SSHRC 2017-2018

This page is for tracking SSHRC awards to be held during the 2017-2018 academic year.

LINK: http://ow.ly/2vpE302b99M

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; preparing for research-intensive careers within and beyond academia; 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.

SSHRC welcomes applications involving Aboriginal research, as well as those involving research-creation.

Value: $40,500 per year

Duration: 12 to 24 months

Application deadline: (8 p.m. eastern) September 21, 2016

Results announced: February 2017

APPLY

Stats
Applying as an ABD: 21

Applying with a PhD (0-1 years out): 19

Applying with a PhD (2-3 years out): 5

Total: 45

Applying to hold at a Canadian institution: 33

Applying to hold at a non-Canadian institution: 9

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Pages from Previous Years
SSHRC 2011-12

SSHRC 2012-13

SSHRC 2013-14

SSHRC 2014-15

SSHRC 2015-2016

SSHRC 2016-2017

SEE ALSO: Humanities and Social Sciences Postdocs 2016-17

Acknowledgement of application received

 * Received email from SSHRC September 23rd at 3:08pm acknowledging confirmation of my application (applying from Canada).
 * Email from SSHRC on Sept 26
 * Email from SSHRC on Sept 30
 * Email from SSHRC on Sept 27

Results received (successful)

 * FORMAT: Score. Discipline. Selection Committee (eg, 3/7563, 6/7566). Location: (eg, Canada, US). Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr). Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations).

Results received (waitlisted)

 * FORMAT: Score. Discipline. Selection Committee (eg, 3/7563, 6/7566). Location: (eg, Canada, US). Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr). Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations).

Results received (unsuccessful)

 * FORMAT: Score. Discipline. Selection Committee (eg, 3/7563, 6/7566). Location: (eg, Canada, US). Status: (eg, ABD, 1yr, 2yr). Qualifications: (eg, pubs, presentations).

DISCUSSION / Q&A
Jan 2017 - Anyone else counting down the days? Can't wait to check my mailbox twice a day throughout Feb!


 * - Oh yes! Can't wait. Pretty nerve wracking.
 * - Jan 21st - I can relate, no clue what I am doing if I don't get this.
 * -23 Jan - Nor me. Put too much stock in this, currently trying to rebalance my expectations and I'm applying for other jobs and postdocs now too, it helos with the anxiety.
 * -Jan 25 - Whoa, February? Really? I thought I got my waitlist (/rejection) in March or April last year. Oh well. My memory is kinda crappy. Feb suits me! At this point, SSHRC is pretty much my only academic hope this year. My jobs spreadsheet is all red.
 * - Jan 25 - Yea, I got my waitlist (/rejection) in mid-February last year. I think they were mailed on Feb 12th. Imagine they got them done early this year? That would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g.
 * -Jan. 26- Hi, team. Thought it might help to know that I contacted SSHRC this week to verify my address, and they confirmed that letters will be sent out in February. They said the competition is still ongoing, and didn't say when in Feb.
 * - Jan. 28 - Thanks for the info. Hopefully they put us out of our misery sooner rather than later!
 * - Jan 31 - It will definitely be mid-Feb, I checked the previous GradCafeForum threads and this is when the applicants were notified in the last several years. Good luck all! I created a thread on GCF a few months back for the 2017-18 competition, feel free to check it/post on it :) http://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/83150-sshrc-postdoctoral-fellowships-2017-2018/


 * Jan 31: this impending decision is making me so scatter-brained. Trying to focus/write/finish the diss is a painful process right now


 * - Feb 1 - Best option is to expect/plan for failure. Not saying it to be a d***. The odds are against us, and it is far more productive to channel your energy towards other things (publishing, applying for jobs, etc) than thinking/hoping for this. Also, if you figure out how to do this, let all of us know!


 * - Feb 4th - Has anyone received a letter for the Banting PDF yet?


