Research Funding and Grants

Administrative support and oversight for grant applications and grant management at Burman University is provided by our administration (VP Academic Administration and VP Financial Administration). This work is supported in part by the Government of Canada's Research Support Fund.

Funded Research at Burman University

At Burman University, our commitment to ecological stewardship is exemplified through two major research initiatives at Ellis Nature centre. Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), and the TD Friends of the Environment Fund, these projects unite academic rigour with community-driven conservation to protect Alberta’s native wildlife. Funding from RSF is also instrumental in supporting research activities at Burman University.

NSERC Alliance and ACA Grants:

• Project Title: Investigating ecological interactions between insects, pesticides, and insectivorous birds breeding in Central Alberta
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Delano Lewis 
• Alliance Partner: Ellis Nature Centre

This five-year project (2023-2027), led by Dr. Delano Lewis with co-PI Dr. Pekka Määttänen, explores the complex relationships between pesticide use, insect abundance, and the reproductive success of insectivorous birds in Central Alberta.

• Research Goals: We are investigating if pesticides, such as glyphosate and neonicotinoids, accumulate in local insects and transfer to birds like the mountain bluebird, potentially affecting their reproduction.
• Advancing the Science: The NSERC grant and  ACA grant have been critical for moving this research forward by enabling high-level molecular analysis, including DNA sequencing of bird diet and professional pesticide screening. This funding allows us to leverage 40 years of EBF bird monitoring data to identify scientific solutions for avian population declines.

Citizen Science Butterfly Count (TD Friends of the Environment)

In tandem with our bird research, we coordinate a volunteer-driven Citizen Science Butterfly Count. Funding was for one year only (2023), but training has continued every year since then.

• Public Engagement: Funded by an $8,000 grant from TD Friends of the Environment, this project trains community members to become "Certified Butterfly Counters".
• Community Impact: This initiative removes the barriers between professional science and the public, allowing over 200 (and counting) community volunteers to get trained. While not all actually gather vital data on the butterfly population at Ellis Nature Centre, it helps a large cross section of the community by fostering a deep appreciation for wild green spaces.

The Voice of Our Students

Students are the heartbeat of our research. Our funding provides hands-on training for undergraduate students, who serve as field and laboratory assistants. So far we have involved 5 undergraduate students (Burman University) and 2 recent graduates (red Deer Polytechnic and Lakeland College)

• Skills and Perspective: In the field, students learn to monitor nest-box trails, handle and band nestlings, and use GPS for habitat mapping. In the lab, they gain expertise in DNA extraction and sorting invertebrate samples.
• Empowerment: This student-aided approach "enhances teaching at a primarily undergraduate institution" by connecting classroom concepts to real-world investigations. 

Community Involvement and Shared Solutions

Our research is deeply rooted in the Central Alberta community. The partnership leverages the background of Ellis Nature Centre and the cooperation of local farmers and landowners who grant access to nests on their properties.

• Collaborative Policy: We hope to eventually work with other stakeholders to develop a manual of recommendations for sustainable agricultural practices.
• A Benefit for All: By involving the community in data collection and policy discussion, we aim to bridge the gap between academic conservation biology and decision-makers to ensure a thriving environment for both people and wildlife.
  
   

International Development Research Centre of Canada Grant:

Project Title: Supporting adolescent girls for ending child forced marriage in Turkana, Kenya

Principal Investigator: Dr. Adam Kis

Weston Family Foundation:

• Project Title: Investigating the synergistic effects of Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed) and Lonicera caerulea (haskap) supplementation on stool microbiomes and risk of cardiometabolic disease
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Pekka Maattanen

Research Highlights - Psychology Department 

Open configuration options Faculty in the Psychology department are actively engaged in several research projects. Some of which are noted below. RSF funding provides support for these initiatives at Burman University.

>> Click here to read more <<

Research Support Fund

The government of Canada provides the Research Support Fund (RSF) to support post-secondary institutions with the costs associated with the effective management of Tri-Agency-funded research projects. The RSF supports universities in pursuing ground-breaking research.

• 2026-2027 - $90,033.00 (100% allocated to Management and Administration)
• 2025-2026 - $30, 644.00 (100% allocated to Management and Administration)

Research funding provided through the granting agencies is generally limited to direct project costs (e.g., research equipment, salaries for research assistants, etc.). Institutions that receive funding for research also incur costs to manage their research enterprise, often called indirect costs of research (e.g., salaries for staff who administer the grants, maintenance of facilities, etc.).  The Research Support Fund allows expenditures in five categories:

• Research Facilities
• Research Resources
• Management and Administration
• Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation
• Intellectual Property

Burman University will use the Research Support Fund grants to help cover the costs of administering grants from the federal agencies, as well as to help cover the costs of managing research partnerships and training in grant writing.