CIFAR Global Scholars: Application Review Process

CIFAR Global Scholars:
Application Review Process

The total time span of the application review process, from application deadline to notification of results to candidates, is about 2.5 months. Candidates invited to attend an interview will usually be contacted within two to four weeks after the application deadline. Please see the related table below summarizing key dates and timelines for 2012/2013.

Stages of the application review process:

1. CIFAR Program Directors and their selection committees will view all applications for their particular advertised positions. They will rank their applicants based on research excellence, breadth of research interests, and potential for fruitful interaction and collaboration within the program and at Global Academy meetings. Each program will decide on the most effective process for ranking candidates. Program Directors or a representative will provide a ranked short-list of one to five top candidates within two weeks after the application deadline.

2. From each program’s short-list, CIFAR will invite the top two nominees for each position to attend an interview in Toronto, at the Institute’s expense, in about a month’s time. An Interview Committee comprised of CIFAR’s Senior Vice-President, Research and selected members of the academic community, representing a diverse range of disciplines, will be appointed. The interview committee will evaluate nominees’ interest and aptitude for interacting and collaborating within the program and at Global Academy meetings, and their potential to develop leadership and communication skills in the broader research community.

3. Candidates will have one week to respond to an interview invitation. If someone declines, the next candidate in the ranking will be invited. If all short-listed candidates decline an interview, the position will remain unfilled and may be re-advertised.

4. The interview committee may turn back nominees who they find do not meet CIFAR’s standards of quality and breadth, or if other eligibility requirements are not met, or if CIFAR’s procedures and/or policies have not been followed.

5. After the interviews, the interview committee will rank the nominees for each position. Program Directors and selection committees will be informed of the standings. The interview committee’s recommendations will be brought to CIFAR’s Board of Directors for approval within about a month. Candidates, Program Directors and selection committees will be notified of the Board’s decisions.

Below are specific key dates and timelines for the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

Summary of Key Dates and Timelines in 2012/2013

First set of advertised Global Scholar positions

Before July 5, 2012	Available Global Scholar positions are posted on CIFAR website.
July 5, 2012	Application website activated: CIFAR begins to accept Global Scholar applications.
September 4, 2012	Application deadline.
By September 24, 2012	Program Directors and selection committees identify top candidates, submit justification letters and notify CIFAR of rankings. In the following days, CIFAR arranges interviews.
October 25-26, 2012	Top two nominees per position attend interview in Toronto. In the following days, CIFAR notifies Program Directors and selection committees of interview committee’s rankings.
November 13, 2012	CIFAR Board of Directors reviews and approves top-ranked candidates. In the following days, CIFAR notifies Program Directors, selection committees and candidates of the results.

Second set of advertised Global Scholar positions

Before November 1, 2012	Available Global Scholar positions are posted on CIFAR website.
November 1, 2012	Application website activated: CIFAR begins to accept Global Scholar applications
January 21, 2013	Application deadline.
By February 11, 2013	Program Directors and selection committees identify top candidates, submit justification letters and notify CIFAR of rankings. In the following days, CIFAR arranges interviews.
March 13-14, 2013	Top two nominees per position attend interview in Toronto. In the following days, CIFAR notifies Program Directors and selection committees of interview committee’s rankings.
April 9, 2013	CIFAR Board of Directors reviews and approves top-ranked candidates. In the following days, CIFAR notifies Program Directors, selection committees and candidates of the results.

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