 * -Feb 3 - No still anxiously waiting.  Some resources said that we were supposed to hear yesterday but others just say "Early February".  Sigh looks like it will be next week.
 * - Thanks! I saw also February 2nd and I was not sure if all applicants receive letters at the same time (i.e. later in case of rejection...). But you are right, most of sources just say "Early February"
 * -I actually just chatted with someone who won last year and he said that they mail all the letters at the same time.  So you will just get a letter that says how you ranked out the the X number of applicants and how many were awarded.  So they might have been mailed yesterday?  Who knows!  Best of luck to you!
 * -Thank you very much for your input...I will sleep better this week-end. So, they are mailing letters or just post it on recherche.net? Perhaps both?
 * -He made it seem like it was just a letter.  I'm not quite sure about researchnet!
 * - OK, thanks again, In any case, we will probably be fixed next week!


 * - Feb 6 - The Banting website says that "Following approval by the Tri-agency programs steering committee, the Vanier-Banting Secretariat will notify applicants of the results of their application by posting a decision letter to their ResearchNet account." I do hope we don't have to wait for it come in the mail - online results are much more convenient.
 * Oh I really hope so!!!  I'm assuming we would get an email notification if the status changed on researchnet.  I don't want to start obsessively checking my account.


 * - Feb 5. - Just wanted to send a little love out to everybody stressing out about this pending decision. The eventual outcome of this does not reflect your intelligence or worth as a researcher. Life will go on after this, either way. Keep your head up. Keep grinding, and good things will follow.
 * - so true- look no further than the list of bright and accomplished people who didn't get the SSHRC (on last year's page) to see that receiving the SSHRC is not a good measure of your worth
 * -6 Feb - That is very kind! A bit of perspective is always appreciated.
 * Cheers to that!  The fact that we were even able to get people to recommend us for this prestigious award speaks volumes.

- Feb 6 - Emailed SSHRC today about the mailing of results. No date set yet. They estimate results wont be sent until late this month.
 * On the bright side, Feb only has 28 days, right? ;-)
 * I like your cynical optimism!
 * Ughh. 28 longest days of the year!

-Feb 6 - One thing I am wondering this yes is if they access the waitlist. So far as I can tell (as someone only 2 spots off the winning list, and as a follower of this wiki) they didn't give any awards out on the list, whereas in previous years, they did. I also wonder how many winners there will be this year. There was a fairly big drop in total awards last year vs. the year prior.
 * Feb. 6. Yes I wonder about this too. Last year I was 1st on the waiting list in my section. Everyone seemed sure an award would come through given the norms of previous years. But in the end, nothing. What's going on at SSHRC? Why even bother with a waiting list if it just creates false hope?
 * Traditionally, wait list movement was driven  by people getting TT jobs. Those individuals would decline the post-doc and the next 'person up' would benefit. The scarcity of jobs has put a dent on movement. Some people are also negotiating to have start dates for TT jobs delayed so that they can do a year on the post-doc. It is a perfect way to build up your pipeline before jumping into a TT. At the end of the day, there are too many of us... and too few opportunities.
 * I agree with this in general, but even anecdotally via that wiki and via people I have spoken to and know, there were people who have turned down the award from last year's competition. I think you're right that in our climate few people can turn down this funding, but I believe it is also SSHRC policy playing out in terms of whether or not they actually put the waitlist into action.
 * What SSHRC policy?


 * If you are told you are on the waitlist, you can call SSHRC to ask what number you are on the list, which can help you think about your chances/make life choices. Last year I was in the 30s on the waitlist so I knew it was never going to happen.

Feb.7 -- Has anyone heard anything about the Banting Fellowship yet? It's the end of the business day and I still haven't received any kind of notification.
 * Nope! Status is still in peer review (x2).  Emailed and no release date was given.
 * Do we know finally if the decision will be mailed or posted on recherchenet?
 * From what I was told we should be able to access directly from researchnet!

Feb 8 - Any Banting updates?
 * Not yet...and I am starting to be a little frustrated...
 * Me too.  I wonder what the hold up is!
 * My guess would be that due to conflicting schedules they have been unable to time the necessary meetings.

