Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How will I know if my transcripts, supervisor endorsement, and/or professional references have been
received by TVN?
A.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to work with educational institutions, supervisors and references to
ensure that the applicable documents are submitted by the deadline. TVN will not be proactively
identifying any missing application package components.
Q2. Are international students eligible to apply?
A.
No. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Q3. What is the weekly/monthly time commitment?
A.
The Program Guidelines state that a Fellow can expect to spend approximately 25 hours per week on IFP
modules. This 25 hours is based on an approximation of up to 10 hours per week on average on TVN
modules plus up to an estimated 15 hours per week on a Fellow’s existing research program.
Q4. What is the scope of the program? Does it include older adults living in long-term care homes?
A.
Our scope includes the frail elderly living in all settings of care. However, we are not focused on the well
elderly or on healthy aging, but rather the most vulnerable frail elderly.
Q5. Are the modules to be completed over the one-year time span?
A.
Yes, the modules are to be completed over the one-year time span, and there are milestones that will
have to be achieved throughout the program to monitor fellows’ progress and ensure timely
completion. Fellowships begin January 1, 2016 and end December 31, 2016. There are no deferrals.
Q6. What are the evaluation criteria?
A.
Please refer to the Program Guidelines.
Q7. Do I have to provide letters from partners?
A.
A letter of support is needed from each eligible funding partner you list in the Application Form. These
letters must be provided with your application package. Please see the Application Instructions and the
Application for details on the letter requirements.
Q8. What are NCE eligible partners?
A.
NCE eligible partners are organizations identified by the Applicant that will be contributing cash and/or
in-kind resources to the Applicant, according to terms negotiated by the Applicant. There is no formal
relationship between TVN and applicant partners. NCE eligible partners include industry, not for profits
including charities, foundations, universities, provincial agencies and departments, municipalities, most
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federal agency dollars but does not include cash from other federal NCE’s, Provincial Centers of
Excellence, tri-council funds, CFI, or Genome Canada. Please seek advice from your university research
offices if unsure if partnership funds are eligible. Also see http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERCCRSNG/Policies-Politiques/orgpartners-orgpartenaires_eng.asp.
Q9.
What is the role of Patient/Family Support System (PFSS) mentor?
A.
They will act as mentors and provide advice, perspectives, and suggestions on various components of
the Fellowship program.
Q10. Can you defer the start date of the fellowship?
A.
No, you cannot defer the start date of the fellowship.
Q11. Where and when will the Trainee Meeting(s) be held during the course of the Fellowship? Is
attendance mandatory?
A.
The meetings have not yet been scheduled. Attendance is mandatory. You will participate in a
workshop and other events at our annual conference in September 2016, collaborate and develop the
online collaborative projects, and network with other fellows, TVN researchers, partners and other key
stakeholders.
Q12. The Application Form asks me to provide a lay and scientific summary of my research project for the
fellowship and project details. If I include references, are they included in the word limits?
A.
References are not included in the word limits. In the case of the lay project summary, however, please
keep in mind that this summary is intended for lay purposes, and references are not required.
Q13. Are there page limits for the Supervisor Endorsement and Professional References?
A.
No, but please be guided by respect for reviewers’ time. Also please note that the document format
should be maintained.
Q14. Are partner letters sent electronically or in printed format?
A.
We will only accept partner letters forwarded electronically as part of the application package. Please
see the Application Instructions.
Q15. When are partner letters due?
A.
Partner contributions must be detailed in the application, and partner letters must accompany the
application. Only contributions listed in the application and with partner letters verifying the
contribution will be considered in evaluating your application. Partner letters will not be accepted after
the deadline. Please see the Application Instructions and Guidance documents.
Q16. Can I still submit an application if I don’t register my Intent to Apply by the deadline?
A.
No. Applications will only be considered if a pre-application Intent to Apply has been received
electronically by the deadline.
Q17. May I have more than one Supervisor?
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A.
This may be possible, in exceptional circumstances such as when a Supervisor will be unavailable for an
extended period of time such as a sabbatical or parental leave, but you must clear this exception with
TVN first. If an exception is granted, only one supervisor/host institution can administer the funds, and
no transfers are permitted. Please contact TVN to discuss.
Q18. If I applied for a past TVN Fellowship, do I have to pay for and submit new transcripts?
A.
Only where there have been changes. Please indicate on your application in the Transcripts section.
Q19. How do I value in-kind contributions?
A.
Calculation of in-kind contribution amounts must adhere to Tri-Council guidelines.
If you have questions about cash or in-kind contributions eligibility and valuation, please consult your
supervisor and his/her host institution’s research services unit.
Q19. My supervisor is submitting an application to TVN for research funding and wants me to be part of
the project team. Can I work on a TVN-funded research project and be a TVN Fellow?
A.
As an NCE-funded Network Centre of Excellence, our success is heavily dependent on producing HQP
that will serve as the next generation devoted to improving health care for frail elderly Canadians.
Inherent in that mandate is the assumption that we reach as many HQP as possible. Fellows may
participate in other research projects, but absolutely cannot receive any type of compensation from
the TVN research project being funding.
Q20. Can I still apply if my Institution is not a Network Member?
A.
Yes, you can apply but you must contact your institution to begin the process of becoming a Network
Member. Fellows cannot be funded by TVN until their institution is a Network Member. See
http://www.tvn-nce.ca/about-us/become-a-member/ for more information.
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