Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Could you please define the criteria used to evaluate applications for AHFMR studentships?

These criteria are:

• academic record
• research experience
• letters of reference

Academic Record -- Although undergraduate grades may not be the best indicator of future success in a research program; they are the only objective parameter we have on which to base an evaluation. Reviewers, however, don't just look at final grades. They look at

• the type of courses taken
• comparisons to the rest of the class
• group averages
• and the trend of the person's grades (are they improving?, for example).

Research Experience -- not every student entering graduate school has research experience. The panel does take into consideration the research track record of candidates who have done some research during the summer or who have already started their graduate training.

Letters of Reference -- These are very important. We encourage the candidates to select referees who know them well enough to comment on their academic credentials and provide specific information on their abilities (potential or demonstrated) for research. Many candidates without a stellar academic record have seen their rating increase by a letter clearly indicating how they perform in research.

Once the committee members have a clear opinion of the candidate, they turn their attention to the supervisor and the environment selected. They evaluate

• the supervisor's ability to provide the resources (financial and intellectual) necessary for the completion of the training program.
• his or her track record of publications
• funding history
• evidence of activity in training other students or post-doctoral fellows.

The environmental factor weighs heavily in the global assessment of a proposal.

The last part of the proposal to be considered is the project. It should be

• plainly written
• with a clear hypothesis
• logical objectives
• enough methodological details to give the reviewers confidence it will provide a suitable training opportunity for the candidate.

On the basis of all these criteria, and in relation to all other applications in the same competition, the committee rates the proposal on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 the top rating. Historically, the committee funds the top 25% to 35% of proposals in any given competition.

If you have questions for Dr. Jacques Magnan about any aspect of AHFMR's grants processes, he welcomes your calls at (780) 423-5727, or by e-mail at jmagnan@ahfmr.ab.ca