Feb. 10 -- End of the day and STILL no word on the Banting. Thanks, Ottawa, for dragging this out into next week!!
 * another week down, another ounce of my sanity and patience depleted

Feb. 14 - I was hoping for a nice Valentine from SSHRC... still no news.

Feb 14 - Banting - Just confirmed with Banting admin that they are "working to release the results this week" (which, I hope, means results will be released this week). We will be notified via email through ResearchNet.

Feb 14 - Coping strategies? I am checking this site multiple times a day. I check my mailbox every time I walk my dog. How do I stop this behavior? Someone, quick, write up a SSHRC proposal to study this process!
 * I'm so glad I'm not the only one! My dog is getting so many more walks just so I have an excuse to check the mail!
 * Yea, my dog's increased activity has his sleeping all day (ha!). My neighbours are starting to look at me weird, though, given the repeated trips to the mailbox.

Feb.14 - Yeah, the wait got hard once I discovered the results would come in earlier than I anticipated. It's made especially hard because at this point, it looks like SSHRC is my last academic option, unless I get magically lucky with my VAP and sessional applications (luckier than last year's zero, that is). Once I get that rejection, it's the trials and tribulations of the non-academic market for me.

Feb. 14 - just got a nice rejection from Banting :-(  Still hoping for SSHRC.


 * Feb. 14 - got rejected from Banting. Did a little bit better than I did last year. Never thought I would get it anyways, since to get a Banting you need to either have a ton of publications or a book. Still hoping to get a SSHRC.
 * Feb. 14 -- just got rejected too. Well, at least the wait is over! That was worse than the rejection.
 * - Don't be disheartened, girls/guys. Tough pill to swallow, but remember the process is a total crapshoot. I too got rejected last year, before a bunch of other opportunities surfaced. I've actually progressed more professionally since then than I would have with the post-doc. Keep your head up!
 * -Agreed!  100% agree.  Moving on... perhaps to even better things!  Job interview this Thursday!!

Feb 14 - Does anyone know if SSHRC is releasing the results of Banting and Postdoctoral fellowship at the same time?


 * - SSHRC and Banting competitions are completely independent, from what I can tell.
 * - So silly, don't know why they don't just run a single competition


 * Last year the letters were mailed out on Feb 12.  However, it seems like SSHRC is behind this year as an ealier update said the letters wouldn't be mailed until the end of February.  I would be surprised if the letters arrived before March!

- For those checking the mail every 15 minutes, the letter has tended (in 2013, 2014 and 2015) to arrive around February 23rd. Good luck.
 * - Depends on where you are. I got my rejection letter in SW Ontario 3 days after it was mailed.
 * - if I recall correctly, last year they announced on Twitter when the SSHRC letters were sent out so   perhaps add some Twitter stalking to your routine:  https://twitter.com/SSHRC_CRSH
 * - Yup, I found the tweet: https://twitter.com/SSHRC_CRSH/status/702230095616983042 (Feb 23, 2016) - from the looks of the wiki from last year that tweet went out well after the actual letters were sent.


 * Hi all, I was the last cut from Banting (in the non-Cdn institution category, capped at 25%) and am thus, 1st on the waiting list (which I do not expect much from) - Anyone have any knowledge of whether Banting waiting lists are ever successful?


 * I also had to update my mailing address with SSHRC and asked about dates. I was told the letters are going to be mailed out at the "end of February" so we are all in for a bit of a wait it seems, just thought I would share that


 * Feb 17 - so we would expect to hear about the SSHRC through a posted letter, rather than online (like the Banting)?
 * - Yeah, they don't release results online unfortunately. Regular mail it is!


 * -I saw that someone asked on Twitter when the results would be released (maybe someone from this board!) and SSHRC helpfully responded "sometime this month." I wish I could add the laughing-crying emoticon here.

Feb 20- "early next week" according to sshrc via email
 * -It would be great if SSHRC specified that it would mail the letters on the last day of the month instead of "sometime in February"
 * This is ridiculous. I've been checking my mail box for weeks!

