NSERC 2012-2013

[adijr]

I'm in the US (Massachusetts), and I just received an answer from NSERC by mail (Saturday - since USPS works on saturday here). So this means many US people might get it soon!

good luck everyone!

[mastadblg]

Got the letter today in Maryland, PGS-M waitlisted, have to wait to june 15th. they said i was on a "short-list of alternates". Good luck to everyone else, oh and some of you guys that actually got the PGS-M should decline it so that i can have it instead. what dya say?

[TakeruK]

What a FALSE statement as extracted from the NSERC PDF website!

Notification of decision

NSERC notifies all applicants of the results by mail by March 31. NSERC will not provide results by telephone or e-mail.

If you mean the date, it's not a false statement. My letter was dated March 30. It takes a while, however, for the letter to actually get into mail system and come to us. That is, they are saying they will SEND the info by Mar 31, not that we will receive it before March 31. Unless you are talking about the second part....I've never gotten an email or call from NSERC about their decision after many years of applying. NSERC does let the schools that nominated you know about your result before you do though. 2 years ago, at UBC, the Faculty of Graduate Studies got in touch with me almost a week before March 31 and told me the decision. I then received the letter form NSERC in early April.

[dhanson]

Shucks... if you didn't get it in Boston yet... it'll be another week before it makes it to the west coast US!

I'm in California and got my letter in the mail today (awarded PGS-D3)

[adijr]

Shucks... if you didn't get it in Boston yet... it'll be another week before it makes it to the west coast US!

I am in Boston and received a letter today (saturday). So it shouldn't be a week

[eliasg]

I'm in California and got my letter in the mail today (awarded PGS-D3)

Congratulations !

[yellowtulip]

Woohoo... Successful PDF mail in Washington. Yippee!!

[UBC2012]

Woohoo... Successful PDF mail in Washington. Yippee!!

Congratulations. Can you please tell us your stat?

[BYZ]

same here. Just got CGS-D3 in the mail today here in MIT. Will be downgrading to PGS

[ktel]

Ktel, have you won something ????

Didn't apply, I'm going into my 2nd year of my Master's and had a CGS-M for my first. I did apply for OGS and already found out about funding from the Alberta government for graduate students studying out of province.

[yellowtulip]

Congratulations. Can you please tell us your stat?

Sure. It was 6/10 1st author papers, 1/1 for 1st author submitted papers, I listed 8 international first author presentations (4 were at the same meeting - so certainly no doubling up on abstracts!!)... due to space constraints, I omitted anything I didn't present and/or wasn't peer reviewed. I did have a PGS-D under my belt (and a couple other awards), and also (although yeah, I know, almost everyone on here probably has a 4.0), I had that as well.... thank goodness the PDF doesn't require the undergrad transcripts (those certainly weren't as nice!). Other than that, I'd say I have a reasonable chunk of volunteer work (both in and out of the university). Good luck to all!!!!!

[simhod]

Sure. It was 6/10 1st author papers, 1/1 for 1st author submitted papers, I listed 8 international first author presentations (4 were at the same meeting - so certainly no doubling up on abstracts!!)... due to space constraints, I omitted anything I didn't present and/or wasn't peer reviewed. I did have a PGS-D under my belt (and a couple other awards), and also (although yeah, I know, almost everyone on here probably has a 4.0), I had that as well.... thank goodness the PDF doesn't require the undergrad transcripts (those certainly weren't as nice!). Other than that, I'd say I have a reasonable chunk of volunteer work (both in and out of the university). Good luck to all!!!!!

Congratulations for the award, you deserve it!

Still waiitng for the letter here in MN, who knows, maybe tomorrow

[shawn007]

I got the letter yesterday from NSERC. Rejection on PDF in mathematical science; but they offered a pre-approval on IRDF. I read for a while on NSERC website and it looks like it requires another application? Since I don't know too much about this program, anyone here can help me explain a little bit about this?

BTW, I am in Chicago and the decision letter is dated on March 30th. So I hope you guys will have good luck on you application soon!

[simhod]

I got the letter yesterday from NSERC. Rejection on PDF in mathematical science; but they offered a pre-approval on IRDF. I read for a while on NSERC website and it looks like it requires another application? Since I don't know too much about this program, anyone here can help me explain a little bit about this?

BTW, I am in Chicago and the decision letter is dated on March 30th. So I hope you guys will have good luck on you application soon!

Congratulations for the IRDF pre-approval! Unfortunately I don't know about IRDF and how it work.

So, Monday I will get my letter, if you already got it...

Can you share the stats of your application...I applied to the same committee as you.

