1. WCHRI Summer Studentship Competition 2019
Presenter: Michelle Bailleux
Date: January 11, 2019

2. Eligibility
Undergraduate students (including medical education students) registered in a recognized degree program at time of application from any Canadian university may apply.
Students must commit to the proposed research for a minimum of three months from May to August. Medical education applicants with 11 weeks available for summer research are eligible.
Perhaps mention our vision, mission, strategic roadmap and relevance criteria

3. Eligibility
Students must complete the WCHRI in-training membership requirements prior to submission of the application.
Projects must be supervised by a WCHRI member and carried out at the University of Alberta.

4. Eligibility
Supervisors may put forward only one applicant per year. Co-supervision is not permitted.

5. Eligibility - new this year…
Supervisors must be WCHRI academic members for not less than 1 year prior to application; except new recruits with an academic appointment of less than 1 year at time of application deadline.

6. Award program timelines
Application call/ posting: December 2018
Application deadline: February 1,
Outcome announcement: mid April 2019
Research engagement: May – August 2019
Awardee lunch & shares:
May 24 and August 16, 2019
Summer Student program booklet and (final) reporting: September 2019

7. New this year…
WCHRI is accepting applications through a grants submission portal. Please refer to our website at:
Uploaded applications are to be Adobe (.pdf) files.
All letters of reference must be submitted directly to WCHRI (in confidence) by to:
Printed application material is not accepted.

8. Reminders … Co-supervision is not allowed. Membership is required.
Transcripts must be official (transcripts generated in Beartracks will not be accepted).
WCHRI continues to offer the FoMD studentship in placental research.
Compliance with lay summary instruction is required.

9. Alignment and relevance
All applications submitted through WCHRI Grants must align with WCHRI's vision, mission and strategic plan 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 plan can be found on our website.

10. Relevance Refer to https://www.wchri.org/relevance-criteria
The research question must specifically target improving outcomes for women and/or children through health research.
The primary research question must address the unique and distinct health needs of women and/or children. For example:
-Stating that a particular disease or risk factor is higher in women or in children is not sufficient rationale; the study must explore why prevalence is higher in women or children.
-If a study is exploring sex/gender comparisons, the comparison must be embedded as the primary research question, not as a secondary outcome.
Methodology must clearly demonstrate direct applicability to women and/or children’s health outcomes. The applicant must provide rationale for their chosen research model, including factors such as sex and age.
The above items are some common considerations; alternative or additional factors may need to be included depending upon the proposed research.
Refer to

11. Award funding A maximum of $1,300 per month paid as a bursary.
Incentive funding if applicant is successful in receiving another (external) award. Project overlap and period of support apply.

12. 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.

13. Grading grid
This is what reviewers use to score your application. Total of 34 points, based on:
Student factors (GPA, awards, research experience, etc.)
Supervisor factors (supervisor background, training environment, etc.)
Research project factors (quality and feasibility, sufficient research funding)
A half a point will be the difference between getting funded or not…

14. Supporting documents
One up-to-date copy of the applicant’s official/ most recent transcript(s).
One letter of reference submitted to in confidence to
Supervisor's current research funding.
Supervisor’s publication listing for the last three years only (with trainees underlined).

15. 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
If you are funded and your lay summary is not suitable for a lay audience, you will be asked to redo it.
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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. Requirements for funded students
Participation in two lunch & share sessions
(May 24 and August 16, 2019)
Participation in the WCHRI Summer Student program booklet
Completion of final reporting
Your supervisor must provide a final report
Participation in WCHRI Research Day

19. WCHRI awardee lunch & share information sessions
Share your research with your peers
Information about WCHRI award requirements, Research Day, lunch & learns

20. Summer studentship program outcomes
Digital version:

21. 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

22. WCHRI Research Day November 6, 2019 – Westin Hotel
November 16 at the Westin Hotel: 450 registrants: 48 orals 140 posters; workshops; keynote speaker Steve Matthews from U of T

23. Thank you for your interest in this funding program… Questions?
Michelle Bailleux
Research Grants Administrator
Nicole Gallant
Research Grants Assistant