1. WCHRI Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition 2018
Presenters: Dr. Rhonda Bell with Michelle Bailleux
Date: September 18, 2018

2. Supporting the next generation of researchers
This program has been established to address a gap in WCHRI’s current programming.
It is geared towards supporting the next generation of researchers dedicated to investigation of the unique and distinct health needs of women and children.

3. WCHRI PDF program in a nutshell…
This program targets:
Outstanding postdoctoral candidates
Seeking training under a supervisor who is a WCHRI academic member
That will result in research and training in areas that are distinct and unique to women and/or children’s health.
The PDF candidate must demonstrate that this award will enable them to pursue a productive career in (an area specific/ unique to) women and/or children’s health
through their current research
personal statement
developing skills and competencies

4. Program funding
This program is expected to support up to 5 (full) awards.
Funded through the generosity of our partners, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
Awards will be offered on the basis of relevance to WCHRI and scientific merit.
Projects with a focus on breast cancer are not eligible for this opportunity.

5. Application Relevance to WCHRI Presented by Dr
Application Relevance to WCHRI Presented by Dr. Rhonda Bell Chair: WCHRI Postdoctoral Committee

6. Relevance determines funding eligibility
Applications that do not meet relevance criteria are not eligible to hold WCHRI funds, regardless of scientific merit.

7. RELEVANCE Refers to how an application aligns with WCHRI’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Roadmap
All applications must be highly aligned with the program relevance criteria to be eligible for funding.
Alignment with WCHRI relevance is assessed by committee.

8. Relevance criteria for this opportunity…
 Applications must clearly address:
Research question must specifically target improving outcomes for women and/or children through health research.
The research question must address the unique and distinct health needs of women and/or children. Simply stating that a particular disease or risk factor is higher in women or in children is not sufficient rationale.
Methodology must clearly demonstrate direct applicability to women and/ or children’s health outcomes.
Applicant must provide rationale for their experimental model, including factors such as sex and age.
Alternative/ additional factors may need to be included dependent upon the proposed research.

9. Relevance Assessment
The PDF grading grid specifically requires reviewer assessment of relevance for eligibility.
Eligibility criteria
Overall impression of relevance of the proposed research project to the WCHRI mandate
Overall impression of the supervisor’s research program engagement in women and/or children health research
Applications not assessed as highly relevant to WCHRI are not eligible for funding.

10. Relevance Assessment
Relevance is an important factor in application scoring as well.
Trainee Scoring Criteria (16 total points)
Total Points
Criteria 4
Academic Achievement: awards and prizes
Publications and Research Outputs
Reference letters
Personal Statement

11. Relevance Assessment
Relevance is an important factor in application scoring as well.
Supervisor Scoring Criteria (9 total points)
Total Points
Criteria 4
Overall impression of Professional Development Plan within the training environment 5
Supervisor/ Co-supervisor Research Outputs And Publication Record

12. Relevance Assessment
Relevance is an important factor in application scoring as well.
Research Project Scoring Criteria
(16 total points)
Total Points
Criteria 4
Feasibility and overall quality of the research project 3
Evidence of sufficient research resources for this work 2
Additional points for peer-reviewed (national, provincial funding) research resources supporting this work to January 31, 2021 are evidenced.

13. Relevance Assessment Trainee Scoring Criteria Personal statement
All applicants must demonstrate active engagement in and commitment to improving women and/or children’s health outcomes in their personal statement.
Reviewers are asked to assess how the applicant’s current/future skills, activities, knowledge, etc. supports improving women and/or children’s health.

14. Relevance Assessment Supervisor Scoring Criteria
Professional Development Plan
Reviewers assess the strength of the training environment, how it supports the candidate’s personal statement, overall career goals in women and/or children’s health.
Supervisor(s) Research Outputs And Publication Record
(relative to faculty level) reviewers assess research productivity and impact, (consistent) contributions to publication/research outcomes, Types and number of trainees the investigator has supervised and published within the area of women and/or children’s health.

15. Relevance Assessment Research Project Scoring Criteria
Feasibility and overall quality of the research project
Relevance to WCHRI must be evidence in the project and detailed in this section. Relevance does not factor into application scoring for this section, but
Relevance details in this section supports the reviewers assessment of eligibility criteria as previously addressed.

16. Program details Presented by: Michelle Bailleux WCHRI Grants Administration

17. The Award Contribution to salary of up to $40,000 per year.
may be held for a period of up to 24 months.
incentive or top-up funding may be available if another award is received.

18. Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must possess a PhD, have been accepted into a formal postdoctoral training program with a WCHRI academic member, and be within the first 36 months of their postdoctoral training by February 1, 2019. 
Applicants must present with a project that directly relates to women and/or children's health research.
Applicants must complete the WCHRI in-training membership requirements prior to submission of the application. 
Applicants may not concurrently hold/be on leave from a faculty position. 

19. Supervisor sponsorship (eligibility)
Sponsoring supervisors must have been a WCHRI academic member for at least 1 year at the time of application.
Primary supervisors may only submit one application per competition cycle.

20. Besides the application form, you will need
three letters of reference submitted in confidence directly to WCHRI by the referee. Letters of reference must be submitted by the application deadline. Refer to the application for additional information.
A WCHRI PDF biosketch for your supervisor and co-supervisor (if applicable).