[yellowtulip]

I got the letter yesterday from NSERC. Rejection on PDF in mathematical science; but they offered a pre-approval on IRDF. I read for a while on NSERC website and it looks like it requires another application? Since I don't know too much about this program, anyone here can help me explain a little bit about this?

BTW, I am in Chicago and the decision letter is dated on March 30th. So I hope you guys will have good luck on you application soon!

Hi Shawn007 - I don't know tons about the IRDF, but from what I understood, it was only open to Canadian places (I didn't think you could hold it outside Canada, but I might be wrong). Best of luck!!!

[shawn007]

Hi simhod,

I am a fresh PhD from UBC. My profile contains: 8 journal published / submitted papers (7 first author). I also listed up to 7 conference proceedings (all first author) plus some filed patents. Straight A+ GPA. Strong recommendation letters and pretty very justified PDF proposal and tenure location. But it proves that this year's competition is more fierce than I expected... Thanks and good luck with your letter!

Congratulations for the IRDF pre-approval! Unfortunately I don't know about IRDF and how it work.

So, Monday I will get my letter, if you already got it...

Can you share the stats of your application...I applied to the same committee as you.

[shawn007]

Hi yellowtulip,

Thanks for your reply! I think you are right that the fellowship must be taken within Canada. But it is very confusing to me about the their procedures. But anyway, thanks for your suggestions and good luck!

Hi Shawn007 - I don't know tons about the IRDF, but from what I understood, it was only open to Canadian places (I didn't think you could hold it outside Canada, but I might be wrong). Best of luck!!!

[simhod]

Hi simhod,

I am a fresh PhD from UBC. My profile contains: 8 journal published / submitted papers (7 first author). I also listed up to 7 conference proceedings (all first author) plus some filed patents. Straight A+ GPA. Strong recommendation letters and pretty very justified PDF proposal and tenure location. But it proves that this year's competition is more fierce than I expected... Thanks and good luck with your letter!

thank you...my application is not as strong as yours...

[yellowtulip]

Hi yellowtulip,

Thanks for your reply! I think you are right that the fellowship must be taken within Canada. But it is very confusing to me about the their procedures. But anyway, thanks for your suggestions and good luck!

Lol... confusing is a word I am all too familiar with these days! I just started as a post-doc in the US, but I am still totally confused as how to fill out customs forms when I go across the border, I am somewhat confused on what country's health insurance I should be holding (at present I think I'm likely over-insured), and I have no idea how taxes are going to work next year (will I lose my >10 years worth of tuition credits)? I have absolutely no intention to stay in the US (nearly all my belongings are still in Canada, I still have my Canadian cell phone #, drivers license, etc... I even still work in Canada part-time, although don't have a home up there). I know this is a bit off topic, but for any post-docs out there in the US (TN visa in particular), have you encountered any good resources that you'd be open to sharing on figuring out what the heck "resident" really means and how to go about justifying for tax purposes that you're in the US solely for the purpose of training? I know NSERC says directly on their website that they cannot give tax advice, but it sure would be handy if they (maybe in partnership with the CRA) put a little "how-to" or "tips" brochure of becoming a post-doc in the US since there must be tons of people in the same boat. They encourage us to go abroad to gain breadth in our experiences, but I suspect it causes many of us to lose time and money trying to figure out how to actually follow the law and make all the paperwork (tax stuff in particular) fall into place. Anyway - any advice would be much appreciated Thanks!!

[UBC2012]

Hi simhod,

I am a fresh PhD from UBC. My profile contains: 8 journal published / submitted papers (7 first author). I also listed up to 7 conference proceedings (all first author) plus some filed patents. Straight A+ GPA. Strong recommendation letters and pretty very justified PDF proposal and tenure location. But it proves that this year's competition is more fierce than I expected... Thanks and good luck with your letter!

Thanks for sharing your stat. Out of these 8 papers, how many of them were published or accepted in the time of application?

[winter2012]

mail came today but no NSERC letter in Minnesota

Are you in Minnesota University, Twin Cities?

[winter2012]

Thanks winter 2012. I am not sad though, as I decided not to pursue a post-doc anyways. I was just hoping that they included some information about the IRDF in the letter (I was looking forward to that).

I am doing my PhD in pure math.

Thanks for the information. Mine is electronic engineering. We have not yet recieved any letter from NSERC here in BC. As soon as I recieve a letter, I will update my status here. Thanks and please keep up the good work. Hard work will finally pay off!

[simhod]

Are you in Minnesota University, Twin Cities?

no, Rochester. You?

