HeatherCT

Hi everyone. Huge congrats to those who were successful. To those who weren't, please remember that this is all such a gamble! I was successful in committee 3. If anyone who didn't get it this year is up for applying again, then you definitely should! I came close but was unsuccessful last year. My scores went up quite a bit this time around with the same project. In case it's helpful for anyone, here are the differences between my application this year and last: 2 more publications (one new, one that was an R&R in 2021 and accepted by time of application in 2022); a 4 month contract with Global Affairs Canada; one more presentation; and I taught another course. My capability skill improved significantly but of course I don't know which of these developments made the biggest impact, or if it largely comes down to a different committee handling the assessment. I re-wrote my program of work to be a lot more direct and clear (cut some of the more theoretical background and flowery language, wrote it in a more 'policy' sort of tone, if that makes sense). I am confident that this made a big difference as my challenge score went up a lot despite the project being the exact same as the year before.

Hi everyone! Agreed with all, this is horrible! This is my second year applying. Last year, they sent an email on Feb 25th I think to say that results would come the week of Feb. 28th (which was a Monday). They came on March 3rd. Since we haven't received an email yet saying the results will come outside of February, I'm holding out hope it'll be today! I emailed yesterday to confirm the results would be posted online and not sent through the mail (I also panicked when I re-read the confirmation of receipt email). I heard back, and they said results would be on Extranet and they were "aiming for" the end of February. We'll get an email with instructions on how to access the results once they're available. Also (and sorry to prolong obsessive refreshing...) my results email didn't come until almost 9:00 p.m. EST last year. I wasn't the only one, either. They started sending the emails towards the end of the business day and it apparently took hours to get through them. Wishing you all very good luck!

Nothing for me yet. Committee 3, 'T' surname if those details might mean anything? My friend (also a T surname) just got her email though so I think they're still sending them out. Huge congratulations to everyone who was successful! To those who weren't, I hope that something really amazing is around the corner for all of you.

Yes, this is getting ridiculous! I am sympathetic toward some delay because I understand there were a lot of different people involved, most are working from home, tech challenges, etc. but come on!!! We at least deserve an update with an actual date at this point, especially if the results aren't actually coming this week.

I can access my Extranet from my Doc application last year, but nothing in it, not even old results. I also haven't received any of the email updates about "the week of Feb 28", etc. @Svaaron, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to email them (if you haven't already done so) to make sure they have your correct email address?

I really appreciate these details given that I'll be in a state of panic as soon as I receive the Extranet email. Thank you! And while I'm here, thanks to everyone for all the support and solidarity these last few weeks. It's really meaningful to have found some community in this super niche stressful time!

@Chih-En, a SSHRC program officer told me that, when results are available, we will receive an email with instructions on how to access extranet. Thinking of everyone on here waiting! This has not been a productive week for me, really hoping results come in super soon so I can get back to regular work instead of just obsessively checking my email...

Now that we've passed the halfway point in February my nerves are really ramping up! I have a draft of most of my dissertation chapters, my supervisor has seen about half of them. I am aiming to have a polished draft to submit to my full committee in the spring, maybe May 1, and hope to defend sometime in Autumn. I don't remember exactly when I said I would aim to start the postdoc but I'm pretty sure it was September. I doubt I'll be done by then, does anyone know if that's a problem? I think we have until the end of December to start, right?

I'm not sure about whether you can hold multiple awards simultaneously, but maybe! I do know supervisors will sometimes "top-up" a SSHRC postdoc from their own research funds and you can contract teach while holding the SSHRC postdoc. I agree that the SSHRC postdoc really isn't very much money to live on at this point in our careers, especially since it's taxed. My friends who have taken full-time teaching contracts post-PhD make twice the postdoc salary!

Not at all nosy! If successful, I'll be at Queen's University, Kingston. Re: plans if not successful: I just got a short-term contract with Global Affairs Canada, so if I don't get the postdoc I'll probably try to stay on there for awhile. I've been very on the fence about staying in academia. I love research, writing, collaborative projects, but am not as enthused about teaching and of course the precarity and uncertainty weighs heavily. So we'll see! I'm hopeful about the postdoc because I'm really excited about the project I applied with, working with my prospective supervisor, etc. For me, having a contingency plan has been really helpful for mediating my stress levels. I know my department has been really good at finding contract teaching work for newly finished PhDs in the past, so if anyone wants to go that route it might be a good idea to ask your chair. My prospective postdoc supervisor also said she would try to find some funds to hire me on a part-time postdoc if SSHRC doesn't pan out; maybe that's something else folks would want to ask about (contract teaching + part-time postdoc could pay the bills for awhile and look pretty good on a CV )

Hi everyone! It's my first time applying too, feeling pretty nervous/anxious/excited.... I emailed SSHRC to confirm the results would be sent out electronically and received this as the reply: "Thank you for communicating with us, results will be shared with candidates electronically. Once they become available( in late february), you will receive an email giving you directions on how to access the extranet website to view your results." So we have a few more weeks to wait, as expected, but it seems like once the results are available we should be able to access them right away. Good luck to all!