1. WCHRI Summer Studentship Competition 2018
Presenter: Michelle Bailleux
Date: January 12, 2018

2. Eligibility
Undergraduate students (including MD students) registered in a recognized degree program at time of application from any university
Must be a in-training member
Projects must be related to women and/or children's health research;
Perhaps mention our vision, mission, strategic roadmap and relevance criteria

3. Eligibility Supervisors may submit only one application per year
Projects must be supervised by a WCHRI academic member and carried out at the University of Alberta
Supervisors may submit only one application per year

4. Eligibility
Minimum of three months of the four-month summer period May to August
Applicants engaged in undergraduate medical education with 11 weeks available for research are eligible

5. Award Program Timelines
Application call/ posting: December 2017
Application deadline: February 2,
Outcome announcement: mid April 2018
Research engagement: May – August 2018
Awardee lunch & shares: May and July 2018
Summer Student program booklet/final reporting: (anticipated) September 2018

6. New this year…
Presentation of competition materials has changed. Please review all documents for complete program information prior to starting to fill out the form.
Personal statement – beyond your career goals and an interest in research consider any personal circumstances you may have/ wish to disclose.
WCHRI has moved!! Please submit your application package to our new office at:
ECHA

7. Reminders … Co-supervision is not allowed.
Like last year, WCHRI is administering the Biomedical Global Health Research Network (BGHRN) incentive for awardees engaged in global health.
Compliance with lay summary instruction is required.

8. Alignment and Relevance
All applications submitted through WCHRI Grants must align with WCHRI's vision, mission and strategic roadmap as well as to our relevance criteria. Applications that do not present with clear alignment and relevance will not be eligible to hold WCHRI funds (other eligibility criteria must also be met).
WCHRI's stated vision, mission and strategic roadmap are included in the application and guidelines and can be found on our website (

9. Relevance
Research question directly relevant to women and/or children’s health.
Research question specifically targets improving outcomes for women and/or children.
Animal models must be clearly justified and provide specific details that include rationale.
Methodology must demonstrate benefit, impact, and/or potential for improved health outcomes.
Refer to

10. Award Funding A maximum of $1,300 per month paid as a bursary.
Incentive funding if applicant is successful in receiving another (external) award.

11. Application Form what do I do first?
Read the application, guidelines and grading grid.
Request transcripts and reference letters early.
Discuss the project with your supervisor.
Plan timelines – leave sufficient time to get signatures.
Ensure you and your supervisor proofread the entire application.

12. Grading Grid
This is what reviewers use to score your application. Total of 33 points, based on:
student factors (GPA, awards, research experience etc.)
Supervisor factors (supervisor background, training environment etc.)
Research project factors (quality and feasibility)
Less than 1 point will be the difference between getting funded or not…

13. Supporting Documents
One up-to-date copy of the applicant’s official/ most recent transcript(s).
One letter of reference, in a signed, sealed envelope from the referee.
Supervisor's current research funding.
Supervisor’s publication listing for the last three years only (with trainees underlined).

14. Lay summaries What they are
Brief summary of your research – in simple terms for non-experts
Why they are important
Raises awareness
Promotes your research activities to our foundations and the public
Encourages interest
Fulfills grant requirements
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

15. Lay summaries: Quick tips
Answer the 5 W’s
Include the “so what” or “WOW” factor
Replace jargon with simple words
Read aloud to someone who isn’t familiar with your field (or even in science)
Refer to your supervisor if you have any questions
Answer the 5 W’s
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?
Include the “so what” factor
Give the audience a reason to care about your work – address the “so what?”
Focus on the relevance, the application of the benefits of your research
Be “person-centered”, instead of focusing on the circumstance, illness or disability
Replace jargon with simple words
Bench becomes “lab”
Clinical = “hospital”
Prior to = before
Discontinue = stop
Duration = time
Primary = main
Consume = eat
Acute = new, recent

16. Review Process
Original, signed application with all supporting documents submitted to WCHRI by due date.
Sent by WCHRI to 2 reviewers who complete the review online using the grading grid.
A committee review meeting is held to discuss applications and rankings.
Successful applicants are posted on our website and notified by mid April.

17. Requirements for funded students
Participation in two Lunch & Share sessions (May and August)
Participation in the WCHRI Summer Student program booklet
Participation in WCHRI Research Day
Your supervisor must provide a final report

18. WCHRI Lunch & Share sessions
Share your research with your peers
Get information from WCHRI about workshops, Research Day etc.

19. Summer Studentship Program Booklet
Digital version:

20. Answers the 5 W’s Includes the “so what” factor Use of simple words
Example
Answers the 5 W’s
Includes the “so what” factor
Use of simple words
More examples will be posted on our website:
Answer the 5 W’s
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?
Include the “so what” factor
Give the audience a reason to care about your work – address the “so what?”
Focus on the relevance, the application of the benefits of your research
Be “person-centered”, instead of focusing on the circumstance, illness or disability
Replace jargon with simple words
Bench becomes “lab”
Clinical = “hospital”
Prior to = before
Discontinue = stop
Duration = time
Primary = main
Consume = eat
Acute = new, recent

21. WCHRI Research Day October 24, 2018 – Westin Hotel
November 16 at the Westin Hotel: 450 registrants: 48 orals 140 posters; workshops; keynote speaker Steve Matthews from U of T

22. Thank you for your interest in this funding program… Questions?
Michelle Bailleux
Research Grants Administrator