NSERC Presents

1
NSERC Presents
Scholarships Fellowships
Programs
2
(No Transcript)
3
Todays Agenda

• Introduction
• Whats new in the Scholarships
• and Fellowships division
• Information common to most applicants
• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Postdoctoral Programs
• CREATE

4
NSERC promotes and assists research in the
natural sciences and engineering
NSERC 101
5
Prosperity and high quality of life for Canadians
vision and mission
NSERC
USING NEW KNOWLEDGE Partnerships of
universities with industry and other sectors
for project research
WORKING IN ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY Scholarships and fellowships for
undergraduate students, postgraduate students,
postdoctoral fellows and some university faculty
6
Scholarships News

• Vanier CGS New Harmonized Tri-Agency process.
  Application details at www.vanier.gc.ca.
• Agency deadline November 6, 2009
• CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements
  (CGS-MSFSS). Next deadline October 10
• Eligibility Criteria (Program of study and
  proposed research)

7
Scholarships News

• Changes to Form 200
• Elimination of Appendix 2
• Addition of program of study
• Increase in number of PGS/CGS/PDF committees
• Closure of NSERC/MITACS Scholarship Program on
  March 31, 2009

8
To Apply for NSERC SupportYou Must Be

• A Canadian citizen
• OR
• A Permanent Resident of Canada

Exceptions Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Program (Vanier CGS) Industrial Postgraduate
Scholarships Programs (IPS) Industrial Innovation
Scholarships (IIS) - for those registered in
Québec universities Visiting Fellowships in
Canadian Government Laboratories
(VF) Collaborative Research and Training
Experience (CREATE)

9
Eligibility of Program of Study and Proposed
Research

• Both program of study and proposed research must
  be eligible / in a field that NSERC supports
• Program
• Clinically-oriented programs of study are
  ineligible (e.g. clinical psychology)
• Joint graduate programs including a professional
  degree are ineligible (e.g. MD/PhD)
• Research
• Research challenge must lie within NSE
• For awards held at universities, research must be
  supervised by faculty member whose own research
  is in an NSERC-supported field
• May only apply to one agency per academic year.
• If in doubt, contact NSERC (schol_at_nserc-crsng.gc.c
  a)
• NSERC makes final decision

10
Northern Research Internships (NRINT)

• Opportunity to do research in Canadas North
• Student may hold a USRA, Vanier CGS, CGS/PGS, IPS
  or PDF at the same time
• No fixed deadlines, apply 8 weeks before start of
  northern work
• Up to 30 awards per year (first come, first
  served)
• How to apply
• Form 200
• Letter from supervisor
• Letter from Northern partner
• NRINT Agreement signed by all parties
• Up to 14,000 for 12-16 weeks, within 12 months

11
Aboriginal Ambassadors in the Natural Sciences
and Engineering Supplement Program (AANSE)

• Aims to engage Aboriginal students and fellows in
  promoting interest and participation in the NSE.
• Visit Canadas Aboriginal communities and schools
  to share your research and education experiences
  or participate in science promotion events and
  activities.
• You must hold an USRA, Vanier CGS, CGS, PGS,
  PDF, IPS, IRDF or NRINT.

You may hold an AANSE supplement up to 4 months
after the end of your USRA
12
upplements

• Extra from other organizations
• May be available for USRA, PGS, CGS, Vanier CGS,
  IPS and PDF
• Support research in specific areas
• Value ranges from 1,000 - 15,000
• Duration from 1 - 4 years
• Contact agencies directly upon receipt of NSERC
  award letter

13
Undergraduate Student Research Awards

• University-based research
• USRA
• Industry-based research
• I-USRA

Eligible companies on our Web site
14
USRA Programs
Travel funds may be available
15
Applying for USRA
16
Graduate Students

• Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate
  Scholarships (CGS) / Postgraduate Scholarships
  (PGS)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
• Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith
  Foreign Study Supplements (CGS MSFSS)
• Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships (IPS)
• Industrial Innovation Scholarships (IIS) for
  students registered at a university in Quebec
• Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan

17
Graduate Student

• Maximum of 4 years support (full-time equivalent)
• Total Masters PhD support
• Any combination of Vanier CGS, CGS, PGS, IPS,
  IIS, NSERC/MITACS

18
Deadline for PGS
Check your university's internal deadlines!

19
CGS/PGS M and D
Must have obtained at least one Canadian
degree in NSE
20
CGS/PGS M and D
As of December 31st of the year of application
in program for which support is requested
21
CGS/PGS Selection Criteria and Weightings
22
What Happens to the Application at Your
University?

