januarytwenty Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hi everyone- kind of an odd question but I thought maybe some people here could lend me a little more perspective on this. So, I was just informed I have been awarded an NSERC USRA to do HIV-related research for the summer. Exciting! The only problem is, I'm also in the final stage of interviewing for a really amazing summer job with the university (a team that builds a bacteria from bioblocks with a useful function) which would pay about $1000 more for the summer (although that's really only small change in the grand scheme of things, I suppose). I have to decline/accept the NSERC by next Wednesday...it seems doubtful that the hiring process for the other job will be done by then. So I'm thinking I'll just take the NSERC: -guaranteed job (if I turn it down I could really be screwing myself over) -still a very exciting area of research (for me) -probably more relevant to what my potential Master's would be in I just have that nagging feeling about the other job. I suppose I might not even get it (its highly competitive). So what do you think? (sorry for the long post ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuronix Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Do what you feel is right, but (and someone can correct me if I'm wrong), you can still write on your CV that you were awarded an NSERC , but you also right 'declined'. That means that people will know you got it, but preferred to do something else. just something to consider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng_dude786 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 a friend of mine started his NSERC USRA and then after 2 weeks (approx.) declined it for another job that I am fairly confident paid well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngdad Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Can you do both? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
januarytwenty Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Can you do both? Unfortunately no- both are supposed to be 9-5 M-F jobs from the start of May to the end of August. I'm probably going to take the NSERC- it will give me more relevant experience/better networking for a Master's and I really can't take the risk of not getting a decent job this summer. I have no research experience so it's a bit too big of a risk. Thanks for the replies so far- I really appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewfieMike Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I applied for an NSERC this summer, as well as other funding that pays $1500 extra. If I get both, I plan on just declining the NSERC. If I were you, accept the NSERC. If you get the other job, great. Let your research office know you can't take the NSERC and they'll give it to someone else. Seeing as you probably won't be starting until like May or so, I can't see it detrimental to accept it and then decline it a few weeks later. I hope not anyways, because that's my plan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
januarytwenty Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I applied for an NSERC this summer, as well as other funding that pays $1500 extra. If I get both, I plan on just declining the NSERC. If I were you, accept the NSERC. If you get the other job, great. Let your research office know you can't take the NSERC and they'll give it to someone else. Seeing as you probably won't be starting until like May or so, I can't see it detrimental to accept it and then decline it a few weeks later. I hope not anyways, because that's my plan! Hmm..yeah...I think I'll look into that. The email did mention having to have my supervisor complete the remainder of the paperwork for the NSERC if I accept (so that it will be submitted by a certain deadline) so I'm not sure if it will be irreversible if I accept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsim Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Do what you feel is right, but (and someone can correct me if I'm wrong), you can still write on your CV that you were awarded an NSERC , but you also right 'declined'. That means that people will know you got it, but preferred to do something else. just something to consider I did exactly this a few years ago. I declined an NSERC USRA to work with a prof for the summer. Regardless of whether you accept the NSERC or not, it is still an award which can be listed on your CV (as declined). I'd say take the other job if it's interesting and pays well...and list the NSERC on your CV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japlanet Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 If the other job is what I'm thinking it is (iGEM team), go for the NSERC and see if you can still be on the iGEM team on a volunteer basis. This is what I did last summer, I had an NSERC project, but when there was downtime while experiments were running etc I was able to contribute to the iGEM project as well, the you can still go to the conference in Nov. as part of the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
januarytwenty Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 If the other job is what I'm thinking it is (iGEM team), go for the NSERC and see if you can still be on the iGEM team on a volunteer basis. This is what I did last summer, I had an NSERC project, but when there was downtime while experiments were running etc I was able to contribute to the iGEM project as well, the you can still go to the conference in Nov. as part of the team. Wow this is a great idea! Yes it is the iGEM team. I think this is what I will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanDoc Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hey januarytwenty, May I ask where you go to school? I also applied for the NSERC USRA this year and haven't heard anything yet. Do you go to UofT? Which department did you apply to?? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bj89 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I too have not heard anything from NSERC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewfieMike Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 getting an NSERC is not based upon them. They just supply the funding. Your home university selects who gets them so I'm not surprised to hear someone got one already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
januarytwenty Posted February 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Yeah, I'm at not at UofT...good luck with your NSERC application though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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