Call for Nominations

Nomination deadline: October 1, 2006

Eligibility and Criteria

Doctoral Prizes are open to students who:

• have conducted research in the natural sciences or in engineering and the computer sciences;
• have successfully defended their doctoral thesis between September 6, 2005 and September 5, 2006; and
• are Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada at the time of nomination.

It is the responsibility of the universities, rather than students, to submit nominations. Deans of Graduate Studies at Canadian universities can nominate up to two eligible candidates from their own university (one candidate in the natural sciences category and one in the engineering and computer sciences category). Universities intending to nominate a candidate who conducted research in a discipline overlapping with other agencies’ mandates, or which are unsure about which category is most suitable for a nomination, should consult NSERC staff.

In its review of nominations, the selection committee focuses on the quality of the doctoral research. In this process, the committee evaluates the significance and impact of the student’s contribution to the field, as well as how results have been communicated. For engineering and computer sciences students, it also considers the potential for applying the research.

Submitting Nominations

The selection committee requires information from both the university and the student. Please consult the list below to ensure that nomination packages are accurate and complete.

The university provides:

• a letter from the Dean of Graduate Studies* recommending the nomination and indicating the name of the student, the departmental affiliation, the nomination category (i.e., natural sciences or engineering and computer sciences) and a brief description of the selection process;
• a brief statement from the Dean of Graduate Studies* about the external examiner, including full name, affiliation, expertise, and qualifications to assess the research (maximum one page – additional pages will be removed). Please do not append the external examiner’s curriculum vitae;
• certification of the successful defence of the student’s doctoral thesis. This must include the date of the successful defence;
• a copy of the signed and dated report on the thesis prepared by the external examiner. The report must have been submitted to the university on or before the date of the final defence. A good report will include descriptive information from the external examiner explaining his or her evaluation of the thesis, which will help the committee assess the research. In particular, it should address the significance and impact of the candidate’s contributions to the field;
• a one-page letter from the Departmental Chair.* The letter should identify the contributions made to the research and to any publications by the student (as distinct from those made by the supervisor); and
• a copy of the completed, signed checklist (PDF format – 26 KB – 1 page).

* If the position is held by a nominee’s thesis supervisor or co-supervisor, another senior official must provide the information.

The student provides:

• an up-to-date curriculum vitae containing the following elements:
  • a listing of the student’s contributions to research and development. The contributions must be presented using the format described under "Section 1: Contribution to research and development" of the Application for an NSERC Scholarship or Fellowship;
  • a clear explanation of the student’s contributions in cases of collaborative publications and research activities;
  • reasons for any gaps during the student’s career or delays in the dissemination of research results;
  • an address, telephone number and e-mail address where the nominee can be reached until the end of February 2007;
• a clear, one-page summary of the research that outlines why the research was undertaken and the significance, impact, and originality of its results. In the case of multidisciplinary research, the student must explain the impact of the doctoral work in the natural sciences, engineering, and/or other relevant fields. This summary, which is a key element in the assessment process, must be written and signed by the student. It should not be a duplicate of the thesis abstract; it must be presented in plain language, understandable by an individual who is not familiar with the field of research. The information in the summary may be used for publicity purposes;
• two sets of reprints or preprints of the student’s publications; and
• one copy of the student’s doctoral thesis – this will be returned after the competition.

Deadline

Nominations must be received by October 1, 2006. They should be sent to:

Doctoral Prizes
Scholarships and Fellowships Division
NSERC
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1H5

Tel.: (613) 995-5521
Fax: (613) 996-2589
E-mail: schol@nserc.ca

Candidates and the nominating universities’ Deans of Graduate Studies will be notified in February 2007. In the case of winners and runners-up, the nominating universities’ Presidents will also be notified.

Note: The Call for Nominations brochure is also available in PDF format (48 KB – 1 page).