[simhod]

Lol... confusing is a word I am all too familiar with these days! I just started as a post-doc in the US, but I am still totally confused as how to fill out customs forms when I go across the border, I am somewhat confused on what country's health insurance I should be holding (at present I think I'm likely over-insured), and I have no idea how taxes are going to work next year (will I lose my >10 years worth of tuition credits)? I have absolutely no intention to stay in the US (nearly all my belongings are still in Canada, I still have my Canadian cell phone #, drivers license, etc... I even still work in Canada part-time, although don't have a home up there). I know this is a bit off topic, but for any post-docs out there in the US (TN visa in particular), have you encountered any good resources that you'd be open to sharing on figuring out what the heck "resident" really means and how to go about justifying for tax purposes that you're in the US solely for the purpose of training? I know NSERC says directly on their website that they cannot give tax advice, but it sure would be handy if they (maybe in partnership with the CRA) put a little "how-to" or "tips" brochure of becoming a post-doc in the US since there must be tons of people in the same boat. They encourage us to go abroad to gain breadth in our experiences, but I suspect it causes many of us to lose time and money trying to figure out how to actually follow the law and make all the paperwork (tax stuff in particular) fall into place. Anyway - any advice would be much appreciated Thanks!!

Hi Yellowtulip,

how can you be postdoc on a TN visa? I understand that we, as postdocs cannot be on any other visa but J-1.

Anyways, I already filed my taxes with Canada last year when I had income from Canada and US and I was nonresident for US (tax purposes) and resident for Canada, actually I was considered factual resident, because I am working temporary in US. In order to establish your residency status in Canada you need to request this from the International Office of Canada Revenue. I had to justify that I have enough canadian ties in order to be considered factual/deemed resident.

You will have to pay taxes in US as a nonresident (therefore higher than a US resident), but when you file the Canada taxes you are required to provide a copy of the US taxes, not to be taxed twice.

Why are you saying you are overinsured? I think we are not eligible for the Canadian health insurance, because we are not any more residing in Canada.

[yellowtulip]

Hi Yellowtulip,

how can you be postdoc on a TN visa? I understand that we, as postdocs cannot be on any other visa but J-1.

Anyways, I already filed my taxes with Canada last year when I had income from Canada and US and I was nonresident for US (tax purposes) and resident for Canada, actually I was considered factual resident, because I am working temporary in US. In order to establish your residency status in Canada you need to request this from the International Office of Canada Revenue. I had to justify that I have enough canadian ties in order to be considered factual/deemed resident.

You will have to pay taxes in US as a nonresident (therefore higher than a US resident), but when you file the Canada taxes you are required to provide a copy of the US taxes, not to be taxed twice.

Why are you saying you are overinsured? I think we are not eligible for the Canadian health insurance, because we are not any more residing in Canada.

I don't quite get how I can be on a TN visa either - several of the universities I was applying to had suggested it, and said that there was fundamentally no difference between the J1 and TN (other than less paperwork with the TN). Of course, being told it was easier to get, I went with a TN. Upon starting the job and filling out the paperwork however, I came to realize that from what I can interpret (which doesn't actually go that far), when you're on a J1, you're considered a non-resident of the US by default for tax purposes. However with TN, how I understand it is that I am considered a resident of the US for tax purposes. Although, apparently, from what I've been able to figure out, I should be able to fill out some sort of document at the end of this all (sounds maybe like the same thing you're referring to) to justify that although I met the substantial presence test in the US, I have more ties in Canada. How difficult was it to justify your Canadian ties? At what point did you request to establish your residency status in Canada? Lol... with a PDF, it looks like probably >80% of my income this year will be Canadian! Out of curiosity, when you filed your taxes, were you able to use up your tuition credits? Also out of curiosity, when you "justify" your ties to Canada, are you justifying it to a particular province (I would assume so, but that's just a guess)? I literally just moved (and I had a year long health insurance thing I had signed up for back in Canada - since I'm not sure if I'm a resident or not, I don't know if should cancel that [or even it is still valid]). Anyway... for any other post-docs out there looking to go to a US university, if given the option between J1 vs. TN... yeah the TN might be less paperwork up front, but I suspect (once again cannot be sure) that down the road it might be a little more challenging than the J1.

p.s. What's the difference between "factual" vs. "deemed" resident of Canada? Are there any other types of residents?

p.p.s. For anyone still wanting to go in under TN... be sure to have your original degree certificate with you as you cross the border (at least if you want to make life easier). Since I don't convocate for another couple months, they were big sticklers about this (transcript & letter from the U saying I finished all degree requirements weren't enough). While it sounds crazy, proof of my BSc is what got me in. I don't get it... but just a head's up for anyone that tries!!

Edited April 9, 2012 by yellowtulip