SSHRC 2015-2016

This page is for tracking SSHRC awards to be held during the 2015-2016 academic year.

SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships support the most promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers.

SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships provide stipendiary support to recent PhD graduates who are:
 * undertaking original research;
 * publishing research findings;
 * developing and expanding personal research networks;
 * broadening their teaching experience; and
 * preparing to become competitive in national research grants competitions.

Fellowships will normally be awarded to candidates affiliated with a university other than that which awarded the PhD. SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship awards are tenable at Canadian or foreign universities and research institutions.


 * Application deadline: (8 p.m. eastern) September 24, 2014
 * Results announced: February 2015

Stats
Applying as an ABD: 35

Applying with a PhD (0-1 years out): 15

Applying with a PhD (2-3 years out): 5 (really? only 1??!! well, 5 of us now, but still, really?)

Total: 55

Applying to hold at a Canadian institution: 35

Applying to hold at a non-Canadian institution: 13

OFFICIAL NUMBERS: 836 applications, 184 awards

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Pages from Previous Years
SSHRC 2011-12

SSHRC 2012-13

SSHRC 2013-14

SSHRC 2014-15

SEE ALSO: Humanities and Social Sciences Postdocs 2014-15 (Banting and Killam postdocs posted here)

Acknowledgement of application received
Submitted Sunday, September 21st, status was initially "Forwarded," changed to "Received" on Monday the 22nd. No email confirmation yet.

Submitted Monday, September 22 at 10 a.m. Status is 'forwarded'. Waiting for it to change to 'received'.

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th at 4 a.m. Status was "Forwarded" for about an hour, then changed to "received." No email confirmation.

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th. Status is forwarded; awaiting the change to 'received' and an email confirmation. Update - Received confirmation email Sept. 30th.

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th at 12:00 PM (PST). Status became "received" the next day. No email confirmation.

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th at 16:25 PM (PST). Status is "forwarded" (16:25 PM).

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th at 1:45 AM (GMT). Status is now received.

SSHRC Application Acknowledgment by email with application number, received October 3.

Submitted Wednesday, September 24th. Acknowlegment by email with application number, received October 6.

Hi, I realize this is very very late in the game, but did anyone NEVER get a confirmation email? I got the status forwarded/received, but no email with application number. I've spoken to two other people and some got it and some different. Anyone?


 * I didn't get one either, but when I called they confirmed receipt. I'm sure you can do the same, but I wouldn't worry. As long as you submitted your application successfully on their website, I'm sure you're fine.

Results received (successful)
FORMAT:

Score:

Discipline:

Location: (eg, Canada, US):

Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr):

Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations):


 * Score: 4.47/6. Discipline: Political Philosophy. Location: Whitby, ON. Status: 1 year out. Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations) 1 edited volume, several journal articles, and many conference talks. Good luck everyone, and thanks for the mutual support throughout the process! [Congrats!]
 * Score 5.00/6 (5.25, 5.00, 4.90), History, PhD in Montreal, Postdoc at US Ivy League institution, ABD, 2 peer reviewed  articles (incl. one forthcoming), 1 non peer reviewed, 1 special issue co-edited (forthcoming), book reviews, many conferences in Europe and North America [results received Mon 23rd downtown Montreal]
 * Score 5.560/6 (5.60, 5.55, 5.55). Anthropology, PhD Montreal, Post-doc France. 1 year out. 5 first authored pubs, many conference talks. [results received Mon Feb 23]
 * Score: 4.690/6 (4.65, 4.70, 4.70). Discipline: Political Science. Location: Ottawa (received 2/23). ABD. Qualifications: 2 peer reviewed articles (co-written first author), 2 peer reviewed book chapters, 4 book chapters, 20+ conferences/invited presentations.
 * Score: 4.58 (4.5, 4.75, 4.5). Occupational Therapy, PhD in London, ON, Post-doc in Toronto. .5 years out. 3 peer reviewed articles (5 in review), many conference talks/posters, community talks. Thanks for keeping me informed and company throughout this process!
 * Score 4.71 (4.15/4.6/5), History of Science, PhD Toronto, Predoc Berlin, 0.5 years out. 3 peer reviewed articles, 2 book chapters, 4 book reviews, 20+ North American & European conferences, 2 invited presentations.
 * Résultat: 4,95 (5.15/4.55/5.1), Discipline: Histoire; Localisation: PhD ULaval ,Qc, Postdoc à l'UQÀM; Statut: Avant dépôt (ABD); Qualifications: 1 livre, 1 ouvrage collectif, 1 direction de revue, 4 articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture (1 en évaluation), 8 chapitres de livre avec comité de lecture, plusieurs publications sans comité de lecture, plusierus rapports de recherche, plusieurs communications au Canada et à l'étranger.