Feb 22 -- anyone waiting for Killam news? Last year I had to call Dalhousie.
 * I am waiting for Killam (Alberta) too. Website says results at Alberta are announced in May.
 * Hi All - The following was just posted to the Canadian Association for Postdoctoral Scholars facebook page: ON BEHALF OF SSHRC
 * Dear colleagues,


 * SSHRC has improved and harmonized the communication of competition results given to applicants of the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships funding opportunity.

· Applicants will be “offered” or “not offered” funding; · The “recommended, not funded” category has been eliminated; and · Applicants will be provided a one-page form, Notice of Decision (see attached), that includes individual, committee, and overall competition results and statistics including: o Decision (Offered /Not Offered) o Final Scores o Rank within the committee
 * New this year:


 * These changes are based on feedback received from the community that the number of “Recommended, not funded” applications sent mixed messages to individual applicants since only a limited proportion of these applications are funded by SSHRC on an annual basis. These changes will also provide applicants a clear account of their standing within the competition.


 * In addition to the new Notice of Decision, as part of the result package, all applicants will continue to receive a result letter and a document outlining the selection procedures. In addition, applicants who are offered funding will also receive, as usual, a Notice of Award containing the award details including Terms and Conditions.


 * Do not hesitate to contact us (fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca) should you have questions.


 * Feb. 22 - I'm all for better communication, but is anyone else a little nervous about knowing their "rank within the committee"? Having more infomraiton is always helpful (ie: knowing how close to the bottom or top you are might give better insight for how to go forward if applying again), but it also seems like it might be a little soul crushing knowing you were last of close to last in your committee.
 * It may be soul-crushing, but I would rather know if I am wayyyy behind the pack. We are adults, after all.
 * And it's a useful piece of information. If you're bottom of the pack, that's a sign that you need some coaching around how to write a grant proposal, identify a research problem or formulate a research question. It's hard to hear but is better than being unaware of a deficit in your skillset.


 * It is also likely a time-saving mechanism on SSHRC's behalf; they have historically given such information out upon request, and I wouldn't be surprised if they got a lot of requests. This pre-emtively deals with all this
 * You'd think with the announcement above, they would add the actual date they're sending stuff out on..
 * And you'd think they'd realize that improving communication could also include online results rather than snail mail...

-Feb 23: So, are they really not mailing results until next week? This is absurd! -Feb 24--it is definitely early next week. I emailed them and they've confirmed this. I wonder how much damage the increased cortisol in my body is doing to my organs...
 * - Feb 24 - The thought of this dragging on another week makes my stomach turn. Assuming they mail on Monday/Tuesday... Those outside of Ontario/Quebec may not hear until the week after next! (barf)
 * Feb. 24 - Those of us abroad (in Europe) will have to wait awhile if they send regular air mail. Might take until March 13th or later that week to receive anything.

Feb 26: Wishing everyone the best of luck this week! Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for as many of you as possible! (me, included!)

Feb 27: Please, just let this be over. February has been rocky enough without this dragging on.I had hoped any bad news would be confined to its temporal barrier (yup, feeling particularly pessimistc today).

Feb 27: This ain't the first or last time we will be in this situation. The sun will rise tomorrow and the next day.. and the next. Let's be glad it will be over soon!

Feb 27: This is not just emotional, there is finacial cost as well. I have a conference registration deadline tomorrow. No SHHRC, no go. But if I get it, I would have gone. I wonder if I can sue for such sheer incompetence? Feb 27: I'm in Ottawa and I just checked my mailbox...no news from SSHRC, just an FYI.
 * - May I respectfully suggest that instead of fretting about whether you'll be able to present at this conference that you focus your attention on turning that conference paper into a journal article instead? Cost is $0 and the value on your CV is much greater.
 * - Perhaps we all need to be a little less quick to brush off other people's anxiety or stresses. This process is disruptive, and even if we can write a paper for $0, it doesn't help the fact that still being in the dark about the results has real consequences for future plans.
 * -Guys, at this point, it's best for our sanity to just pretend that the site said 'Early March' instead of 'February' and be mildly pleased when we receive the results (hopefully) late this week or early next week. Just think happy thoughts!
 * - I would think you could ask for a few days extension and explain the situation (re: conference). I can't imagine they really truly must absolutely know tomorrow if you will go or not.
 * - OP here. Indeed, I am asking for a few days. However, part of the point is the unprofessional process that is happening with zero accountablity. Submitting the paper as an article can work, but it cannot replace networking opprotunities availible at the conference, crucial for future employment. Mymain frustration is the is SSHRC's clear lack of appreciation of the consequences of their incompetence. SSHRC needs an overhaul.

