Postdoctoral Fellowship - Application Guidelines / Evaluation and Scoring

Postdoctoral Fellow – Guide for Applicants

MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Contact Information

Include the following in the electronic template provided:

• Name of sponsoring organization
• Status of sponsoring organization (e.g., not-for-profit, hospital, university, etc)
• Applicant contact information (institutional affiliation, title, institutional mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, email address)
• Dates of proposed period of support

2. OPGRC Productivity Index (if applicable)

• If applicable, complete the OPGRC productivity index form. This includes:
  • A list of all awards received to date from OPGRC
  • Associated completion deadlines, extensions, and completion dates
  • Associated publications and/or knowledge translation activities

3. Letter from Department Head (if applicable)

• If your PhD is not complete, attach an electronic copy of a signed letter from your department head stating the expected date of your PhD completion.  Mail the hard copy of this form to OPGRC to the attention of Erika Veri Levett.

4. Description of Reference letters

• Indicate the names and affiliations of your referees

5. Description of Transcripts

• Indicate the institution(s) of origin of your graduate school transcripts
• Indicate whether your graduate transcripts will be mailed directly from your University OR whether they will be mailed by you.  If mailed by you, the transcript(s) must be official.

SECTION 1 (10%)

Description of doctoral thesis – maximum of 1000 words, excluding reference list

In a maximum of 1000 words, summarize your doctoral thesis in as much detail as possible. State the purpose, significance, and rationale for your thesis in the context of the relevant literature review. Describe the methodological approach used and clarify its theoretical and/or experimental basis.  Include all relevant citations and a reference list of no more than one page. 

• See writing guidelines for section 1 here: Section 1 Guidelines

SECTION 2 (25%)

Proposed research plan – maximum of 2000 words, excluding reference list

In a maximum of 2000 words, describe in as much detail as possible your research plan for the period for which you are to hold the award. State the purpose, significance, and rationale for the proposed work in the context of a brief literature review. Describe the methodological approach to be used and clarify the theoretical and/or experimental basis of your research.  Include relevant citations (a reference list should be attached separately). If the proposed research is an extension of your doctoral thesis (i.e., work done in section 1, the “description of doctoral thesis” section), clearly state why the proposed research is an important addition to your past research.

• See writing guidelines for section 2 here: Section 2 Guidelines

SECTION 3 (40%)

Research & Development and other relevant skills – maximum of 1500 words

In a maximum of 1500 words, describe the following using the assigned headings:

i) Contributions to research and development

Provide a list of your most recent contributions. Do not include articles in preparation or articles where you do not appear as an author.  Classify the contributions as follows by using the italicized headings:  

1. Articles published or accepted in refereed journals (provide date of acceptance)
2. Articles submitted to refereed journals (provide submission date and correspondence  number)
3. Other refereed contributions (e.g., communications, papers in refereed conference proceedings, posters, etc.). Do not list the same proceeding from multiple conferences, proceedings for future conferences, or your thesis here.
4. Non-refereed contributions (e.g., specialized publications, technical reports, conference presentations; for conference presentations, indicate whether oral presentation or poster).

ii) Most significant contributions to research and development

Choose up to three contributions from your list in (i) that you see as your most important contributions to research and development.  Comment on the importance of these contributions to the research area. For each contribution:

• describe your role in the research
• describe the significance of the research (see above for significance indicators)
• indicate any collaboration with other researchers
• discuss the relevance of your work to the gambling research field (e.g., transferable research skills, partnerships with other researchers).

iii) Other performance indicators

a. Scholarships and awards

• a list of scholarships and awards held, indicating their duration and amount (if applicable) and whether they were competitive awards. Include awards received for papers and presentations.

b. Relevant work experience

c. Duration of masters and doctoral degrees

• If desired, briefly provide personal circumstances that delayed completion of a degree or degrees (e.g., illness, disability, parental leave) in “special circumstances” in section iv

iv) Applicant's statement

Group your comments under the following subheadings:

a) Research experience

• Describe the scientific skills that you have gained through your research and work experience and their relevance for conducting scientific research in the gambling field.
• Describe how your research experience gives you high potential to make a significant contribution to the gambling field. 

b) Relevant activities

• Describe professional and extracurricular activities that most demonstrate your communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills (e.g., oral presentations, mentoring, teaching, supervisory/project management, chairing committees, organizing conferences, elected/volunteer positions).
• Indicate how your relevant activities have prepared you for a career as a scientific researcher

c) Special circumstances (if applicable).

Describe any circumstances that have had an effect on your performance or productivity (e.g., illness, disability, parental leave)

SECTION 4 (15%)

Justification of proposed location of tenure/supervisor – maximum of 500 words

In a maximum of 500 words, justify your proposed location of tenure and proposed supervisor (note: they must reside and work in Canada). Specifically indicate:

• How the research lab and supervisor will strengthen your ability to conduct research in the gambling field and advance your skills and reputation as a scientific researcher (e.g., consider access to professors and graduate students available for collaboration, access to equipment, and the general research environment)

SECTION 5 (10%)

1. Reference letters (two) 

Designate 2 people capable of making an informed assessment of your research ability and potential. One person should be very familiar with your research and other abilities, e.g., doctorate research supervisor. The second person should be sufficiently familiar with your research and other abilities to provide meaningful commentary. Referees will be granted confidential access to the electronic reference letter template (by assignment of a user ID) by Erika Veri Levett, Grants Officer at OPGRC.

Your application must be complete before your referees will be contacted to complete the evaluation because your references will access your application. 

2. Transcripts

Send all official graduate transcripts in a sealed envelope with your application or under separate cover by mail to OPGRC to the attention of Erika Veri Levett.