TRAQ DSS form instructions for NSERC Research Tools and Instruments

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Getting Started…

  1. Log into MyQueensU/SOLUS portal (my.queensu.ca), scroll down to Research Applications, click on TRAQ Researcher Portal link. Enter your Queen’s Net ID and password when prompted.
  2. Click Apply New
  3. Under Awards, click TRAQ DSS FORM
  4. Complete the different tabs of the TRAQ DSS FORM, as described below

Project Info tab

  1. Enter the title of your Research Tools and Instruments application
  2. Do not enter the start & end date
  3. If your project has an international dimension note the name of the country in the Keywords textbox, type in any other keywords that describe your project
  4. If applicable, click Search under Related Certifications to link your certifications (human ethics/ biohazards) to your project – if certification is already active, or in progress (pending)
  5. Under Related Certifications, click Add New to make note of any required animal care certification or if
    you plan to submit human ethics or biohazard application

Project Team Info tab

  • For researchers with cross-appointments: using the Affiliation drop-down menu select the department/research centre where the project will be taking place
  • To add team members who should have access to this TRAQ DSS (e.g., a research coordinator or a Queen’s co-PI), scroll down, click Add New under Other Project Team Members*, click Search Profiles, search for team members, click Select once team member is identified
    • * Do not add Project Team Members that are external to Queen’s, since they typically don’t need access to the TRAQ DSS. Names of external team members should just be typed into the Comments box (under PI information). If an external PI actually does need access to the DSS, then he should create a user account on TRAQ, and then you can add him/her by selecting him/her from the TRAQ list. Manually typing names into the “Other Project Team Member” section does not give them access, they will only receive many unnecessary and confusing emails. 
  • If a research administrator or co-applicant prepares a DSS for someone else, they can use the “Change PI” button to transfer the DSS to the Faculty member by searching and selecting the PI. Once “Change PI” process is completed, research administrator should be added to Other Project Member list.

Project Sponsor Info tab

  1. Click Add New to add sponsor
  2. Click Agency and search, e.g., search for a part of the agency name using the “Contains” filter, click Select. To search for NSERC, make sure to use the “Abbreviation” search field.
  3. Select the funding program from the Program drop-down menu: RESEARCH TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS (EQUIPMENT)
  4. Use the calendar icon to enter:
    • Expected start date of the project: April 1, 2024
    • Enter projected END date – March 31, 2028
    • Enter Competition Date: October 25, 2023
  5. Click GENERATE. This will create a disbursement table. Enter the total amount requested over the whole grant period in the Total Requested Cash field ONLY in the first disbursement row. Leave the in-kind and overhead fields empty. Click SAVE to save Sponsor Info tab information.

TRAQ DSS FORM tab

  • Answer the questions on sub-tabs 1, 2 and 4. For question 2.1, select “Tri-Council”. The answer for 4.3 is N/A.
  • Sub-tab 3 is only required for hospital-based projects.  View hospital-based projects definition

Attachments tab

  • Click Add Attachment to attach the proposal (draft is fine) and budget/budget justification (draft is fine), or attach the pdf downloaded from the Research Portal that contains everything if that file is <5MB.
    • Select Browse to upload an attachment, indicate Version Date and Document Type from the dropdown menu.
  • Click final Add Attachment to attach your document(s)

Approvals

The approvals tab only needs to be completed for hospital-based projects.  View Tips for Completing the TRAQ DSS FORM for Hospital-based Research

 Submitting

  • Click Submit button at the top of the screen when ready (Important: PI is the only team member who has access to the Submit button)

  • Enter a comment (e.g. “Proposal due in 2 days. Please review.”) in the Comments text box (mandatory), click Submit button either at the top, or bottom, of the pop-up window. Your TRAQ DSS will now go to your department head for approval, then to your faculty office, and finally to University Research Services,  with additional approvals at the beginning for hospital-based projects.

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