1. WCHRI Graduate Studentship Competition 2019
Presenter: Michelle Bailleux
Date: February 28, 2019

2. Deadlines Complete & send the waiver to FGSR by April 11, 2019.
One signed and complete
application form by April 18, 2019.
No later than 4:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted through the WCHRI grants electronic submission portal.

3. Applicant eligibility
All applicants must be physically attending the University of Alberta, registered in a full-time, thesis based, graduate program in a health-related discipline leading to a Master or Doctoral degree at the time of application.
Applicants must complete the WCHRI in-training membership requirements prior to submission of the application.
Refer to the program guidelines for additional information.

4. Supervisor sponsorship (eligibility)
Projects must be supervised by a WCHRI academic member.
Supervisors may submit only one application per competition as primary supervisor.
Supervisors must be WCHRI academic members for not less than one year prior to application; except new recruits with an academic appointment of less than one year at time of application deadline.
Refer to the program guidelines for additional information.

5. The award
is $18,000 per year.
may be held for a period of up to 24 months.
incentive funding (including top-up) may be available if another award is received.
incentive programs exhaust WCHRI award eligibility at the same rate as a fully-funded studentship.

6. The award
incentive funding provides WCHRI awardees that have obtained an additional trainee award (equal to or more than $18,000, typically external to UA) with a bonus of $3,000.
top-up funding provides recipients of another grant less than $18,000 with a top-up to $18,000. Top-up is used in combination with incentive.
Award amounts maybe pro-rated; refer to guidelines for more information.

7. WCHRI graduate studentship committee
Effective the 2019 cycle, Dr. Andrew Waskiewicz will chair this committee. Dr. Waskiewicz has significant review and committee leadership experience.
Committee composition is based on anticipated application volumes between biomedical and applied health application types.
Committee membership is broadly composed and may include both WCHRI academic members and University of Alberta faculty.
Applications are randomly assigned.

8. Application process (in broad strokes)…
Waiver to FGSR by deadline.
Original, signed and dated application with all additional documents submitted to WCHRI by deadline.
Administrative review for completeness and eligibility.
Sent by WCHRI to 2 reviewers.
Committee meeting.
Awardee listing is posted on the website.
Reviewer feedback is provided to the applicant and their sponsoring supervisor. s

9. Application relevance to WCHRI

10. Application relevance refers to how an application aligns with WCHRI’s vision, mission, strategic plan and relevance criteria
Information on WCHRI’s vision, mission, and strategic plan is available at:
Information specific to relevance is available at:

11. Establishing relevance to WCHRI
All applications must clearly address the following:
The research question must specifically target improving outcomes for women and/or children through health research.

12. Establishing relevance to WCHRI
(continued from the previous slide)
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.

13. Establishing relevance to WCHRI
(continued from the previous slide)
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.

14. Establishing relevance to WCHRI… Include
A clear (primary) research question that addresses the unique and distinct health needs of women and/or children.
Animal models
Justify the model used. Detail rationale, animal age/sex, and relevance/applicability.
Methodology
Detail the study design. Demonstrate benefit, impact, and/or potential for improved women and/ or children’s health outcomes.
Include any additional details that address relevance.

15. Relevance criteria assessment (eligibility)
Applications that do not meet relevance criteria are not eligible to hold WCHRI funds, regardless of scientific merit.
Relevance to WCHRI
Low relevance to WCHRI
Moderate relevance to WCHRI
High relevant to WCHRI

16. The grading grid

17. The grading grid
The grading grid tells you how points are allocated by the reviewers. A total of 34 points that may be allocated.
The sections where you can affect your outcome include:
personal statement.
letters of reference.
the research environment.
the research project, and
relevance to WCHRI.

18. Applicant GPA WCHRI calculates GPA as:
50% from your program admission GPA, and
50% since program admission (up to the last 60 credits).
If you do not provide the waiver to FGSR and/or FGSR is unable to generate an entrance GPA for your, your application will not be accepted.
The graduate studentship grading grid allocates up to 3 points for GPA.
WCHRI Grants will detail the process.

19. Awards & prizes
Reviewers may allocate up to 3 points and are looking for evidence of academic/ research excellence. Assessment of awards and prizes is based on expectations given level of training.
May include citations.
May include items from undergraduate years.