Results received (waitlisted)
FORMAT:

Score:

Discipline:

Location: (eg, Canada, US)

Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr)

Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations)


 * Score: 3.650/6. English. Waitlisted for the second time. Letter received on 2/23 in Toronto. [sorry to hear that :( x4 that sucks, sorry.] (So sorry!)
 * Does the letter contain any info about the number of applications and awards? I'm sure that I'm not the only one wondering...(x4 - I don't know why SSHRC can't just announce this)
 * Thanks, folks. The numbers were 836 applications, 184 awards. This is very similar to last year's numbers (slightly better), which were 844/183.
 * Thanks, and sorry again, OP. This thing (as faculty in my dept. who have sat on SSHRC committees, have long advised me) is a huge lottery


 * Score: 3.750/6. ABD in history from Canadian school applying to hold at UofT. Have two substantial peer-review pieces, a couple book reviews, some non-academic publishing, and a decent amount of conference presentations. SSHRC award for both MA and PhD (CGS). Letter received on 2/24 in eastern ontario.

Results received (unsuccessful)
FORMAT:

Score:

Discipline:

Location: (eg, Canada, US)

Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr)

Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations)


 * Score: 2.9/6 (Not recommended). Discipline: Education, Literature. Location: (eg, Canada, US) Montreal, award to be held internationally. Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr) 2 yr. Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations) 10 peer reviewed publications (8 sole authored), 14 presentations (7 domestic, 6 intn'l; one invited speaker), previous SSHRC & other funding. WORSE than last year (3.5) with a better application letter!? Have totally had it. [that sucks. really really sorry. obviously with your pub record and previous funding you are fundable. sshrc is a mystery, a lottery, inscrutable, and awful. sorry you weren't funded.]

DISCUSSION

 * Does applying to hold the fellowship at a Canadian university versus a foreign university make any difference in the evaluations?  How does the university quota system work for these applications? And, all else being equal, how is ABD (versus PhD in hand) differently evaluated?
 * I'm sorry to say that the answer to all of these questions is "nobody knows." In past years the rate of awards for those holding at a foreign university has been slightly higher than those holding in Canada, though the difference may not be statistically significant. As for ABD vs. degree in hand, again, nobody knows, and from what I've seen, there is no pattern.
 * Anecdotally, it seems harder for ABDs to get the postdoc - I've known several people who failed as ABDs and then got the postdoc with degree-in-hand, with a virtually unchanged project and CV. But it's pretty unpredictable overall.


 * For those applying at non-Canadian institutions - are you applying to US schools? Does anyone know how SSHRC funding works with a J Visa and the home residency requirement?
 * We should hopefully be hearing something in the next few weeks (!!) - Does anyone know anything specific re. mail-out dates? Are we assuming that this should be mid-month, as in previous years? (01/20)
 * My advice (as a third and final time applicant, sigh) to not hold your breath and expect to get the letter close to March. In the past, SSHRC has assured applicants that the letters will be out "next week" and then actually mailed them in the last week of the month or just before. (x2 -- in solidarity, dude) [Thanks!]
 * Third-time applicant OP here. Keep in mind that there's also life beyond SSHRC if you don't get it this round. I was just awarded a much, much more competitive postdoc (and a better one, in terms of funding, time, and prestige) with the same project that was "recommended but not funded" twice by SSHRC, and will be declining the SSHRC postdoc if I'm finally offered it this year. Keep applying for other things too! You never know.


 * Based on previous years, it's usually mid/late February. I'm placing my bets on a mail date of Feb. 20, so those of you in Ottawa and nearby probably have about a month left to wait.


 * Officially February now! Looking forward to timely results.
 * Don't count on anything before the last week of the month (2x loser--3rd time a charm?)
 * Three weeks til the end of the month! One way or the other, the end of my suffering is in sight...


 * For those who did apply last year, is it worth emailing SSHRC to see when they plan on releasing the results? Or will there be an announcement when the results are availalble?
 * Didn't apply last year but several colleagues did (and I stalked this wiki to check out the process...) Emails tend to get a "soon", "mid-February" and occasionally "next week" response, but you're unlikely to get much more info than that. Typically the morning after they've been mailed out, SSHRC announces on their Twitter.  Let's hope it's soon!
 * A colleague emailed SSHRC. Apparently the letters will be in the mail by the end of the week.
 * Here's wishing everyone good luck!


