accepted into IDEA Lab are provided with the following forms of support:

Coverage of eligible direct costs to use digital tools for a specific research project
IDEA Lab research assistants (RA) to help you use digital tools*
Joint monthly workshops with other IDEA Lab researchers
Research data management and data management planning support
Knowledge mobilization support
Grant development support
Consultation with AU Information Technology, as well as partners at AWS and RONIN
Support for activities or initiatives involving research partnership opportunities

IDEA Lab research assistants are trained on cloud technologies and tools in a sector-leading approach to work-integrated learning. This forward-thinking training encompasses various AWS products; the use of RONIN; project management for research; equity, diversity, and inclusion in research; research data management; knowledge mobilization, and cybersecurity. The program culminates with research assistants becoming Certified AWS Cloud Practitioners.

Application process, deadline, and eligibility

Interested AU researchers can apply to join IDEA Lab through 1 of 3 streams: Elevate, Accelerate, or Explore.

This intake into IDEA Lab is for tenure-track Athabasca University faculty researchers who will leverage their intended IDEA Lab research project successes in:

at least 1 external grant application within the next 12 months; or
an identified partnership opportunity within the next 12 months (including, but not limited to, through a partnered research funding application, e.g., SSHRC Partnership Engage, NSERC Alliance grants, etc.).

How to apply

Application forms are available in the AU Research Portal.

Submit an application

Deadline: TBA

Up to 2 grants within the Elevate stream will be awarded.

Note: The Elevate stream may not be offered again after this intake until 2024.

The Elevate stream is for researchers who intend to target a specific major external grant competition. The intended IDEA Lab research project must be designed with this competition in mind to maximize the likelihood that the external grant application will be successful. Previous experience using cloud computing is not required.

Researchers applying through this stream will be required to provide the following in their application:

IDEA Lab research project proposal (see guide), including:
- Overview and key research outcomes; project deliverables must include specific items that will bolster the intended external grant application
- Internal/External research project team member details
- Research ethics details
- Detailed IDEA Lab research project timeline (up to 12-month duration) and project activities roadmap
- Proposed IDEA Lab research assistant (RA) activities
- Budget: Estimated cost of using desired cloud-based tools for eligible purposes
- Identified Tri-Agency competition—e.g., Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant, or NFRF Exploration, etc.—to be pursued within the next 12 months with an estimated project budget for the intended external grant application.

Researchers interested in this stream are encouraged to contact Stacey Leavitt (Research Grants Development Coordinator) for advice or to identify the correct funding competition to target.

Value: Between $10,000 and $20,000 can be requested for eligible direct costs of using digital tools over a maximum of 12 months of project uptime, as detailed in the application budget (further support may be available through the AWS Research Credits program for those with a greater need). Critically, funding will be limited to 10% of the amount requested through the intended external grant application (e.g., if awarded $15,000 through IDEA Lab, the external grant application must request at least $150,000). Additionally, a dedicated IDEA Lab research assistant (RA) can be assigned to support the research project for up to 250 hours (i.e. 5 hrs/week, for up to 12 months; value: $6,250).

To better understand the available streams, key differences include:

Accelerate stream	Explore stream	Elevate stream
Mid-size research projects requiring up to 6 months, and up to $8,000.	Smaller-scale research projects requiring less than 3 months, and less than $1,500; e.g., a small scope proof of concept, or feasibility study.	Larger-scale research projects requiring more than 6 months, and up to $20,000.
For those able to articulate in their application how the project will use AWS products or other digital tools to achieve the desired outcomes.	For those who may require additional support during the project development stage to identify how (e.g.) AWS products can be used to achieve the desired research outcomes.	To strengthen a planned external grant application to a funding opportunity through which the requested funding will be at least 10x that awarded through the IDEA Lab grant (e.g., if awarded $15,000 through IDEA Lab, an external grant application requesting at least $150,000).
Requires a budget at the application stage (e.g., created through the AWS Calculator).	No budget necessary at the application stage but will instead develop a plan to use $1,500 (e.g. in AWS) during the project development phase.	Requires a budget at the application stage (e.g., created through the AWS Calculator).

Key similarities include:

All streams
Awarded projects in all streams will work through the following phases: (i) project development, (ii) project execution, and (iii) grant/partnership development phase. The duration of each phase will vary by stream, and by project.
Researchers in all streams will be expected to: (i) participate in a collaborative environment of learning, (ii) complete a research project using digital tools (e.g., AWS products), (iii) leverage their IDEA Lab research project in either a 2023 grant application or an identified partnership opportunity, and (iv) engage in monthly workshops with other IDEA Lab researchers.
Awarded projects in all streams will have access to the pool of IDEA Lab research assistants to help them utilize digital tools in pursuit of the approved research aims and objectives.
Reviewers for all streams will evaluate the applications based on these assessment criteria .

If unsure as to which stream to apply for, or if you have any other questions about IDEA Lab, contact Paul Daniels, Manager, Digital Research Initiatives.

How to apply

Application forms are available in the Research Portal.

Submit an application

Updated March 14, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)

IDEA Lab: launch grants

Overview

Success stories and use cases

Support for IDEA Lab researchers

Application process, deadline, and eligibility

How to apply

Elevate stream

Accelerate stream

Explore stream

Accelerate vs. Explore vs. Elevate: summary of differences and similarities

How to apply