Welcome to the Awards Session 2015/2016

The Life of a Scientist Write grant Get money Do experiments Analyze results Write papers REPEAT OFTEN!

Research Area NSERC – natural sciences and engineering OR SSHRC – social sciences and humanities OR CIHR – health sciences DO NOT submit an application to e.g. NSERC and CIHR at the same time. Otherwise both agencies will not consider your application. Send both agencies a ½ page abstract to ask which one you should apply to.

Important Things to Keep in Mind Applications that are submitted after the deadline will NOT be considered for the competition. NO extensions!!! Stick to the deadline and follow instructions! Have your lay abstract proof-read by someone who is not working in your field of study to see whether it is easily understandable. Please impress the committee by sticking to margins, not leave anything blank (use N/A whenever something does not apply to you), not having any typos etc. => the overall appearance DOES matter Type everything in a word-document first and use spell check. Paste into the forms when final draft is ready. Look out for any changes to symbols, etc. Keep an eye on your referees. Make sure they upload their letters of reference on time and stay in contact with them. Choose your referees wisely – one ‘mediocre’ reference can have a major negative impact on your application CIHR-CGSD and Vanier: Register for MEDI649 (PhD) before you order your UBC transcript and also order your transcripts from other Canadian universities.

Application Forms Fill in everything that applies to you Forms are online: CIHR doctoral award: ResearchNet NSERC doctoral award: NSERC website Tri-Agency Master’s awards: Research Portal Affiliated Awards: FG+PS website Affiliated Awards must be submitted as hard- copy (with the first page signed) IMPORTANT: Follow the instructions

Transcripts Original, official transcripts from North American Universities (Vanier, CIHR-CGSD) Certified true copies of international and domestic transcripts (including UBC) are allowed for NSERC doctoral, Tri-Agency Master’s, and Affiliated Awards Send us updated transcripts if applicable!!! All postsecondary studies transcripts are needed

Reference Letters Vanier: 3 CIHR Doctoral: 3 NSERC Doctoral: 2 Tri-Agency MSc: 2 Affiliated Awards: 2 Affiliated Fellowship Reference form Received in sealed envelope or via directly from referee Max. 1 page

Reference Letters Always include your supervisor (if possible) Requires some advance planning: Make sure you provide the referee with your most up to date CV Meet with the referee to discuss your project Take every opportunity to have your referee included in discussions about your research Former instructors are okay, as long as they know you (more than just one of many)

Timeline Vanier application deadline has passed. Our program will be providing supporting letters for all submissions (we have a quota of 5) October 1 – deadline for Tri-Agency doctoral applications via ResearchNet for CIHR (or via NSERC) (Sept. 24 deadline to submit to ORS for signatures for CIHR) October 1 – deadline for doctoral Affiliated Awards application December 1 – deadline for Tri-Agency Masters applications December 1 – deadline for Masters Affiliated Awards application Approx. April 2016 – Awards results will be released

Affiliated Fellowship NSERC CIHR- CGSM SSHRC Experimental Medicine Program Review applications for eligibility and completeness Rank applications (Masters and Doctoral separately) Forwards top applications to FG+PS (based on quotas) FG+PS Please note: CIHR doctoral awards are submitted directly to CIHR Research Portal for all M.Sc. applications

Submission to CIHR CIHR submissions go via ResearchNet and are completely electronic At the end of submission, CIHR must verify with UBC to give final approval ORS must have a record of your application You must complete a RPIF well before the deadline You must indicate UBC as the institution to be paid

Office of Research Services ORS Website: Download the Research Project Information Form as a fillable pdf (from ‘Electronic Forms’ under Resources and Links) Your supervisor must be listed first You will need to provide a pdf of your application (not necessarily complete, but it should have as much info as possible) You will need to have the form signed by your supervisor’s department head first (2-5 days!)

Eligibility Doctoral Students First-class academic standing in each of the last two years of full- time study Each award type has restrictions on number of months of graduate study completed as of a certain date: CIHR doctoral: minimum of 12 months (as of October 1 st, 2015) Completed maximum of: 22 months in Ph.D. program (start date January 2014) if MSc completed or transferred from MSc 34 months (start date January 2013) if direct-entry PhD NSERC doctoral (as of December 31, 2015): less than 24 months (start date January 2014) from start date in PhD between 4-36 months (start date January 2013 if direct-entry PhD) Affiliated Awards (as of December 31, 2015): less than 36 months (start date January 2013) less than 48 months (start date January 2012 if direct-entry PhD)

Eligibility Master’s Students First-class academic standing in each of the last two years of full-time study Each award type has restrictions on the number of months of graduate study you have completed as of a certain date: Tri-Agency (as of December 31, 2015): less than 12 months (start date January 2015 or later) in MSc in PhD (direct-entry students) in MSc (for students intending to transfer to PhD) Affiliated Awards: MSc students: less than 24 months as of December 31, 2015 (start date January 2014)

International Students Unfortunately…not many options International students are eligible to apply only to the UBC Affiliated Fellowship and Vanier competitions. International students are not eligible for CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC

Application materials CIHR-CGSD Signed signature pages Common CV Training expectations Summary of Research Project Space, Facilities, and Personnel Support 3 letters of reference Transcripts Proof of citizenship or Permanent Residency

Application materials NSERC Application Forms 201 (4 pages) Outline of proposed research (1 page) Contributions and Statement Justification for Eligibility of Proposed Research (if applicable) Transcripts Two letters of reference (Appendix 1) Referees should use Appendix 1 form

Typical ‘Weighting’ Selection Criteria Weightings CGS D/PGS D (percent) Academic excellence30 Research ability or potential50 Communication, interpersonal, and leadership abilities20

Affiliated Awards – Downloads

Application materials Affiliated Affiliated Awards Application Form Outline of Proposed Research (1 page) Contributions and Statement (1 page) Special circumstances (optional) Transcripts Two letters of reference (Appendix 1) Referees should use Appendix 1 form If free format: max. 1 page

Application materials Affiliated Please note: If Canadian citizen or permanent resident: Check external funding (CIHR etc.). If eligible, you HAVE TO apply for external funding!!!

Application materials Affiliated Formatting: min. margin: 1.87cm (3/4 inch) around the page font size: 12 point, black ink, six lines per inch NO condensed type or spacing Instructions: Write your name and student number at the top right corner of every page

Application materials Affiliated

General Advice Provide as much detail as possible and use all parts of the forms Get help from your supervisor Have others read your application Check your spelling and be careful about formatting Sloppy application = sloppy research? Follow the instructions

Thank you very much for your attention! If you have any questions: Virginia Grosman Senior Program Assistant Experimental Medicine Program ext