Nafie Program
(A) Introduction:This program is designed to fulfill the university's strategic objectives aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. It is aimed at facilitating technical and logistical support through the Deanship of Scientific Research to students and faculty members of scientific and health colleges. Moreover, this initiative seeks to leverage the university's infrastructure, including research laboratories and centers, to enhance indexed scientific publications within the university.
Nafie program is intended to attract distinguished researchers, and graduates of prestigious universities, with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Such researchers will be nominated by the research team to contribute their insights and experiences. The program's main objectives include: promoting research excellence, supporting skills development among students and faculty members, and fostering an environment conducive to global competition and establishing innovative enterprises.
Through this program, scientific papers will be published in scientific journals with an impact factor (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) core collection databases. Such journals should be included within the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) or the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
Furthermore, the program aims to localize expertise and ensure sustainability leveraging the nominated researchers' skills. This is achieved by integrating them into Nafie Program as assistant researchers. They could potentially be selected in the future to participate in the Supportive Researcher Program under the University Vice-rectorate for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research.
(B) Objective:
The project aims to fulfill the university's strategic objectives, derived from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, by fostering research excellence. It seeks to empower faculty members and students at scientific and health colleges, providing them with an environment conducive to research advancement. This involves utilizing the university's infrastructure, such as research centers and laboratories, to their fullest potential. The project also aims to elevate the quality of indexed scientific publications within the university.
(C) Assistant Researcher's Responsibilities:
· Assisting in laboratory experiments and documenting procedures.
· Providing training to technical staff and sharing knowledge of modern technologies utilized in university labs, while ensuring documentation.
· Collaborating with the research team in the development and publication of scientific papers in scientific journals indexed in databases.
(D) Funding:
1. Assistant Researcher:
- The assistant researcher's remuneration is disbursed based on their academic qualifications according to Article (12) of the Unified Regulations for Scientific Research at Universities.
- Remuneration is transferred directly to their bank accounts.
- The assistant researcher can engage in up to five research projects within Nafie program, collaborating with multiple research teams.
- Payment is divided into two installments for each research project: the first installment, comprising 50% of the approved remuneration, is provided upon signing the contract with the research team; the second installment, also 50% of the approved remuneration, is disbursed after the final report is endorsed by the Council of the Deanship of Scientific Research. This is based on the submission of the published research according to the specified criteria.
- If a research project is terminated by the Council of the Deanship of Scientific Research upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing, leading to the contract's termination with the lead researcher, the financial commitment for the assistant researcher will be terminated. Funds previously disbursed to the assistant researcher will be evaluated based on completion reports. If the assistant researcher fails to fulfill their obligations, any disbursed funds will be recovered
- If the assistant researcher resigns or stops working with the research team, or if the team decides to replace them for valid reasons, the financial commitment designated for the assistant researcher within the research project will be terminated. Any previously disbursed funds will be evaluated based on completion reports. If they fail to fulfill their obligations, any disbursed funds will be recovered.
2- Research Team:
- The research team's remunerations will be disbursed according to Article (12) of the Unified Regulations for Scientific Research at Universities, with a maximum of 25,000 SAR for each project within Nafie program resulting in a scientific paper. This amount covers the remunerations for all team members except the assistant researcher, whose remuneration is disbursed separately as explained above).
- The lead researcher can engage in up to five research projects within Nafie program, collaborating with different assistant researchers.
- The lead researcher's financial dues are paid in two installments: the first installment, comprising 50% of the project's approved budget, is provided upon the contract signing; the second installment, also 50% of the approved budget, is disbursed after the final report is endorsed by the Council of the Deanship of Scientific Research. This is based on the submission of the published research according to the specified criteria.
- The lead researcher is responsible for distributing all financial dues to project members according to the approved budget for researchers' remunerations. This distribution should occur upon receipt of the designated financial payments and submission of all requisite documentation following the Unified Regulations for Scientific Research. Financial disputes among researchers will not be entertained.
- If the research project is not completed for any reason and the Council of the Deanship of Scientific Research, upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee for Funding Research Projects, decides to terminate the project and the contract with the lead researcher, any financial obligations expected to be fulfilled upon project completion will be nullified. Additionally, the lead researcher will be required to refund any disbursed amounts according to the regulations established by the Deanship of Scientific Research.
E) Funding Conditions:
1. The university's research activity must be promoted, with at least half of the practical part of the project conducted in the university's laboratories and research centers.
2. The assistant researcher must meet the following criteria:
• Graduation from a university listed in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
• Saudi nationality.
• Holding a bachelor's degree or higher, with exceptions for bachelor's students at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
• Proficiency in technical and laboratory skills, including equipment usage, result monitoring, and conducting workshops and lectures.
• Preferably, prior publication of at least two scientific papers indexed in international databases.
3. The lead researcher must meet the following criteria:
- Affiliation with the university or the Directorate of Health Affairs and its associated centers at the university ranked Assistant Professor and above.
- They must not have a sabbatical, scientific communication leave, or exceptional leave for the duration of the contract.
- If a faculty member is contracted, proof of working at the university for at least one year from the contract signing date must be provided.