Feb 28: In Ottawa, will check when I get home. But, no news yet.
 * Thanks for this! Please keep us up to date on developments at ground zero.
 * Warm and good wishes all around. Just a note to say that I'm in Ottawa and nothing from the SSHRC came in the mail this morning.
 * It would be nice to just get a confirmation that they sent them out! Anyone willing to email SSHRC? ;-)
 * I e-mailed them (not that I applied, but I feel for all of you waiting), and got an auto reply: "Thank you for your message. Due to the large number of e-mails currently received at this address, we will do our best to answer you within 4 days of receipt. Please do not send duplicate requests." Will let you know if I hear anything back!

How do we know that??
 * Thanks for this! Despite my best efforts, I have become entirely fixated on the results of this decision. I can't get ANY work done. Today has probably been the worst day yet. I understand the scale of this operation, but am so annoyed at SSHRC for their inefficiency. This blanket "Feb 2017" supposed release data has been such a poop show... Hang in there homies!
 * In Toronto, mail has come but there is no letter from SSHRC today.
 * I hear you all! I cannot be focused and get ANY work done! I sent a Facebook message to SSHRC yesterday, asking whether the Postdoc results have been sent out and this is what I received today: " Not yet. The team is working on it" !!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish they woud have announced or twitted that the results would be released in March instead of keeping us all waiting like this! Absurd!
 * They were still 'working on it' yesterday?? Ugh.
 * I think it's safe to say SSHRC hasn't met its February deadline unless it had somehow mailed out the letters without announcing it! It's frustrating because we know that the adjudication process hascompleted quite a while back and now it's the administrative process of mailing them out that's lagging behind so miserably.
 * At this point, they should really send out results via email to make up for their lateness..
 * To the poster asking how do we know...here are some quick facts: the SSHRC adjudication committees met December 5-9, 2016. So the decisions were made at that time. It's public record: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/merit_review-evaluation_du_merite/adjudication_manual-guide_comite_selection-eng.aspx Do you now see the massive gap between the adjudication and administrative processes?

March 1st : SSHRC TWEETED the letters have been sent. [[Category:AcademicJobSearch] "Good morning, Thank you for your email. The results of the competition were mailed February 28, 2017."
 * That's a relief. Unfortunately, I have to wait at least two weeks for the letter to arrive overseas. E-mail would be a lot more convenient!
 * That sucks! Hang in there!
 * I just got an answer to the email I sent them yesterday:

So maybe Ottawa people will get the news today!


 * Hope so. Checking mmy mailbox every 5-7 minures. Update: mail came by, no letter yet.
 * Just a quick suggestion -- once people start posting their results, could they please do so in the categories above,  i.e. successful/unsuccessful/waitlisted,  for the sake of keeping this thread organized? :)

Good luck everyone! Remember just because you don't get one does not mean that you and your work do not have value. And also please be kind to yourselves in the next few days. I hope that everyone on this wiki gets one.