 * Is anyone else plagued with butterflies in their stomachs, ridiculously shaking their magic 8 balls in the hopes of getting an "as i see it yes" to the question of "will i be awared a postdoc" and actually googling "where to make wishes"? i want the postal carrier to bring me my letter, but i am also terrified about its arrival. Good luck to everyone - both in the competition and in keeping your sh*t together before the mail arrived!
 * Yes. Waiting for this damn thing to arrive is really bad for my writing.
 * Definitely with you. I'm mostly trying to stay focused on my chapters and think up a solid Plan B... Sadly I think my Plan B is "stay in grad school."


 * Any letters yet? I keep checking my mailbox! This is agonizing!
 * They haven't been sent yet. They'll announce on Twitter (https://twitter.com/SSHRC_CRSH) when they do. I'm pretty sure they'll mail on Thursday afternoon and we'll start seeing results pretty quick. I'm in the US so I think I'll be waiting for ages!
 * I'm with you. I'm in Europe and will probably be checking my mail compulsively until early March.
 * I noticed last year that someone in Europe received their letter four days later from Canada. I thought it might take more than a week to get here, but it actually came quicker than on the West Coast!


 * Where do you get the idea that they'll send them tomorrow? Do you have any basis for this assumption (I'll even accept clairvoyance as a reasonable basis at this point).
 * They were sent on Friday, Feb. 21 last year and SSHRC admin said they'll be in the mail by the end of the week, so I'm guessing they'll go out on the Friday.
 * Thursday person here - I'm not quite clairvoyant, but I'm pretty sure. I've had friends apply the last few cycles and SSHRC announces they're mailed on a Friday morning but friends in Ottawa received them that same morning, once within an hour of the announcement. So it seems they stick them in the mail on the Thursday and announce it on the Friday. Fingers crossed!
 * I saw that they were sent on the 21st last year - I would have hoped that we would have had the results earlier then that this year given that we submitted a week earlier (they submitted Oct 2nd last year, I believe).


 * Why on earth can't SSHRC notify all of the applicants of the ourcome at once by e-mail, and follow up with an official award offer/rejection letter by post? This is clearly possible - I've gotten previous awards that used this kind of notification process.
 * Last two years I received my rejection letter (in Toronto) on the Monday of the last week of February. I assume this is a pattern, so I would try not to get too ansty before the 23rd. Wine with lunch helps.
 * Like your attitude --- and really hoping that this is your year, fellow 3-time applicant.
 * This is also my 3rd year applying. Sending all the good vibes possible to fellow 3-time applicants, and hoping for your good vibes back. and wine with lunch? what about wine with breakfast?!


 * RESULTS MAILED 20/2.
 * The end is in sight! Good luck, everyone!
 * Is anyone else refreshing this page every ten minutes to see if anyone got a letter? I mean, I know that I didn't get a letter... I just want information, any information!x7 (it makes me feel a bit better to know I'm not the only one!)
 * I just saw the postman pass by here in Ottawa...but no letter for me! I'm not gonna enjoy this weekend.
 * sometimes the postman comes to my neighborhood on Saturdays...I might just sit by the mailbox all weekend.
 * Stephen Harper just hand delivered my rejection in CA. He then muttered some lines from Dr. Faustus, added something about shutting down Canadian higher ed altogether in favor of wholesale seal slaughter and oil extraction, drew a pentagram, and then disappeared in a puff of red smoke!
 * He visited me last night too!!! at least I'm currently living in NL so I can maybe get cut in on all the seal hunting and oil extracting that will replace the universities the PM plans to shutter. Otherwise I might consider taking up work in another growth area of the economy such as typewriter repair or public broadcasting!


 * Man, Monday afternoon and still no results for anyone? Come on, mail!!!
 * X6! I've never been more anxious for people I don't know to get their mail
 * Nothing in today's mail collection (Toronto)
 * Nothing today in Germany, not that I was expecting it to arrive here so soon...[2/23]
 * Me too - mail just came, no letter (Toronto, 2/23)
 * No letter yet in Ottawa, which seems odd if they were all mailed thursday, must be a friday mailing. [2/23]
 * Nothing in Kingston [2/23]. Another sleepless night....
 * No letter in Waterloo, either... [2/23]