- The research team must include at least one Saudi national who is either a university staff or employed at the Directorate of Health Affairs and its affiliated centers at the university.
- The project seeking funding must not have concluded before the funding application submission.
- The project seeking funding cannot be based on content extracted from a book or scientific thesis.
- Researchers involved in the project, including the assistant researcher, must commit to the project's intellectual property rights as per the approved agreement form.
6. Researchers must adhere to scientific research ethics and obtain approval from the university's relevant scientific research ethics committees if required. The Deanship of Scientific Research reserves the right to take appropriate actions in case of any violations of scientific research ethics or recognized scientific misconduct at local or international levels.
- Upon approval of project funding, the research team cannot make significant alterations to the project, including changes to the project type, topic, methodology, or budget, without the approval of the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing.
8. The research team is obligated to complete the project according to the proposed plan approved by the Deanship of Scientific Research, maintaining the original composition of researchers. Any changes to the number or identities of researchers require approval from the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing. Failure to comply may lead to contract termination, with the matter referred to the competent committee.
9. In case the lead researcher leaves the university before project completion, they must submit a report to the Deanship of Scientific Research requesting the transfer of the project's responsibility to an alternative researcher. The report is presented to the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing for appropriate recommendation.
10. In case the assistant researcher leaves the university before project completion, the lead researcher must submit a report to the Deanship of Scientific Research on the work accomplished by the assistant researcher, and nominate an alternative assistant researcher to complete the project. The report is presented to the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing for appropriate recommendation.
11. In the event that the research team is unable to continue the project, the Council of the Deanship of Scientific Research, upon recommendation from the Standing Committee for Development and Quality in Scientific Publishing will choose between two options:
A. Terminating the project and cancelling the contract with the lead researcher and the assistant researcher. Thus, any expenses incurred by the university will be refunded.
B. Appointing a new lead researcher/assistant researcher, either from the existing team or externally, to complete the project. The assistant researcher can also transfer to another research team and contract with them if the original team is unable to complete the project.
12. A final report, along with published research, financial reports, invoices,
and the assistant researcher's accomplishments, including a report on the accomplished work and experiments at the university laboratories, must be submitted upon project completion.
13. Upon submitting the final financial report of the research project, the research team remains obligated to address any deficiencies in the report or fulfill outstanding research objectives without the Deanship of Scientific Research incurring additional financial commitments.
14. University members involved in the research team must each establish and activate an account on Google Scholar. They should indicate their affiliation with Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, as well as their respective college and department within the university.
(F) Published Research Approval Conditions:
- Research must be original and published as an article.
2. Research must be published in an international scientific journal indexed in databases like the Web of Science (WOS) core collection. The journal should be also included within citation indicators such as the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) or the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Research published in journals lacking impact factor (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) or indexed in WOS emerging sources will not be considered.
3. Research must not be published in journals listed as banned or pirated, or by publishers listed as banned, as per the circular issued by the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, No. 16997, dated 1/5/1440 AH, provided on the following links:
https://predatoryjournals.com/journals
https://predatoryjournals.com/publishers
4. Researchers must have their only affiliation as employees at the university or the Directorate of Health Affairs and its affiliated centers at the university. Double affiliations are not permitted. The affiliation shall be in the following format: Department name/ College name/ Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
5. All communications with the journal must use the official university email address.
- Only official university emails of team members should be included in the affiliation.
7. The second party must acknowledge the university's support for the research in the following format: This research project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, through the "Nafie" Program, grant No (XX- Nafie -XXX)
8. All project members' names must be included in the published research.
- Researchers are not permitted to collaborate with individuals from entities or countries with which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not deal by law. Journals originating from such entities or countries are also prohibited. Researchers bear full scientific, legal, and ethical responsibility for the published research.
- Research published or submitted to the journal before the contract signing date will not be considered.
- Research papers including acknowledgment to any other support entity within the university will not be considered.
- A 25% deduction from the support amount will be applied for each acknowledgment to a third party.
- Adherence to the regulations and ethics of scientific research is required.
14. Adherence to citation criteria and controls set forth by the university is required.
15. Scientific research and inventions resulting from this collaboration are deemed the property of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Researchers bear full scientific and legal responsibility for the content submitted to the university.
(G) Contract Duration and Extension Conditions:
1. The contract duration is one year from the signing date and may be extended for a similar period subject to approval from the Deanship of Scientific Research. No additional financial support will be provided during such an extension.
2. Researchers can request an extension of the research period from the Deanship of Scientific Research at least 30 days before the project's end, including:
a. Justification for the extension detailing the research progress achieved so far.
b. Proposed steps to complete the research during the extension period, which requires written approval from the Deanship of Scientific Research.
c. Attachment of the approved work progress form.
3. If the project's designated timeframe expires as per its approved schedule without completion, the Standing Committee for Funding Research Projects may, based on the lead researcher's justifications, grant an additional period of up to six months to finalize the project. No additional financial support will be provided during such an extension.
*Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the Deanship of Scientific Research Council.
Forms:
Approval of the Scientific Research Ethics Committee
Updated Project Budget Form-Nafie Program-1445 .xlsx
Updated Research Project Funding Form-Nafie-1445ـ.docx