Hi All, I'm actually not an applicant this year, but the partner of one and I have been following this board daily as we wait the dreaded wait. I just wanted to say good luck to everyone and to reiterate what has been said above - be kind to yourself. Everyone does as much as they can and it is entirely out of the applicant's hands what happens after that. There is so much in play relating to a single year's decisions that it is not worth it to beat yourself up if a bad result comes through. Again, as the partner of someone applying, I know that I love them and support them no matter whether its a 'yes' or a 'no' and that this one decision will not define who we are and what they are capable of, and I'm sure all of your families feel the exact same. I am thinking good thoughts for everyone and I hope regardless of who succeeds in this particular avenue, that everyone here finds good fortune and validation this year. March 2nd: Nothing from the SSHRC in the mail this morning. I'm in Ottawa. Hi folks... current SSHRC postdoc here just offering you some moral support. I feel you right now... waiting is the worst. Good luck to everyone :)
 * Simply put, you are awesome. Thanks for the kind words!
 * How is that even possible if they mailed the letters on Feb 28th?!...unless they actually didn't get letters out on the 28th and only said they did to give the appearance of meeting their end-of-the-month deadline.
 * From having worked in a bureaucratic office in the past, "in the mail" could mean "dropped in the mailroom". If this was done EOD on the 28th, this could mean that the person whose job it is to move the mail (likely from their department to another more central mailroom) could have come at any point on the 1st, and then Canada Post picks it up from somewhere else (maybe same day, more likely the next day, which is today, the 2nd). Nothing about the mail process is quick. I don't know why they don't do this electronically. It would also save a bunch of cash.
 * From a past (and unsuccessful applicant): they do in fact have the ability to send results electronically. I applied a couple of years back while doing a postdoc in Germany. It took so long for me to get the results that I emailed SSHRC, who then sent a secure link and password through which I could download a pdf of my results. I have no idea why this isn't the standard procedure.
 * My mail person doesn't come by until after noon. It could be that this person's new mail hasn't yet been delivered today.
 * OP here. The mail has been delivered on my street today, with nothing from the SSHRC.
 * Montreal - No mail today. This morning episode of mail waiting and being anxious about my post-phd future will need to continue tomorrow...
 * Nicely put! I find that 10-noon is my peak stress period, as I wait to see if mail is delivered. After that I mellow out a bit...
 * BC person... Looks like us west coasters are going to have to wait for next week. Aaaahhhh!

March 3rd: nobody received their letter yet? So we all have to wait until next week?

March 3rd: Received in Montreal. Overall competition results: Applications: 878. Offered 151 (17.2%). Not Offered 727 (82.8%).
 * too early yet in the day.. will know in 3 hours or so... the waiting game begins
 * I'm in Ontario (but not Ottawa). No SSHRC envelope in the mail this morning. Sorry to be the bearer of excruciating news.
 * In Ottawa, nothing as of yesterday. Will check and update once I get home.
 * Mail arrived in Kitchener - no letter. But email came in 1997 - perhaps they could consider using that.
 * Mail arrived in Hamilton - no letter.
 * Hahah... oh god.
 * Best of luck everyone!
 * I checked, and the success rate was 18.5% last year and 22% the year before.. the odds are not improving.
 * ^ I was just going to say the same thing. The positive side is that the decline this year was relatively small, and his perhaps within a general margin of error as opposed to last year, where the decline was substantive. Last year, I was one of the people who fell into the ranks that would have been funded under the 22% allocation
 * Please post the relevant information under the three categories above.
 * I'm in Montréal too, but there's nothing in my mailbox, and the mail's come today (March 03).
 * Received letter in Montreal this morning.

Has anyone in Toronto received anything?

Toronto here (east end): Mail just came, nothing from SSHRC. Frak.
 * Ditto. Toronto centre over here. Mail came. Nothing from SSHRC. I guess Monday or Tuesday. Oh well. I have always assumed that I will not get one. I already received my Banting results with the same project and did not make the first cut, although I did do better than the year prior. I am already looking at alternative careers.
 * No letter here in TO as well but I did receive an enticing subscription offer from People magazine so at least I will have something to fill my time with if I don't get the SSHRC :-)
 * Same here. I didn't even get a People magazine subscription offer lol!
 * Montreal - I got my letter from SSHRC. Reading the letter feels like SSHRC is breaking-up with me

Results for all of us Humanities hustlers ( Committee 2A - History, Classics, Arch., Phil, Medieval, Relg. studies):


 * Applications: 87
 * Offered: 15 (17.2%)
 * Not Offered: 72 (82.8%)
 * =: same overall success/failure rate as Overall Competition