• You submit to department/university
• University committees select applicants to fill
  NSERC quota
• Quota of applications sent to NSERC
• University informs unsuccessful applicants

23
What Happens to the Application at NSERC?

• Verification of eligibility of applicant and
  proposed research by Program Officers
• Selection committee members review all
  applications
• Top-ranked applicants offered CGS
• PGS offered to next tier of applicants
• Applicants informed of NSERCs decision
• Feedback available upon request

24
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

• Tri-Agency program for outstanding students who
  will pursue a doctoral program in a Canadian
  University.
• Nomination by the University Contact Graduate
  Studies office for deadline date.
• To be eligible
• Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or
  Foreign students
• To Apply
• www.vanier.gc.ca
• Common form for all three agencies
• Two-tier competition process Agency-specific
  selection committee, and a high level Vanier
  Selection Board.
• 50,000 / yr for 24 or 36 months
• NEW THIS YEAR Eligible candidates should also
  submit an application for PGS/CGS competition at
  the same time

25
Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith
Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS)

• To build global linkages and international
  networks through research experiences at
  universities or research institutes outside of
  Canada
• Tri-Council Program 250 supplements/year
• 125 SSHRC
• 80 NSERC
• 45 CIHR
• Must hold a CGS or Vanier CGS
• Apply through the University Contact Graduate
  Studies Office for deadline date
• June 10th
• October 10th
• Maximum of 6,000 for 3 to 6 month period

26
Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships (IPS)

• Gain work experience while completing a graduate
  degree
• Students must spend at least 50 days per year at
  the host organization
• Collaboration between university, student and
  host organization
• No NSERC deadline
• Quick application turn around
• 21K minimum for Masters level - more than
  PGSM/CGSM (17K)
• Foreign students may be eligible (some conditions
  apply)

27
Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships
28
IPS Application Process

• Student must contact Office of Graduate Studies
  to initiate process
• Form 200 to be completed by the student
• IPS agreement with host completed with help of
  Office of Graduate Studies
• Nomination package submitted to NSERC for
  evaluation (use checklist)
• Results from NSERC within 6 weeks of receiving
  complete application

29
Industrial Innovation Scholarships (IIS)

• Gain work experience while completing a graduate
  degree at a Québec University
• Collaboration between university, student and
  company
• Student must spend majority of time at an
  eligible practicum host site working on
  thesis-related research activities
• Application submitted by university
• No NSERC or FQRNT deadline
• Foreign students may be eligible to apply (some
  conditions apply)
• If you wish to take up the award in the current
  fiscal year, the university must submit your
  application to FQRNT before February 1st, 2010

30
Industrial Innovation Scholarships
31
IIS Application Process

• IIS Form available on the FQRNT Web site
• Completed by student submitted electronically to
  FQRNT
• Student delivers a copy to the Graduate Studies
  Office
• Graduate Studies Office prepares IIS Agreement
  and forwards documents to FQRNT
• FQRNT forwards a copy to NSERC
• Evaluation of application by FQRNT and NSERC
  simultaneously

32
Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan
33
Postdoctoral Programs

• Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF)
• Industrial RD Fellowship (IRDF)
• Visiting Fellowship (VF)
• Japan Society for the Promotion
• of Science Fellowship (JSPS)

34
Postdoctoral Programs Overview
35
Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF)

• Deadline Date October 15, 2009
• To be eligible
• PhD completed after Oct. 15th, 2007
• OR
• PhD requirements met by Dec. 31st, 2010
• How to apply
• Form 200 Official Academic Transcript (Doctoral
  Only)
• 40,000 per year for maximum of 24 months
• Award start date between April 1 and January 15

May only apply twice May not hold more than one
NSERC PDF
36
Location of Tenure for PDFs

• Canada University and provincial
• research institutions
• Appropriate research laboratories
• Abroad University and research
  centres
• If requesting a tenure abroad, the PhD must have
  been completed in
• Canada
• The PDF may not be held at the university (or its
  affiliated institutions)
• where PhD was completed or with PhD supervisor