21. Application Considerations

22. Deadlines Late applications are not accepted. Application Deadline:
October 29, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Submit the completed, signed application to the WCHRI office at ECHA.
We suggest hand delivering the application.

23. Planning your application
Start early
Read the program information to determine application eligibility.
Consider the information in the application and grading grid before you start completing the forms.
Ensure all information is correct/ complete.
Have your supervisor and mentor review your application.
Get signatures early (your institutional sponsor will have guidelines – find out what they are).

24. The Grading Grid
The grading grid tells you how your application will be assessed by committee reviewers.

25. Awards & Prizes
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points and are looking for evidence of academic/ research excellence.
May include citations.
May include items from undergraduate years.

26. Publications and/or Research Outputs
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points and are looking for evidence of an academic/ research track record that clearly exceeds all expectations (given level of training).
May include refereed papers, conference abstracts, research day participation.
There is no timeframe/ limitation for publication/ outputs.

27. Letters of Reference
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points total for the letters of reference section.
Letters of reference should be very positive and strongly supportive of the candidate and communicate an element of excitement about his/her future prospects.
Letters clearly detail the candidate's research successes/accomplishments and highlights, giving examples, of the candidate's strengths, competencies, and abilities.
Personal characteristics and suitability/ aptitude should be addressed.

28. Personal Statement
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points for the personal statement.
All applicants must evidence an engagement in and commitment to improving women and/or children’s health outcomes in their personal statement. Reviewers are asked to assess how the applicant’s current/future skills, activities, knowledge, etc. supports improving women and/or children’s health, given the following:
The personal statement is clearly detailed, concise/logical with goals/ambitions built upon previous experience.
The candidate has obtained an excellent foundation from which to build and clearly outlines goals that are achievable.
The proposed plan should yield a candidate with a skill set that is significant to the field of women and/or children’s health and will result in strong contribution to improving women and children’s health outcomes.

29. Professional development plan within the training environment
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points to this section and are looking for a training environment that clearly supports/ fosters the trainee's career development in the area of women and/or children’s health.
Assessment criteria includes a training environment that offers the candidate an excellent professional development opportunity in the area of women and/or children’s health.
The applicant has ample opportunity to achieve training and personal career goals.
It is evident that the supervisor and mentor have carefully aligned the professional development plan and training environment with the applicant’s personal statement and overall career goals.

30. Supervisor(s) research outputs and publications
Reviewers may allocate up to 5 points to this section.
The supervisor, and where applicable, the co-supervisor's, research track record will be evaluated with reference to faculty level, research productivity and impact, and consistent contributions to publication/research outcomes in the area of women and/or children’s health.
The type and number of trainees the investigator has supervised and published with is a consideration.

31. Research Project
Reviewers may allocate up to 5 points to this section. Research project must include relevance. The proposal should be hypothesis-driven or have a research question.
The project is clearly defined and is well written. The description provides enough methodological details to evoke confidence that the goals of the project will, in all likelihood, be achieved. The project has the potential to contribute substantially to the knowledge in this field.
Note: Applications are randomly assigned to reviewers, assume that your reviewers are not experts in your area of research.

32. The devil in the details…
Once you have spent a ton of time working on your application - send a draft to your supervisor(s), mentor, and
a colleague
for critical review.
Allow sufficient time for internal review/signatures.
Good Luck!

33. Additional considerations - Lay summary
What is a lay summary?
Brief summary of your research – in simple terms for non-experts
Consider:
Does it answer the 5 W’s? Have you provided a “WOW” factor?
Did you use plain language (ie remove all the jargon?)
Did you read it to someone who isn’t familiar with your field (or even in science)?
Why they are important?
Raises awareness and encourages interest
WCHRI actively uses lay abstracts to promote awardee’s research activities to our foundations, stakeholders and the public…
What they are
Short accounts of research that are targeted at a general audience
A brief summary of a research project that is used to explain complex ideas and technical and scientific terms to people who do not have prior knowledge about the subject.
Why they are important
Being able to communicate your research to the public helps capture the attention of potential donors – encouraging additional funding.
A requirement for many grant applications
Encourages interest in public engagement with research
Raises awareness of your study
Helps attract the support and confidence of the public

34. What happens after I submit my application?
After submission WCHRI
Administratively reviews all applications for completeness and eligibility.
Eligible applications are sent to 2 committee members for review.
WCHRI holds a review meeting; committee will discuss (select) applications.
Application scoring and relevance ratings are used to determine funding order.
Awardee listing is posted on the website/ feedback is provided to the applicant and their sponsoring supervisor.
Sponsoring institutions/RSO are advised of application outcomes.

35. Post-award Considerations

36. Additional PDF Awards
if another award is received, the applicant is required to notify WCHRI.
applicant must accept the other award.
are still considered WCHRI Postdoctoral Fellows; incentive exhaust award eligibility at the same rate as the full award.

37. Salary incentive policies
incentive funding provides WCHRI awardees that have obtained an additional salary award with additional funding of $5,000.
top-up funding provides recipients of another salary award less than $40,000 with a top-up to $40,000. Incentive of up to $5,000 may also be offered.
Award amounts are pro-rated.

38. Additional Awardee requirements
Application for other salary support awards
Presentation at WCHRI Research Day
Presentation in the community
Participation in annual Lunch and Shares
Acknowledgement of WCHRI support
Annual reporting

39. Thank you to our funders!

40. Contact… wcgrants@ualberta.ca www.wchri.org
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