Advice for AHFMR Studentships and Fellowship Applications.
In order to maximize our success at AHFMR in the studentship/fellowship competitions we
offer the following advice to both applicants and advisors. A successful application requires a
lot of work from both the applicant and advisor.
1) Fill out the form completely and accurately. Completely fill all boxes that require
sentence and paragraph answers. Leaving a box half filled gives the impression that the
applicant is not serious about the application or about academic success. Make sure the
application is complete and that all additional information (letters and transcripts –
including translations) have been included.
2) Do not do include things on the form that may antagonize reviewers. For instance, the
form asks for publications that are published and accepted ONLY. Do not add
publications that are submitted or those being written. Make sure that you accurately
describe your scholarships. For instance, Queen Elizabeth II scholarships are “Local”
rather than “National”.
3) Separate peer-reviewed publications from non-peer reviewed publications and from
conference presentations. Mixing these makes more work for the reviewers and thus
antagonizes them.
4) Reviewers put a lot of store in first author publications in high impact journals. This kind
of publication record reflects the kind of scientific maturity that reviewers are looking
for. It becomes increasingly important as students progress through the graduate
program. Middle author contributions, reviews and abstracts are good (early) indicators
that the project and trainee career development are moving forward but are not equal
to solid first author scientific contributions. Consistent (yearly) publications as first
author are highly regarded.
5) Address weakness in the record. If the student has some weak marks or does not have
the presentation/publication record one would expect then make sure that these things
are addressed either on the application form or in letters of reference. It is an
enormous mistake to not address weaknesses. The committee members will see the
weakness and will mark the application down.
6) Conversely point out strengths in the students. Do not assume that committee members
will see all the strengths in the applications.
7) Letters of reference are critically important and take tremendous effort – take time to
make them accurate and comprehensive. Include plenty of examples of the student’s
positive attributes. A PhD supervisor should be writing a full 2 page letter. Follow the
ProGrid wording and use those terms.
8) Probably the number one weakness in most applications is the lack of integration of the
student with the project. Explain how the student fits with the project and how the
whole enterprise functions within your research environment. Remember that a
laboratory is not an environment. An environment includes a laboratory, other
laboratories, all the people, the discussions, the regular meetings and the other
projects.
9) Studentship, Fellowship, New Investigator award competitions committees are set up
differently then operating grant panels. Write your project clearly for non-experts in
your area! What is your question? Why is it important? What is your hypothesis? What
are your specific objectives? What are your expected outcomes?
10) Letters of reference from international (foreign) researchers are often much less
comprehensive than are expected here. You may have to directly contact such referees
and let them know the issues they need to address. Make sure referees are aware of
and follow the ProGrid language ladder.
11) If the student/fellow comes from a university/institution that may not be well known to
the committee members (ie. Most international institutions) take some space in your
LOR to acquaint them with the institution. For example add sentences like, “We have
now had X students in our program from Y University who have all graduated
successfully” or “country X has 27 Universities, and institute Y is considered the top
ranked University, accepting only the top Z% of applicants in a national competition”.
12) Highlight your past student’s (or PDF’s) successes (e.g. high impact publications,
scholarships, jobs) from your laboratory.
13) For PDFs specifically, indicate in detail, how you will ensure their success. Will they have
an opportunity to supervise junior lab members? Will they present at meetings? Can
they take their project with them? How will you position them so that they will succeed
when they leave the lab.?
14) There are several supervisors in the HBI who have been remarkably successful in
obtaining AHFMR trainee awards (check AHFMR website). If the application is
completed well in advance of the deadline, ask one of them to review it for you.
Cam Teskey, Jaideep Bains, Janice Braun and Quentin Pittman