 * Hi everyone! I received a fabulous rejection letter in Toronto today (2/23) and it is totally liberating. This will be my first and final SSHRC postdoc experience. I am very happy to break up with SSHRC before we were ever even together. The best thing about applying to SSHRC has been reading the posts on this wiki and feeling connected to people during a very isolating process. So, a huge thank you to everyone! While I don't think the details even matter much, I applied ABD (I finished Jan 2015) with a decent record of grants, publications, research and teaching experience, conference presentations, professional service, etc., and a good research proposal for a US ivy league school. While I was worrying about my SSHRC result, another postdoc opportunity presented itself last month for something that is actually much cooler than what I had proposed, and without the zany application process. Basically, I wanted to be shown what's next, and it showed up, totally unexpected, via a contact, and with a better salary. So, for anyone reading this wiki and feeling down about SSHRC math, and without down-playing the fabulousness of the postdoc awardees, my committee members have long told me that this competition is a lottery. So, don't feel bad if the SSHRC math on your letter isn't stellar. Congrats to all the postdoc recipients, and congrats to everyone for walking through this door to what's next.
 * Thank you for writing this encouraging post, a refreshing read - Good luck! (no letter, Montreal, 2/23)
 * x2, more or less. SSHRC rejected me last year, and then (unfortunately after I went through the SSHRC application process yet again) I got a multi-year Oxbridge fellowship. I'm very happy with how things turned out, but WTF??
 * Nothing in Kingston on the 23rd. Somewhat off topic, but does anyone find it odd how the mail works? It seems like we have people in th GTA getting letters today, yet people in Ottawa and Kingston haven't.
 * Yes! Being in Toronto sans letter, I'm so confused how a batch of letters could be mailed at the same time to the same city, and some of them reach their destinations today while others don't.
 * Could it be alphabetical, the reason some letter have arrived and others no?
 * It's not alphabetical. What I think it has to do with is where central hubs are located. Those who received letters in TO today probably live close to some central hub where the letters are first filtered when sent to Toronto addresses and thus their mailpersons received the letters in time to deliver them today. Those of us who are further away from the central hubs for our geographical locations (in the Ottawa to Toronto area at least) will probably receive our letters tomorrow - presumably it would need to be sent to some secondary hub and then sent out from there. Maybe? This is how I imagine snail mail works.
 * I know many of us are anxious to receive our letters, frustrated with the process, and eager to move on (to hopefully wonderful things), but I wanted to say thanks to all of your for contributing to this thread. The converstations seriously help me remain sane. So thank you and good luck, everyone!! *fist-bump*
 * Thanks to everyone posting updates, it makes this whole thing feel a lot less mysterious and lonely.  No letter today (Hamilton), high hopes for tomorrow...
 * Same here. Every time the pressure-anxiety gets too high, I check this page (so often). It has really helped, especially in the past week. Thank you all. And remeber: Everything is going to be ok!
 * No letter in Vancouver ;-). I reread my programme of work and was really happy with it. Hopefully that will get me through the probable no.
 * I just did the same :) ... haven't been home yet to check my mail though!
 * No letter in New England! ill never understand why they dont send out digital responses for this!
 * Literally sat by the door waiting for the postman to arrive this morning. no response yet in the US.
 * No letter in Atlantic Canada yet. I thought you might want to see the Canada Post delivery time tables.  You can find them here if you scroll down! Good Luck everyone!  http://www.canadapost.ca/business/tools/pg/manual/pgservstds-e.asp?ecid=murl07001056
 * OMG does this mean it could take 5 DAYS TO GET OUT HERE?????
 * i am refreshing this page every five minutes. i just want the letter to come! the waiting is eating up my work time!
 * Mine too!  Especially as the Post time table says it should arrive today if it was mailed on Thursday - fingers crossed!
 * I like seeing new results pop up but I wish time would hurry up so my letter would come. I've received three rejections of other postdocs so far this week and would like to keep all my bad news to this one week so I can move on and try getting over it...
 * Around noon here in New York City, no letter yet.
 * Nothing today in Europe. I do hope it comes by Friday. The thought of having to wait another weekend is not pleasant. [2/24]
 * SSHRC has mailed the letters out from Ottawa on Thursday or Friday. Canada Post provides the estimated delivery dates in business days, the maximum being four business days unless you are located in a remote area. Does this mean that the letters just sit at some Canada Post location for the whole weekend, rather than being in transfer in a truck or airplane? That sounds quite inefficient to me. (But of course that is not as dumb as still using snail mail instead of electronic communication. Slower and costly service at the expense of taxpayers!)
 * Did SSHRC start following anyone else on twitter today? I thought it was really weird that they picked today of all days to follow me. I haven't received my letter yet so I'm trying to figure out of this means anything, or I'm just being crazy.
 * Here's your chance to send a direct message to them over Twitter!