Details
| Opportunity Name | Small Modular Reactors Research Grant Initiative |
| Agency | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) |
| Value | Up to $120,000/year |
| Indirect Costs | Ineligible |
| Duration | Up to 3 years |
Deadlines
| Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review | 11-29-2022 |
| Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review | 12-06-2022 |
| Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due at ORS for mandatory review | 12-13-2022, by 12:00PM |
| Application due at agency | 12-13-2022, by 12:00PM |
Objective
To support activities that will
- increase the scientific information available to support regulatory decision-making and oversight
- increase capacity to regulate SMRs
- enhance the capabilities of Canadian universities to undertake research related to SMRs
- increase training and help produce a new generation of nuclear scientists, engineers and policy-makers
Research proposals must address one or more of the following specific research challenges and knowledge gaps:
Chemistry and materials
- Consequences of high temperature on reactor components
- Chemistry control for various materials and fuel types
Environmental and radiological protection
- Source term characterization
- Geotechnical and effect of the environment on SMR design and operation
- Emergency planning
Human and organizational factors
- Interface design – Opportunity costs and benefits of analogue, digital and mixed displays suites for use in control and monitoring of complex environments
- Impact of digital control rooms on situational awareness and the use of decision-aiding systems
- Impact of digital control rooms on operator workload and vigilance
Safeguards and security
- Cyber security
- Effects of SMR deployment in unconventional locations on conventional safeguards inspection and verification methods
- Security of SMRs
Novel Fuel compositions
- Safeguards, nuclear material accountancy and non-proliferation impacts from the introduction of new fuel and associated fuel manufacturing techniques
Eligibility
Applicants may only submit one application as either Canadian principal applicant or co-applicant.
How to Apply
York University researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency. For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean’s signature. Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed ORS checklist to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.
ORS is accepting electronic applications – the process is outlined here.