OriginalBDivision

Hey guys, Here is my response from CIHR (if anyone is interested). The cut-off was 4.33 this year. "The DRA peer review committee cut-off was 4.33. The highest and lowest scores provided by the reviewers for your application are respectively 4.30 and 3.89. The mean score is 4.10 CIHR’s system calculated the High Average and the Low Average scores (using the Standard Deviation and Mean difference). In your case the High and Low Average scores were respectively 4.19 and 4.01. The way the system and the re-review works is: · If the mean score is above or equal to the cut-off, the new low average is used to determine if a re-review is required. If the new low average is below the cut-off, then the re-review is required. · If the mean score is below or equal to the cut-off, the new high average is used to determine if a re-review is required. If the new high average is above or equals the cut-off, then the re-review is required. Your case applies to the second option. This explains why the re-review process was not applicable to your application."

Stephie, I have not heart from CIHR regarding my second set of questions. The first question came back to me within 2 days. Let me know what you hear! Thanks for posting your scores Mike. My scores: Publication Activity 4.8 3.7 (2 first author, 3 second author) Other Research Activity 4.6 3.8 (Ranked 56th in Vanier last year, ach!) Academic Performance 4.0 3.9 Reviewer Score 4.2 3.8 Training Program 4.3 4.1 Scientific Activity 4.2 4.0 Research Resources 4.5 4.0 Training Record 4.4 4.3 Overall weight scores - 4.30 and 3.89 - Average 4.10, Ranked 431 Youch! Anyone with a score near the cutoff that could report on what was needed for acceptance this year? On to the next competition!

Hey guys, Here is the response I got from CIHR regarding the review process "The discrepancy review process used by CIHR addresses situations in which applications near the funding cut-off are deemed to be at risk of an unfair decision due to a wide spread between the two reviewers' ratings. The “acceptable” range is determined based on the level of variation of all scores received. This means that the “acceptable” range will differ from year to another." My questions.... - What was the cutoff this year? - What was the acceptable range this year? - Are applications deemed to be "near the funding cut-off" AFTER the two scores are averaged? If not, how is this done? E.g. Would an application that was ranked at 4.5 and 3.5, averaged to 4.0, not be reviewed because it was not near the funding cut-off? If anyone has any more information I would love to hear it! Cheers

Hey Kathryn, I emailed CIHR, but I am not expecting much. From what I have heard once there isn't much wiggle room after these are announced. I am assuming if a 3rd reviewer was not brought in already then any differences between the two were not considered to be "serious" discrepancies. The text on their site says "When all scores are received, CIHR will calculate an average for each application. CIHR will then identify applications which are at risk of an unfair decision because of a wide spread between the two reviewers' rating". Anyone have any idea what constitutes a "wide spread"?

Hey all! Just wondering if anyone knows what the cut-off score for acceptance was this year? For the 2011/12 year I received a 4.19 (4.14 and 4.24) and was ranked 267 (I heard last year was around 4.24, not sure if this is correct). I set upon myself to learn from the information provided, spend the year crafting a better application, and then hopefully become a CIHR DRA scholar! This year, with two more publications (1st author review and 2nd author data) as well as numerous awards and improvements on my previous application, I somehow moved down to a 4.10 (4.30 and 3.89) putting me at a ranking of 447 and leaving me frustrated as hell! With 2 first author, and 3 second author papers I was able to get a 4.8 in publication record from the first reviewer, and a dismal 3.7 from the second reviewer. My "Other Research Activity" was 4.6 from one, and 3.8 from the other. I wish I understood how this can happen between two reviewers who are seeing the same list of publications/achievements. Congrats to all those who have won an award this year! The rest of us are left scratching our heads about what went wrong.

Ah! Results are available but ResearchNet is down! Arrghhh!

I heard through my Graduate secretary that no students from our department have received the award this year. Gulp. I will be needing some scotch as well.

It doesn't sound like anything from CIHR Vanier has been announced yet? Maybe they are waiting till after the 15th?

I was told that annoucements would be made on ResearchNet on April 15th Good luck!

From last years thread it also sounded like each tri-agency came at a different time, so it may only be SSHRC that has been sent out. Was the letter sent via courier or snail mail CafeHistorica (dated April 1st makes me think snail mail)? CIHR doctoral award announcements are supposedly being sent out through ResearchNet on April 15th, so not sure if Vanier will come before or after this

Ahhh! This week? I almost don't want to know. I wonder will Vanier letters be couriered for those accepted and regular mail for those who arn't? Good luck everybody =)

Did you get a letter BioChemCrazy? I am not sure how the two competitions are linked. CIHR CGS announcements aren't until around the same time as Vanier so I don't think any extra information can be found in having a letter or not. Does anyone know how applicants will be notified? Via snailmail? Or through the graduate programs?

Also, did anyone notice the new Vanier webpage they put up?

The thread from last year made it sound like some people got letters from tri-agency stating that they had been disqualified due to them receiving a Vanier scholarship, and they got these letters before finding out about the Vanier. So it could be....

Hey guys, Just wondering if there are any other hopefuls floating around here. I want this decision made...now! Does anyone know when announcements will be made? The ResearchNet listing for the award says March 15th, but most other sites (including the Vanier webpage) say April 15. Hmmmm