NSERC vs Regular Research Experience

[ligerfish]

Hi,

I'm an undergrad and I was wondering whether graduate schools in psych (emphasis on clinical) tend to distinguish NSERC research awards from regular research.

More specifically, I'm being paid by my school for one of my research positions at one of my labs.
If I'm seriously involved in a few labs for a consistent number of years, would I be equally as competitive as someone who held an NSERC position over the summer?

(To clarify, I don't have time to apply for NSERC because I need to take summer courses most years, and I'm involved in a few other labs that I wouldn't want to put on hold/drop)

Thank you!

[lewin]

All research is good experience but getting an NSERC looks better because they're more exclusive. Will it make a huge difference? Probably not. I would think that clinical programs would care more about CIHR, but as far as I know CIHR doesn't have an undergraduate research award. If you can't apply for NSERC anyway then why worry about it too much?

[TakeruK]

I agree with lewin. If you can't do it at all, then don't worry about it. NSERC USRA (that's what you mean right?) are good to win at least for one summer because in general, a winning record with NSERC leads to more NSERC awards (at the Masters, PhD, and postdoc levels). 

 

However, you should know that you can apply for NSERC and use it on an existing job! For example, one of my professors offered me a summer research position in December of one year and then a month later, I applied to NSERC USRA for that position and got it so my NSERC paid my salary that summer instead of my professor having to do it. 

 

So, I don't know exactly what you mean by you can't apply for the USRA? Can you not apply for the USRA to pay for your current summer position? Unless you mean that you plan to spend enough time this summer taking classes and doing research in other labs so that you won't meet the minimum work hours requirement to hold a USRA? (If so, then you're not really eligible for an NSERC USRA so don't worry about it! ).

[lewin]

Also it's been a while since I looked at the requirements, but I think the NSERC USRA can only be held with somebody whose lab is NSERC funded. In that case, I suspect it would be more useful for you to work in a clinical psychology lab than in a lab that does less relevant research (cognition? perception?). And as a grad student you'll probably be applying for CIHR, so that "NSERC leads to more NSERC" idea (which I've heard too) is less relevant for clinicians.

[ligerfish]

I'm interested in Clinical Neuropsychology - The clinical lab I work in is funded both by CIHR and NSERC.
What I mean is that I can't commit to the program, but I'm trying to figure out whether it the future it would be worth while to set some labs/summer plans aside and apply for the NSERC, or whether it won't make as much of a difference if the quality of the research I have been doing as a regular research assistant (paid and voluntary) will be more emphasized.

Is NSERC thought to be a factor that stands out an applicant from others? Or will the quality of research I have been doing at other labs (ie: the kind of duties, whether or not I've been published, whether or not I've been doing independent projects and heavily involved in data collection, analysis and writeups) be the main focus? (Regardless of whether it was an NSERC funded project or not)

Edited March 5, 2014 by karkar

[TakeruK]

Unless things are drastically different in your field, NSERC USRAs are awarded mostly on the basis of academic performance (after all, they are intended to get more students their first research position because they are a low risk investment), not on research performance. They are also awarded prior to the project being completed/worked on, so whether or not a project was an NSERC project does not really affect the quality of research. Of course, there may be correlations between strong students and strong researchers (so that people who are good researchers might also be the type of student that win NSERCs).

 

In my opinion, the best benefit of holding an NSERC is the opportunity it gives for you to gain a research position at a good lab / project of your choice. At my undergrad department, if you had an NSERC for the summer, you basically could work with any professor you want. If you didn't have an NSERC, then whether or not you get a position in the group of your choice depends on if the prof has funding for you (or is willing to use funding on you). But, if you are independently capable of securing your own paid full time research assistant positions, then while the "shinyness" of NSERC on your CV is nice, having an NSERC or not isn't a big difference. I think grad schools will be looking for quality and quantity of your research experience.