37
PDF Selection Criteria and Weightings
38
PDF Selection Process

• Verification of eligibility of applicant and
  proposed research by program officers
• Selection committees members review all
  applications
• Applicants informed of NSERCs decision by March
  31
• Feedback available upon request

39
Industrial RD Fellowships(IRDF)

• No deadlines for application
• Research at eligible Canadian organization
• Apply within 5 years of PhD
• Not previously employed in Canadian industry
  after PhD for more than six months and not have
  received a non-conditional offer of employment
  from nominating organization
• How to apply
• Form 200 (Application for a Scholarship or
  Fellowship)
• Form 183C (Nomination for an Industrial RD
  Fellowship)
• 40,000 min/year for maximum of 24 months

Eligible organizations on our Web site
40
IRDF Selection Criteria and Weightings

• Nominee
• Research ability or potential (70)
• Communication, interpersonal and leadership
  abilities (30)

• Proposed RD activities
• Industrial RD environment
• Significance and feasibility
• Organization commitment
• Scientific and technical merit
• Incrementality

41
IRDF Selection Process

• Eligible organizations submit their application
  at any time throughout the year
• NSERC program staff reviews application for
  completeness
• Two members of the College of Reviewers review
  the application and complete an evaluation
• The members separately assess the merit of the
  candidate and the research proposal
• To be successful, both the candidate and the
  research proposal must be meritorious
• Nominating organizations are notified of the
  decision within six weeks of receiving the
  complete application

42
Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government
Laboratories (VF)

• Research in government setting
• No deadlines for application
• Apply within 5 years of completing PhD
• How to apply
• Form 200 (Application for a Scholarship or
  Fellowship)
• 46,535 per year
• 1 year fellowship renewable twice

No citizenship or residency requirements
43
VF Selection Criteria and Weightings
44
VF Selection Process

• Evaluation of applications by government
  department, overseen by NSERC
• If successful, applicant is placed on an
  inventory for up to 2 years
• Being placed on the inventory does not guarantee
  a fellowship
• Government departments select candidates from the
  inventory

45
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Postdoctoral Fellowships (JSPS)

• Research in Japanese universities and national
  labs
• Deadline January 25, 2010
• Obtained PhD within past 6 years
• How to apply
• Contact NSERC for application form
• 364,000 Yen (approx. 3,500 CAN) per month
  travel and relocation allowances
• Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 to 24
  months

46
CREATE Collaborative Research And Training
Experience

• Groups of researchers who will provide training
  programs to highly qualified students and
  postdoctoral fellows
• Value-added experience to the university training
  environment
• Provide increased job readiness in chosen career
• Students/Fellows may experience
• Opportunities to acquire professional skills
• Opportunities to travel between Canadian
  Universities, and/or internationally
• Interaction with other sectors
• Increased access to interdisciplinary research at
  frontier between NSE and other disciplines.

47
Scholarships Application Form 200 for CGS/PGS,
IPS, PDF, IRDF, VF, NRINT
48
On-line Application Completion

• www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca to On-line Services
• Click on English
• Click on On-Line Services
• Print out and review FAQ instructions
• Register as First-Time User by clicking on
  Register or click on On-line System Login
• eConsole screen choose Forms - Student
• My portfolio screen
• Select form to be created
• Choose Form 200 - Scholarships
• Choose Form 202 - USRA Part 1

49
(No Transcript)
50
Login for previous user PDF format available
Register for new user PDF format available
51
CGS/PGS Level Selection Criteria and Weightings
52
Details of Selection Criteria for PGS/CGS

• Academic excellence
• Academic record
• Scholarships and awards held
• Duration of previous studies
• Research ability or potential
• Quality of contributions to research and
  development
• Relevance of work experience and academic
  training to field of proposed research
• 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
• Determination and ability to complete projects
  within an appropriate period of time
• 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

53
PDF Selection Criteria and Weightings
54
Details of Selection Criteria for PDF

• Research ability or potential
• Quality of contributions to research and
  development
• Relevance of work experience and academic
  training to field of proposed research
• 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
• Determination and ability to complete projects
  within an appropriate period of time
• 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.
• Professional and relevant extracurricular
  interactions and collaborations. For example,
  this could include
• mentoring teaching supervisory experience
• project management

55
(No Transcript)
56
No electronic submission A paper copy must be
submitted
Create a form Select the program Or Edit
57
Form 200

