SSHRC Research Contributions

[ohsoquiet]

I am getting ready to apply for SSHRC a second time around and had a questions regarding the research contributions section.  I presently have over a dozen paper and poster presentations, 3 peer-reviewed publications, 1 forthcoming (1st author), 2 other refereed contributions, 2 invited guest lectures.  I have noticed when people share their stats they seem to list everything they have done .... but I cannot fit all of these contributions in the 1 page alloted for research contributions.  What am I missing? 

 

Presently I list all bibliographic details for all of my contributions.... Should I only be listing full details for published work?  If so, how do you present conferences, invited talks, etc. to maximize space?

 

Thanks and good luck to everyone applying this time around!

[Dedi]

I might be wrong because I'm applying to Vanier CGS, but I think the instructions say to list up to five and talk about them in detail. I did three simply because they fit well with research interests and the current project that I'm proposing.

 

I don't know if that helps, but it's something to keep in mind.

[TakeruK]

I applied to NSERC and while I did not have as many paper presentations as you, I had some space issues because we were required to list all coauthors and I am one of 29 coauthors on three of the papers! In addition, on my NSERC research contributions, I have to provide headings to separate the type of contribution, which takes up an extra line too.

 

Here are some things I did to maximize my space:

1. Reduce the font size for the blank lines in between contributions. You have to use size 12 font for the text, but I used size 6 font for the blank lines

2. I included all of my peer-reviewed work but selected my "best/most impactful" work for non-peer reviewed stuff. In the end, I only picked out 3 of them, and I did *not* include a presentation that I have converted to a peer-reviewed publication, unless it was at an international conference (or an invited talk, if I had any of them).

3. I did not include all of the bibliographic details for the non peer-reviewed work. For example, for one presentation, I listed the authors as "F. Name and X Collaboration...."

4. Finally, check that it really is a 1 page limit. Maybe this is a SSHRC vs. NSERC difference but this document was 2 pages for me, however, I have to include all three parts into these two pages (Part I = list of papers; Part II = discuss your top 3 contributions, Part III = "applicant statement" re: research experience, community activities, and special circumstances). So, I ended up with 1.3 pages for Part I and 0.3 pages each for Parts II and III. For the PhD level awards, NSERC clearly states it weighs proven research ability and potential the highest at 50% (with academics at 30% and leadership type activities at 20%) so I felt it was justified to use more than half the space proving my research ability/potential with my publication history.

 

Hope that's helpful!

[ohsoquiet]

Thanks for the response!  It is different from the Vanier contributions section, in that it is really meant to be a list of your contributions without a written justification.  Also, unfortunately unlike NSERC it is definitely only 1 page, but you listed a lot of suggestions I will use Cup o Joe!!  Thanks a bunch!

 

Laura

[Konstantin]

One thing I would add to others' suggestions is that just because you have so many publications and presentations, you do not have to include them all. Since you have limited space for research contributions, you have to be strategic about it. I applied for a SSHRC last year and this is what I would do:

 

1) Prioritize peer-reviewed publications, because they count the most.

2) Some non-peer reviewed publications may actually be relevant in demonstrating your ability to carry out your Program of Study, so definitely include them as well.

3) Many presentation, such as those given at academic conferences, are peer reviewed and should be included.

4) I would include poster presentations only if you have extra space and they are relevant. 

5) As TakeruK mentioned, reduce spacing between lines to as little as .5 lines or less. You don't have to use indentation. But make sure that you give enough information for each publication in order for reviewers to locate them easily (I used ASA or APA, don't really remember, and excluded DOI numbers, etc). Make sure that your margins at 3/4" and you're using 12 point font. Essentially this limits you to some free play with spacing/indentation/publication attributes.

 

Good luck!