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Tri-agency fellowship programs

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Description

The Tri-agency funding program provides postdoctoral funding for up to two years on a competitive basis, with competitions typically occurring in the fall of each year. The Tri-agencies consist of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).


Application Overview

Tri-agency fellowship funding programs normally involve direct applications to the funding agency. Details on the application process and requirements can be found on the respective funding agency’s website:

Please note that for CIHR, the Office of Research Services manages the institutional e-approval processes for Dalhousie University, when applicable.

If you need help or have questions regarding your fellowship application, you are encouraged to get in touch with your intended supervisor, or the funding agency to which you are applying.


Accepting your award

If you successfully competed for a NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR fellowship, you may be wondering what’s next. The Faculty of Graduate Studies is here to help you navigate this process so you can quickly focus on your fellowship activities.

Confirm your postdoctoral fellowship position

Once you have received a notice of award or funding offer from the funding agency, you will need to contact your supervisor/department to inform them that you have been successful in obtaining an award.  You will also need to discuss a planned start/end date and request a letter of offer or letter of invitation.

To prepare the letter of offer or invitation, your supervisor will need a copy of your CV (resume), and a copy of the notice of award confirming the funding offer you’ve received.  Your supervisor will coordinate with Dalhousie’s Academic Staff Relations group to prepare the letter and confirm the start/end dates for your postdoctoral fellowship. Questions related to the letter of offer or letter of invitation can be directed to Academic Staff Relations (academic.staff.relations@dal.ca).

SSHRC and NSERC fellowship recipients

SSHRC and NSERC fellowship programs require your funding to be managed through Dalhousie University. You will need to send the following information to fgs.slo@dal.ca:

  • A copy of your notice of award
  • A copy of your Dalhousie offer letter/letter of invitation

Once this information is received, FGS will coordinate with your department to process payroll forms to get your fellowship payment set up.  Please note that there can be a delay between when you submit your acceptance of an award to an external funding agency and receipt of the funds at Dalhousie.  Fellowship payments can only be approved once funding is received from the external funding partner.

CIHR fellowship recipients

Due to CIHR fellowships including funding to cover research expenses, the initial setup of your award requires the involvement of the Office of Research Services (ORS). In this case, your supervisor will need to submit an Investigator Checklist via Romeo, and provide the following information to the ORS:

  • A copy of your notice of award (issued by the funder)
  • A copy of your submitted application
  • A copy of your Dalhousie offer letter/letter of invitation
  • Any required certifications (ethics, animal protocol, biosafety, etc.)

For help or questions regarding the account set up process, your supervisor can reach an appropriate Post-Award Research Grants Officer.  Your supervisor will be taking financial responsibility for the funding while it is managed at Dalhousie University.

Once your supervisor has coordinated with the ORS to set up accounts for your fellowship, they can coordinate with their department to submit the necessary payroll forms to get your fellowship payments set up.  Please note that there can be a delay between when you submit your acceptance of an award to an external funding agency and receipt of the funds at Dalhousie.  Fellowship payments can only be approved once funding is received from the external funding partner.


Managing your award

For more information on maintaining your funding, interruptions or leaves of absence, please visit our internal myDal site (login required).