20. Publications and/or research outputs
Reviewers may allocate up to 3 points and are looking for evidence of academic/ research excellence.
May include refereed papers, conference abstracts, research day participation.
May include items from undergraduate years.

21. Past experience and personal statement
Reviewers may allocate up to 4 points and will consider the candidate’s past research and work experience and their personal motivation and drive to engage in women’s and/or child health research.

22. Letters of reference Consider including one from your Supervisor.
The other should be from someone who knows you and can speak to your experience and potential.
Letters are to be submitted directly to in confidence by the referee.
WCHRI expects that letters will be submitted on or before the competition deadline.
All letters must be dated and signed.
Institutional letterhead (or equivalent) is expected.
Up to 4 points may be allocated.

23. Letters of reference Qualities the reviewers evaluating are:
Motivation and maturity.
Intellectual ability.
Potential for research.
Previous experience/ significant research experience, including publications and/ or presentations.
Excitement about your continued (or future) engagement and impact in research.

24. Supervisor & co-supervisor research outputs and publications
Reviewers assess (4 point maximum) 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 publication history.
Supervisor and co-supervisor must be WCHRI academic member(s).

25. Overall impression of the training environment and the role of the trainee
Reviewers assess (4 point maximum) the training research environment, the resources available to support the student and the types and number of trainees the investigator has supervised and published with.

26. Overall impression of proposed research project and fit with the WCHRI mandate
Research project must be directly relevant to the WCHRI mandate (relevance).
Your proposal should be hypothesis-driven or have a research question.
The project should take into consideration your research strengths.
Maximum 4 point allocation

27. Additional points
Additional point for primary supervisors at the Assistant Professor level (1 point).
Evidence of sufficient research funding for this work (3 points).
Evidence of peer-reviewed (national or provincial agency funding) research resources supporting this work (1 point).

28. The application

29. Start early!! Don’t PANIC, PLAN.

30. Where do I start…the easy part.
Read the program information, application form and the grading grid completely before you start.
Submit the waiver to FGSR.
Contact your referees.
Get official transcripts.
Plan your application.
Seek clarification if you have any questions.

31. Then do the hard part…
(Write it.)

32. Research Project
Is it well-written? Have your supervisor read it over.
Did you provide rationale? A hypothesis/ research question?
Methodology should be clear and appropriate.
Reviewers want to see that work may potentially contribute to new knowledge in the field.
Note: Do not assume that your reviewers are experts in your area of research.

33. Lay summary What is a lay summary?
Brief summary of your research – in simple terms for non-experts
Why they are important?
Raises awareness and encourages interest
Promotes your research activities to our foundations, stakeholders and the public
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

34. Lay summary…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

35. Complete the application…
Complete all attachments.
Review and edit. Make sure it is correct and compliant with the instruction(s).
Review for grammar, typos, clarity, feasibility, relevance.
Get signatures early (your institutional sponsor will have guidelines – find out what they are).

36. All done writing the application?
Send a draft to your supervisor, mentor AND a colleague for critical review.
Allow sufficient time for internal review/signatures.
Good Luck!

37. Submitting your WCHRI grant

38. What do I need to submit – don’t forget the attachments…
Build your PDF, include
Official transcripts – no beartracks, Go down to the registrar’s office!
Supervisor and co-supervisor (if applicable) must each provide the WCHRI Graduate Student biosketch.

39. What do I need to submit – don’t forget the attachments…
Research proposal
A word on missing research proposals in research funding applications…
Any other section of the application that either explicitly solicits inclusion of information where a box is not provided and/or a section that indicates additional pages may be used and you wish to use additional pages.

40. Post-Award Considerations

41. All implemented awardees are expected to attend WCHRI Lunch and Share event in September/October.
Awardees and supervisors must provide a progress report at 1 year and a final report at the end of WCHRI support.
A community presentation is required at year 1 renewal – a WCHRI delegate may attend.
Requirement to acknowledge support in signature block.

42. Awardees are required to:
apply for other grants during WCHRI support and
present at WCHRI Research Day.
Awardees must remain compliant with the program guidelines.

43. Contact wcgrants@ualberta.ca www.wchri.org
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