Tips on Applying for Scholarships & Fellowships

(CIHR)

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Dr. Sam Basta

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Outline• Overview of Vanier, CIHR• Effective application writing• Common errors to avoid

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CIHR Vanier OGS

DeadlineM

D

Dec. 1

Oct. 1 Oct. 10

March 1or

Dept. deadline

ValueM

D

17.5 k

35/21 k 50 k

15 k

15 k

• Cannot hold any of these awards concurrently

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Selecting the Appropriate Funding Agency

• Check Tri-council guidelines on applications related to health to determine whether a project is CIHR (or NSERC, SSHRC): http://www.science.gc.ca and search for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency

• Cannot apply for more than 1 Tri-council agency in any single year, so making

the right choice is critical4

Selecting CIHR

• The intended outcomes of the research must, as stated in CIHR’s mandate, primarily improve or have an impact on health and/or produce more effective health services and products and/or strengthen the Canadian health care system.

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Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

• For outstanding students who will pursue a PhD program in Canada

– Applying to PhD or currently in year 1• Nomination by the University

– Talk to your graduate coordinator• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or

international students• $50,000 /yr for 24 or 36 months• Academic excellence, research potential and

leadership are equally weighted6

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

To Apply: www.vanier.gc.ca

Deadline to submit to SGS is October 10, 2018 by 4:00 p.m. EST.

Eligible candidates should also submit an application for SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR

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CIHRCGS

Academic excellenceAcademic recordScholarships, TTC

Achievement & activities

Research ability/potentialWork experienceOriginalityInitiativeAutonomyQuality

Training environment, characteristics & abilities of candidate

Communication, leadership, interpersonal

Evaluation Criteria

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CIHR Award ApplicationsThere are two types of CIHR scholarships:

1. Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s Award

December 1, 2018

2. Doctoral Research AwardOctober 1, 2018

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CIHR Master’s AwardCandidates must have:

- completed or be in the last year of a bachelor degree or - have completed, as of December 31 of the year of application, between zero and 12 months of full-time studies in a Master’s program

$17,500, one year only

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CIHR PhD AwardCandidates must:

- have completed at least 12 months of graduate study at the Master’s or PhD level

and

- have been registered for no more than 22 months full-time in a Doctoral program

$30,000/yr for up to three years, plus an annual research allowance of $5,000.

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Criteria: 1) Critical thinking, 2) Independence, 3) Perseverance, 4) Originality, 5) Organizational skills, 6) Interest in discovery, 7) Research ability.

CIHR Award Applications

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CIHR PhD Award Applications

Reviewers assess three variables:

1. Achievements and Activities

35%

2. Characteristics and Abilities

40%

3. Research Training Environment

25%

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CIHR Award Applications

There are two modules to fill out:

1. CV Module (one for yourself and one for your potential supervisor)

2. Training Module

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CIHR Award Applications

1.Achievements and Activities Publication activity (CV Module) Other research activity (CV Module) Academic performance (Academic

Transcripts)

Papers, Abstracts, Presentations, Awards, Research Experience, etc.Marks are very important early in your career.

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1. Achievements and Activities of the Candidate 35%

a. Publication Activity (10%)

• List of articles (quality) and other publications produced by the candidate.

• Publication activity of the candidate relative to your expectations of someone with their academic experience.

• Breadth of science covered and the frequency of publication.

• Number of co-authors for each paper (too many authors!) .

• First author papers

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses:

•

b. Other Research Activity (10%)

• Presentations, research prizes and other indicators of the candidate's research productivity.

• Other research activity of the candidate relative to your expectations of someone with their academic experience.

• Breadth of science covered, size and importance of meetings involved, frequency of conference presentations and research awards.

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses:

•

c. Academic Performance (15%)

• Undergraduate academic transcripts and, if available, graduate transcripts.

• Consider: type of program and courses pursued, overall average, trend (give credit for a steadily improving or consistently good performance).

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses:

•

2. Characteristics and Abilities Sponsors’ letters

-one sponsor must be your supervisor-choose (established) sponsors who know who you are-their assessments must be substantiated.

CIHR Award Applications

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2. Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate (40%)

Examples:

critical thinking, independence, perseverance, originality, organizational skills, interest in discovery, research ability, leadership.

• Assess potential for research.

• Assess the length of time that the sponsor has known the candidate.

• Assess the relationship of the sponsor to the candidate.

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses:

•

3. Research Training Environment Training program (Training Module)

Indicate all research and non-research activities: courses, teaching, participation to journal clubs, attendance to scientific meetings;

State what skills/knowledge-base you will acquire; State how these skills will be useful for the next stage of your career.

CIHR Award Applications

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3. Research Training Environment 25%

a. Training program for the candidate (10%)

• Training expectations and proposed doctoral research program, including project, resources available and planned non-research activities.

• Intellectual challenge and excitement of the research in which the candidate will be involved.

• Training program fits with candidate's training expectations and the resources available for the candidate's project.

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses:

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b. Scientific Activity (5%)

• Research supervisor's publication record. Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses

c. Research Resources (5%)

• Research resources available in the laboratory in which the candidate will train.

Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses

d. Training Record (5%)

• Research supervisor’s experience as a supervisor. Strengths:

•

•

Weaknesses

1. RationaleProblematic and main hypothesis that motivates the research project.

2. Research Project descriptionObjectives of the research project with its scientific questions, ie, specific hypothesis that will be tested.

3. Research PlanExperimental design and general method.

CIHR Research Summary

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• Keep secondary literature review section succinct

• Make sure you and your referees are "in sync”

• Clarify your research contributions if necessary

• Make sure you understand the difference between refereed and non-refereed contributions.

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1. Exceed space allowance or do not use all the space (e.g. short proposal).

2. Miscalculate average.3. Fail to abide by instructions

about margins, font, transcripts.4. Incomplete applications.5. Missed deadlines.6. Watch out for Spelling or

Grammar errors

Common Errors

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Grantsmanship:Some General Guidelines

• Visit the website, know what is expected of you, your referees and your institution, and follow the instructions.

• Give yourself enough time to submit drafts and incorporate feedback

• Describe your research in lay language, limit jargon and use of acronyms

• Saying it does not make it so – provide evidence, support your statements

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…More Guidelines• Use the space allotted (additional info

discarded)

• Choose your referees/sponsors carefully

• Provide your referee with information about:• The adjudication criteria• The timeline• Yourself and what you have done to

merit an excellent reference

• Leave enough time to get what you need (transcripts, references,…)

• The submitted application should be polished.

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