How to be successful in your
CIHR Fellowship Application
Katherine Gray-Donald
September 8, 2010
1
Reviewing files
Sent to reviewers and checked for conflict of interest
Independently evaluated on scoring sheets
Discussion of rankings where there are differences
Final score agreed upon
CIHR can offer specified number of fellowships
The stats
Received: 88 applications (Masters)
University Quota: 42
Successful applications: 31
Students must have achieved a first-class
average, as determined by McGill, in each of
the last two years of full-time study or
equivalent (if part-time terms); at McGill,
for CIHR Master’s Awards, first class means
A- or 3.70.
GUIDE FOR REVIEWERS: MASTER’S
Common
CV &
Sponsors
Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
Research experience and achievement
15 %
Academic Performance
25 %
40 %
Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
Sponsors
Training
Expectations
& Research
Proposal
Critical thinking
Independence
Perseverance
Originality
Organizational skills
Interest in discovery
Communication skills
40 %
40 %
20 %
20 %
The Research Training Environment
Training program for the candidate
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/33077.html
4
GUIDE FOR
REVIEWERS:
DOCTORAL
Common CV &
Sponsors
Sponsors
Training
Expectations &
Research Proposal
Sponsors CCV
Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
Publication Activity
10 %
Other Research Activity
10 %
Academic Performance
15 %
35 %
Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
Critical thinking
Independence
Perseverance
Originality
Organizational skills
Interest in discovery
Research ability
Leadership
40 %
40 %
The Research Training Environment
Training program for the candidate
10 %
Scientific activity
5%
Research resources
5%
Training record
5%
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/33043.html
25 %
5
GUIDE FOR REVIEWERS: POST-DOCTORAL
Candidate Data
Candidate’s plans (Training
expectations)
10 %
Proposed research project
10 %
Honours, awards, distinctions
5%
Publication and related research
achievements
35 %
60 %
Assessments by Sponsors
Characteristics and abilities of the
candidate
20 %
20 %
20 %
20 %
Fellowship Training Environment
Research activity, resources and
mentorship
http://www.cihrirsc.gc.ca/e/26720.html
6
Awards
List all.
Do not forget Dean’s honor list etc
Awards refused indicate declines
Nominated but not awarded ?
Finalist in a competition
Work experience
Any work in a relevant field-volunteer or paid
Skill building in a relevant field.
Show you are active
Publications
Clear consistent citations. All authors, correct order.
Published
In press (provide proof)
Submitted??
Reports only important ones. Not class assignments
Thesis?
Abstracts where presented or published
Letters published
Transcripts
They speak for themselves.
Good grades on key courses are important.
Training
How you will learn and become productive though this experience
Coursees, trainiing, learning environment i.e seminars etc.
Reviewers may know the environment so make sure the fit is good.
Supervisor and research committee or team
You can add some things about yourself that are not evident.
Language skills, former training that will be complimented
You expression in this is evaluated, eagerness, energy.
What you want to achieve high aspirations but not over the top
Abstract in lay terms
Make sure your mother can read it!
No jargon.
Say why it is important
Reviewers read it particularly when they are
not exactly in the field
Summary of the research project
Intro. Why is it important
Hypothesis/question
Methods
Anticipated results
All abbreviations defined
Realistic timeline
Methods are sound
answer research
Ethical
Expertise available
YOUR WORK/words
Space facilities
GET HELP HERE
Equipment, grant support , computing, technical support,
The reviewer wants to know the student has the facilities to
succeed in a reasonable time frame.
Letters of Support ---Who can back up
their checkmarks
Research supervisor (if you don’t people wonder why..)
Employer if a scientist
Prof you got to know well.
Not a junior person
Not an employer not in the field
Not a family friend
Letter of support
Provide all the details in one email (how to get the
form, where to send it etc)
Give the person plenty of time and some info to use to
guide them.
Do not annoy your referee by rushing him/her or
sending copious emails.
Do check with a reminder towards the deadline
Some tips in general
Be ready early so you can review and make very
clear and typo free.
Your obligation is to make every reviewer
understand your project, your accomplishments
and where you are headed and how.
The further you advance the less they judge grades,
more on project, clarity, importance
Priority areas MSc
Child Cancer (SHOPP)
Dental Hygiene (SHOPP)
Disability Prevention from Motor Vehicle Collisions or
Auto-Manufacturing (SHOPP)
Fanconi anemia (SHOPP)
Nutrition and Dietetic Research (SHOPP)
Osteoporosis (SHOPP)
Regional Partnerships Program
Respiratory Health (SHOPP)
Thalassemia (SHOPP)
Priority areas PhD
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Childhood Cancer (SHOPP)
Clinical Research
Digestive Health (SHOPP)
Fanconi Anemia (SHOPP)
HIV/AIDS
HIV Research (Small Health Organizations Partnership Program)
Huntington's Disease
Knowledge Translation
Nutrition and Childhood Development (SHOPP)
Physiotherapy in Mobility and Aging (SHOPP)
Psychosocial research Parkinson's Disease
Other sources: FRSQ