BioFish

I have a feeling the saying "awards beget awards" is true, especially for NSERC. Since my first application, I got OGS and two other prestigious awards. My publication record didn't change at all (1 submitted manuscript not first author and some conference presentations). A few things I did to showcase my research potential: (1) tailor my proposal to focus on my current progress (what techniques had I used already and how those results informed my current goal and objectives) (2) clearly outlined my research contributions (get specific, why was your contribution(s) important to the field) in my personal statement and (3) I asked my supervisors to focus on my research potential in their letters of reference. I also explained in my application why my publication record was limited. Some people think reviewers will see this as making excuses, but if you have legitimate reasons (early entry to a PhD, time off between MSc and PhD, COVID lockdowns, inherently difficult area of research, novel techniques that require optimization, etc.) for not publishing as much as other people at the same level as you, they will take that into consideration.

I was also notified by the university ahead of NSERC that I was successful, but I don't think that means if you haven't heard from your institution, you didn't get an award - especially at large universities. This was my second and last time to apply. My first application was ranked very low and this year, I was ranked very high (goes to show how dynamic the process is year to year). I just remember how discouraging everyone was because I didn't have any publications and wanted to let those in the same boat know that you don't have to have publications to get NSERC! Keep trying and good luck!!!!!

Sorry, I should have said most instead of every. U of T, certainly.

Every university has a quota of NSERC PGS/CGS D applications that they can submit to NSERC after internal review.

Got mine too!

I agree, it is complicated! Sounds like you are ok though, get that CERB!

Ah, that's why. We pay tuition, so we both end up with very similar total funding.

This could mean that your application did not make it past the internal review process at your institution and so would not have been forwarded to NSERC for consideration in the national competition. Unless you were told by your department that you were successful in being submitted to NSERC?

Are you sure? Our RA contracts are taxable where our studentships are fellowships and not taxed. If your RA contract is a fellowship and is not reported with a T4, then you should be okay, regardless of the contract start and end dates. I would confirm this before applying for CERB though, so it doesn't get clawed back from you.

RA contracts are considered employment income so that would disqualify you from CERB if you are receiving payments during the CERB payment periods. Not many grad students, in my experience, receive RA contracts though. In my case, I do not receive RA contracts and in their place, receive research studentships which are not considered employment income.

Im curious what your total funding package is though? Maybe the TA contracts pay out less but you receive more in internal scholarships and fellowships to compensate? Our minimum funding package for PhD students in the Faculty of Science is about $30,000.00 per year (including our TA contracts of $10,000.00).

You have to have been employed and working before the pandemic (for example, as a TA or any other type of employment) because one of the requirements to receive CERB is that you had to stop working because of COVID. So you should be okay if you stopped working early March or after. You cannot have quit voluntarily or lost your job before March though.

That is shocking and disappointing to hear. You guys need to fight for more. At University of Waterloo, we receive approx. $5,000.00 per term from the TA contract, so $10,000.00 per year or $15,000.00 if I TA in the Spring/Summer. Approx. $38/hour

I'm sure the TA contracts (hours, wage, etc.) vary between schools, but if you are working as a TA in the Fall and Winter terms and receiving less than $5,000.00 in income, I strongly recommend that the TAs at your school unionize and fight for better pay.

As long as you have $5,000.00 or more in employment income on your 2019 tax return or have made $5,000.00 or more in the last 12 months, you would qualify. Remember though, that if you have not been working this year, they will likely question your CERB application as one of the requirements is that you stopped working due to COVID-19. In my case and in most cases I'm sure, Spring/Summer TA contracts are no longer available to us because of the departure from in-person instruction.