The Neuro – Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation Open Science Prizes

International Prize

Value: CAD $80,000 (CAD $55,000 in unrestricted research funds and CAD $25,000 in salary support) 

About:  

This prize will go to an individual or a group of individuals who have demonstrated, maintained, enhanced, valorized, and/or delivered Open Science practices, policies, and/or tools that have had a demonstrable impact on neuroscience research. The prize can be awarded in recognition of a single project, or a series of contributions to Open Science in neuroscience.

A group application may be submitted by up to five people. Applicants may be from the same organisation or different organizations and the application may address one or more projects.

In cases where there are multiple applicants, the salary support funds will be split evenly between applicants. For the unrestricted research funds, applicants will be asked to identify one institution to receive and disburse the funds.

The salary support funds will be distributed through the applicant's employing institution. It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to account for any taxation implications of receiving salary support funds.

Eligibility:  

The prize is open to up to five individuals working in academic organizations around the world.

Evidence of impact is mandatory, including but not limited to:

• indicators of access to and use of software tools, data, or code repositories number of downloads
• contributions to open tools (e.g. merged pull requests in GitHub repositories or documentation)
• number of citations, altmetrics (e.g., Altmetric or PlumX Metrics) industry partnerships
• evidence of work to increase the usability of open tools
• evidence of patient/participant outreach or co-development
• knowledge translation and education activities
• evidence of work promoting open data standards, and
• authoring or co-authoring Open Science guidelines and policies

Early Career Researcher (ECR) and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) criteria play a major positive role in the selection process.

Applicants may choose to highlight the EDI relevant elements of their identity (e.g., sex, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural or demographic group) within the registration form. They may also address whether they work in a historically underserved or under-resourced region and how their Open Science activities take EDI considerations into account in their Project(s) Description.

PLEASE NOTE THAT prize funds will only be distributed to McGill-affiliated individuals once out of every 5 years. The last year when McGill-affiliated individuals received prize funds was 2021. McGill-affiliated individuals may still be listed as applicants but the unrestricted research funds must be sent outside of McGill and the salary-award will be split between non-McGill-affiliated individuals until 2026.

Communications Obligations:  

At least one of the recipients of the prize must be willing to travel to Montreal to give a lecture for The Neuro’s Open Science In Action Symposium, November 30, 2022.  

TOSI will cover travel and lodging expenses.

Entry Guidelines: 

The call for applications opens at 9:00 August 31, 2022 and closes at 23:59, October 6, 2022. Applications are made through the webportal accessible by clicking Apply below.

Please ensure that all application materials and supporting documentation is submitted by the Ocober 6, 2022 deadline.

Application Guidelines:

If the application is being made by a group, a single person from that group will be clearly designated as the Corresponding Applicant. The Corresponding Applicant should be one of the senior leaders of the project(s). The Corresponding Applicant will receive all communications and submit all documentation regarding the prize. It is highly recommended that official institutional emails are used for applicants and suggested supporters.

The application package will be submitted through an online webform accessible by clicking Apply below and shall comprise:

1. An application title, the name(s) and affiliation(s) of applicant(s), a short description of the role of each applicant (max. 100 words), the current position or job title of each applicant, and a field where the applicant(s) may choose to identify themselves as a member of an underrepresented group.

2. A max. 1000-word Project(s) Description describing the project(s) to be considered. This description will be uploaded as a PDF and may contain relevant images, figures, and links. It is recommended that the Project(s) Description consist of the following sections:

• Project Description
• Lay Summary
• Rationale
• Significance
• Approach
• Evidence of Impact (external links, including hyperlinks, are permitted)
• EDI (addressing whether the project(s) serve underrepresented or underserved communities)

Upon submission of the webform the Corresponding Applicant will be sent an email including links to the Prize information page and to upload the Project(s) Description; and

3. The names, affiliations, and email addresses of a maximum of 10 referees who the applicant believes will support their application. Upon submission of the webform these individuals will be sent an email including the application title, names of the applicant(s), a link to the Prize information page, and a link they can use to upload letters of support (PDF, max. 500 words). Please note that letters of support must be uploaded by 23:59 October 6, 2022

It is recommended that the Corresponding Applicant wait at least an hour after submitting an application, modifying their application, or submitting supporting documentation, as well as check their spam folder, for any Prize-related communications.

