2012 NSERC/SSHRC Competition Dr Ingrid Johnston, Associate Dean,

1. 2012 NSERC/SSHRC Competition Dr Ingrid Johnston, Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

2. Overview of Awards: NSERC • Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship • Master’s (CGSM): $17,500/year; maximum 1 year • Doctoral (CGSD): $35,000/year; up to 3 years • NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship • Master’s (PGSM): $17,300/year; maximum 1 year • Doctoral (PGSD): $21,000/year; up to 3 years • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship • Doctoral: $50,000/year; 3 years • Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement • Up to $6,000 for a period of research study abroad • Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship (IPS) • $21,000/year minimum

3. Overview of Awards: SSHRC • Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) • Master’s (CGSM): $17,500/ year, maximum 1 year • Doctoral (CGSD): $35,000/ year, up to 3 years • SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship • $20,000/ year, maximum 4 years • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship • Doctoral: $50,000/ year, 3 years • CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement • Up to $6,000 for a period of research study abroad

4. General Eligibility for CGS and PGS awards • Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at time of application (except for Vanier CGS and NSERC IPS) • Not be applying to a second federal granting agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) in 2012/13 academic year • Not have received an award at the same level from SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR • Conducting research in an area that falls within a mandate of the respective funding agency

5. Details of Selection Criteria for PGS/CGS • Academic excellence • Transcripts (original, including U of A); awards and distinctions • Note: If you studied part-time or interrupted your studies with official university approval, the dates of interruption or part-time study must be documented in an official letter from the applicable university • Proposal/Program of study and research • potential contribution to advancement of knowledge • Professional and academic experience • research assistantships; other relevant work experience; publications; conference presentations • Research ability or potential • Quality of contributions to research and development • Relevance of work experience and academic training to field of proposed research

6. Details of Selection Criteria for PGS/CGS con’t • Significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research, and justification for location of tenure • Ability to think critically • Ability to apply skills and knowledge • Judgment • Originality • Initiative and autonomy • Enthusiasm for research • Communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities • The ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats. For example, this could include: • quality of the application's presentation; • participation in preparing publications; and • awards for oral presentations or papers.

7. Details of Selection Criteria for PGS/CGS (con’t) • Professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations. For example, this could include: • mentoring; teaching; supervisory experience; • project management; • chairing committees; organizing conferences and meetings; and • elected positions held. • Letters of Appraisal • Departmental Appraisal

8. Selection Criteria Weighting

9. Vanier Canada GraduateScholarship Program (CGS) Value • $50,000 for 36 months Application • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international studentsapply through theCanadian institution where they plan to pursue full-time doctoral studies (must be pursuing a first doctoral degree) • Preliminary assessment process at U of A – applicants must be invited to complete the online application • Contact your home department Deadline: September 23, 2011 for U of A “invited” applicants to complete the online application using ResearchNet November 9, 2011 to April, 2012: National Adjudication Visit www.vanier.gc.ca for additional information Visitwww.gradstudies.ualberta.cafor updates on the 2012 competition

10. Vanier CGSDEvaluation Criteria • Academic Excellence, as demonstrated by past academic results and by transcripts, awards, and distinctions • Research potential, as demonstrated by research history, interest in discovery, proposed research and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and the potential benefit to Canadians and anticipated outcomes • Leadership (potential and demonstrated ability) • Additional information atwww.vanier.gc.ca

11. Michael Smith ForeignStudy Supplement • Canadian citizens or permanent residents who hold an Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS), Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)at the Masters or Doctoral level, or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue a short research period outside of Canada • Supplement: up to $6,000 / term: three to six months • University deadline: deadline for departments to submit complete applications and supporting documents to the FGSR for the fall 2011 CGS-MSFSS Competition is September 29, 2011. • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered • FGSR deadline for submission of applications to NSERC is October 10, 2011.

12. A Good Application Demonstrates: • Strong academic record • Excellent potential to conduct advanced scholarly research • Strong communication skills • Ability to successfully complete the graduate program in a timely manner

13. Reminders • Use clear, concise writing • Proofread for spelling, grammar • Provide needed documentation • Follow instructions carefully • Format, font size, page limits, etc. • Choose respondents with care • Grades (explain “bumps”) • Ask someone to read and comment on your Program of Study • Let referees know the department deadline well in advance

14. Reminders continued • Allow sufficient time to prepare your application • Do not use jargon or highly technical language • Do not include research contributions that are currently in preparation, or those on which you do not appear as an author • Ensure your list of publications provides complete bibliographic information