 

But, I'm still a bit confused about what you mean by "figuring out whether it's worthwhile to apply"? Applying for awards and grants while doing other stuff (e.g. research) is pretty standard as a graduate student, so if you are eligible for the award and if you think you have a decent chance, then you should apply for it. Good research + NSERC is still better than good research. And, NSERC might pay more and/or save your supervisor money = more money for you to do other things. Unless you mean you have to choose between NSERC full time in one lab/group vs. working part-time in multiple groups? That is trickier and probably depends on your field etc. My opinion is that in undergrad, full time on one good project at a time is better than part time on many projects at the same time.

[ligerfish]

Unless things are drastically different in your field, NSERC USRAs are awarded mostly on the basis of academic performance (after all, they are intended to get more students their first research position because they are a low risk investment), not on research performance. They are also awarded prior to the project being completed/worked on, so whether or not a project was an NSERC project does not really affect the quality of research. Of course, there may be correlations between strong students and strong researchers (so that people who are good researchers might also be the type of student that win NSERCs).

 

In my opinion, the best benefit of holding an NSERC is the opportunity it gives for you to gain a research position at a good lab / project of your choice. At my undergrad department, if you had an NSERC for the summer, you basically could work with any professor you want. If you didn't have an NSERC, then whether or not you get a position in the group of your choice depends on if the prof has funding for you (or is willing to use funding on you). But, if you are independently capable of securing your own paid full time research assistant positions, then while the "shinyness" of NSERC on your CV is nice, having an NSERC or not isn't a big difference. I think grad schools will be looking for quality and quantity of your research experience.

 

But, I'm still a bit confused about what you mean by "figuring out whether it's worthwhile to apply"? Applying for awards and grants while doing other stuff (e.g. research) is pretty standard as a graduate student, so if you are eligible for the award and if you think you have a decent chance, then you should apply for it. Good research + NSERC is still better than good research. And, NSERC might pay more and/or save your supervisor money = more money for you to do other things. Unless you mean you have to choose between NSERC full time in one lab/group vs. working part-time in multiple groups? That is trickier and probably depends on your field etc. My opinion is that in undergrad, full time on one good project at a time is better than part time on many projects at the same time.

Yeah, so I mean that I'm already involved in 3 labs where I've secured really good positions - and so I don't whether putting those (along with summer school courses) would be worth putting on hold just so I can do an NSERC funded project over the summer. Basically, I'm not asking about the quality of the experience - but I'm asking about the technical aspect of it and the "name". Whether it's worth sacrificing other things so i could have "NSERC" on my CV.

And yes, NSERC is awared strictly based on GPA - but we are required to find a supervisor before we even apply.

[TakeruK]

Yeah, so I mean that I'm already involved in 3 labs where I've secured really good positions - and so I don't whether putting those (along with summer school courses) would be worth putting on hold just so I can do an NSERC funded project over the summer. Basically, I'm not asking about the quality of the experience - but I'm asking about the technical aspect of it and the "name". Whether it's worth sacrificing other things so i could have "NSERC" on my CV.

And yes, NSERC is awared strictly based on GPA - but we are required to find a supervisor before we even apply.

 

Okay cool, so it sounds like you don't really need the NSERC boost to help you secure a position Nice! Ultimately, I don't think NSERC on your CV is going to be that important compared to the quality of research, as discussed above.

 

I think at this point, it's really a matter of what do you think will help you more: a full time position (you may be able to expand one of your current summer position into a full summer project) or your current secured positions in 3 labs simultaneously. Although the full time position is through NSERC, I don't think that's really a big deal, I think this is really about whether you want to focus or diversify. I said my opinion above (1 focussed full time > 3 part time positions) but your field may be very different here and also it depends on the quality of the projects of course! So, at this point, I think it's up to you (and whatever help you may choose to seek from any advisors/mentors etc.).

 

At my program, NSERC was awarded on a combination of GPA, a research statement of what you want to do this summer, and a recommendation from the supervisor you want to work with. So, yes, you do need to figure out what your NSERC project would be about now, but you need that so that you can basically decide which project or projects you think is best for you!