Submission Process: 

Trainee Prizes

International Trainee Prize 

Value:  

CAD $10,000 (CAD $5000 in salary support and CAD $5000 in fellowship funds)

About:  

This prize will go to a graduate or post-graduate trainee who has demonstrated, maintained, enhanced, valorized, and/or delivered Open Science practices, policies, and/or tools that have had a demonstrable impact on neuroscience research. The prize can be awarded in recognition of a single project or of a series of contributions to Open Science in neuroscience.

Canadian Trainee Prize 

Value: 

CAD $5000 in salary support

About:  

This prize will be awarded to the highest ranked application for the International Trainee Prize from an applicant working at a Canadian institution.

If the International Trainee Prize (see above) is awarded to an applicant working at a Canadian Institution, the Canadian Trainee Prize will go to the next highest ranked applicant working at a Canadian institution.

Runner-up Trainee Prizes 

Value: 

5 awards, CAD $1000 in salary support

About:  

These prizes will be awarded to the top five runners-up for the International Trainee Prize (not including the recipient of the Canadian Trainee Prize if that recipient is in the top five runners-up).

The salary support funds for the International Trainee, Canadian Trainee, and Runner-up Trainee Prizes will be distributed through applicant’s institutions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to account for any taxation implications of receiving salary support funds.

Eligibility:  

Applicants must be a graduate or post-graduate trainee working in academic organizations around the world.

Evidence of impact is mandatory, including but not limited to:

• indicators of access to and use of software tools, data, or code repositories
• number of downloads
• number and kind of contributions to open tools (e.g. merged pull requests in GitHub repositories or documentation)
• number of citations, altmetrics (e.g. Altmetric or PlumX Metrics)
• industry partnerships
• evidence of work to increase the usability of open tools
• evidence of patient/participant outreach or co-development
• knowledge translation and education activities
• evidence of work promoting open data standards, and
• authoring or co-authoring Open Science guidelines and policies

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) criteria play a major positive role in the selection process.

Applicants may choose to highlight the EDI relevant elements of their identity (e.g., sex, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural or demographic group) within the registration form. They may also address whether they work in a historically underserved or under-resourced region and how their Open Science activities take EDI considerations into account in their Biosketch and Project(s) Description.

Awarding of the Prizes:  

Recipients of the International Trainee and Canadian Trainee Prizes will be invited to receive their prize and give a lecture either virtually or in person during The Neuro’s Open Science In Action Symposium on November 30, 2022.

TOSI will cover travel and lodging expenses for recipients electing to travel to Montreal.

Entry Guidelines: 

The call for applications opens August 31, 2022 and closes at 23:59, October 6, 2022.

Please ensure that all application materials and supporting documentation is submitted by the October 6 deadline.

Application Guidelines:

The application package will be submitted via an online webform and shall comprise:

1. The name and affiliation of the applicant, and a field where the applicant may choose to identify themselves as a member of an underrepresented group.

2. A max. 500-word Biosketch of the applicant (free format).

3. A max. 1000-word Project(s) Description describing of the project(s) to be considered. This description should be uploaded as a PDF. It is recommended that the application consist of the following sections:

• Lay summary
• Rationale
• Significance
• Approach
• Evidence of Impact (external links, including hyperlinks, are permitted)
• EDI (addressing whether the project(s) serve underrepresented or underserved communities)

Upon submission of the webform the applicant will be sent an email including a link to the Prize information page and links they can use to upload their Project(s) Description and Biosketch; and

4. The names, affiliations, and email addresses of up to three individuals (one of whom must be the applicant's academic supervisor) who have agreed to provide letters of support (PDF, max. 500 words). Upon submission of the webform these individuals will be sent an email including the name of the applicant, a link to the prize information page, and a link they can use to upload letters.

It is highly recommended that official academic or organizational emails are used for applicants and those providing letters of support. It is further recommended that the applicant wait at least an hour after submitting an application, modifying their application, or submitting supporting documentation, as well as check their spam folder, for any Prize related communications.

Applications are closed. Learn about this year's winners.