• Application Profile
• List of all parts of the application to be
  completed for the program selected
• Person Profile
• PIN assigned by NSERC
• Ensure e-mail valid October to April
• NSERCs primary contact
• Some info for stats and admin use only

58
List specific for each program
59
PIN if you don't have one leave it blank (no
SIN, no Student ID
60
Full address including postal code
61
Form 200

• Work Experience
• In science or engineering OR
• Demonstrates research ability, leadership,
  communication skills
• Include experience gained in program of study

• Academic Background
• Complete academic background in science or
  engineering, current and past
• May omit non-science/engineering programs

62
Academic background accurate does it make
sense? Do not include programs that you have not
yet started
63
Relevant work experience, in science or
engineering OR that show leadership/
communication skills
64
Form 200 Scholarships and Other Awards
Offered

• List up to 10 awards, including
• Declined awards
• Non-monetary awards
• Other NSERC awards
• Indicate award value per year

65
Scholarships don't put down from prof's NSERC
grants
66

• Form 200 - Locations of Tenure

• List up to 3 locations
• Eligible Canadian universities, not affiliated
  organizations
• Foreign universities

67
Locations of tenure must be universities, not the
affiliated hospitals, research institutes, etc.
68
Form 200Justification for Location of Tenure

• Required for PDF, VF and NRINT only
• 1 page maximum
• Justify choice of location of tenure in relation
  to the research topic

69
Required for PDF, VF and NRINT only
70
(No Transcript)
71
(No Transcript)
72

• Form 200 - Thesis Information

• For CGS/PGS D, IPS 2 and PDF Only
• Most recently completed or in progress
• Plain language
• No Thesis?
• Describe research project or research-related
  work experience

73
PGS M and IPS 1 Do not need to complete this
section. Section will not appear
74
(No Transcript)
75
Form 200 - Proposed Research(Free Form)

• Summary of future research endeavours
• Plain language
• 1 page max
• Specific as possible
• Objectives, Outline, Methods
• Procedures, Significance
• Do not repeat info from Thesis summary
• Refer to it!
• Convert document to PDF format

76
Watch the margins Check grammar, typos, spelling,
etc. Don't repeat information found in Thesis
Times New Roman regular 12 pts, or any
comparable font nothing smaller Condensed type
is not acceptable
77
Form 200 Contributions and Applicants Statement
(Free Form)

• Part 1 Articles published, accepted, submitted
• Part 2 Most significant contributions to RD
• Part 3 Applicants statement
• research experience
• relevant activities
• special circumstances
• Page limits PGS M 1 page total
• PGS D 2 pages total
• PDF 4 pages total

78
If you choose not to fill in any section from a
certain point to the end, indicate so on
application
79
Transcripts / Support Letters

• Transcripts
• Must be current and official
• Indicate that paper copies will be attached
• Support Letters
• PDF Only to make exception to stay at PhD
  university
• Head of the Department
• Proposed Supervisor

80
Indicate that a paper copy will come with the
application
81
Required for PDF, VF and NRINT only
82
(No Transcript)
83
Appendix 1 2 Reports Required

• Person most familiar with applicants abilities
  research, etc. - Usually thesis supervisor
• Another person familiar with your abilities and
  research
• Able to provide specific examples
• Not proposed supervisor unless also past
  supervisor
• Form must be signed by referee

84
Appendix 3 Consent Form

• Statistical information
• Not given to reviewers

85
Form 200 Finishing up

• Verify application on My Portfolio screen
• When Verification Report is Successful
• PRINT OUT YOUR APPLICATION
• Proofread and ask your supervisor and/or a friend
  to read for appropriate language, grammar, etc.

86
Number to be forwarded to the proposed referees
to complete Appendix 1 on-line
Verify for completeness
87
(No Transcript)
88
Remember

• Follow instructions
• Font size, margins, page limits etc.
• Clear, concise writing
• Proofread for spelling, grammar
• Provide needed documentation
• Choose respondents with care
• Be aware of deadlines
• No On-line application submission!

89
General Information / Application Forms

• Website www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
• On-line Services webapp_at_nserc-crsng.gc.ca
• Helpdesk [phone]
• Scholarships
• Fellowships schol_at_nserc-crsng.gc.ca
• Finance Division scholfin_at_nserc-crsng.gc.ca

90
(No Transcript)