Steve Pawluk Scholarship

2024 Application Guidelines And Selection Criteria

Background

Dr Steve Pawluk was a professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Alberta. His research focused on understanding dynamic changes within soil systems that impact soil relationships influenced by hydrogeology, geomorphology, vegetation and soil fauna. His work occurred on major Canadian soils, including Podzols, Solonetzes, Brunisols, Chernozems, Luvisols, Gleysols and Cryosols. He served as chair of the Department of Soil Science and as Associate Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. He contributed greatly to the International Congress of Soil Science held in Edmonton, Alberta in 1978, was named a Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS) Fellow in 1980 and served as President of CSSS in 1983.

One annual scholarship of $2,000 will be administered by CSSS to support graduate students in programs focused on soil science; for example, in agriculture, forestry, environmental sciences or land reclamation.

Application Deadline: 30 September 2024 midnight EDT

Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be registered at a Canadian university full time in a thesis based MSc or PhD program.
  • Have completed at least one full year of their graduate program at a Canadian institution.
  • Continue to be enrolled in their graduate program at least one semester beyond the application deadline for the scholarship.
  • Complete the application form and submit it by the specified date.
  • Provide names of three referees who are willing to provide letters of support for the application.

Scholarship Selection Criteria

  • Scholarship recipients will be selected solely on information provided in their application.
  • Preference will be given to applicants conducting soil science research on landscape dynamics or micromorphology, including soil formation processes, soil evolution over time or across landscapes, soil processes involved in providing ecosystem services, and research using innovative tools or interdisciplinary approaches.
  • Preference will be given to early to mid program students.
  • Individuals can receive this scholarship only once in their program.
  • No annual scholarship will be awarded if there is no suitable applicant.
  • No restrictions are placed on scholarship applicants holding other grants or awards or receiving assistance or income from other sources.
  • Recipients must permit a short biography to be published for public relations related to the scholarship.
  • Applications will be assessed using the following criteria, not listed in order of importance: academic achievement, area(s) of study, community involvement, career interests, communication skills and letters of recommendation.

Scoring Selection Criteria (100 points total)

Part 1. Academic Achievement (25 points total)

  • Marks from three most recent soil science courses and overall GPA of current program (15 points maximum).
  • Honours, awards, achievements (10 points maximum).

Part 2. Study Areas (25 points total)

  • Undergraduate and post-graduate courses related to soil sciences (10 points maximum).
  • Relevance of courses taken to scholarship objectives (5 points maximum).
  • Succinct and relevant research focus and objectives (10 points maximum).

Part 3. Community Involvement (10 points total)

  • Community service (5 points maximum).
  • Leadership, such as project organizer or initiator (5 points maximum).

Part 4. Career Interests (10 points total)

  • Work experience directly related to soils and related sciences (3 points maximum).
  • Career goals achieved (2 points maximum)
  • Skills developed as part of the career trajectory (3 points maximum).
  • Future personal, educational and career goals for the next ten years as related to soil science (2 points maximum).

Part 5. Communication Skills (10 points total)

  • Communication skills in how the selection criteria are addressed clearly and concisely (5 points maximum).

Part 6. Reference Letters (20 points total)

  • Three letters of reference provided from the graduate program supervisor, another faculty member, person outside academia or employer.
  • Letter from supervisor or another faculty member (10 points maximum)
  • Second and third letters of reference (5 points each maximum).
  • Reference letters must be sent directly to CSSS Awards Program Chair, Dr Richard Heck, at rheck@uoguelph by the referee using the referee form provided. Use subject line: Pawluk Soil Reference For Last Name of Applicant.

How to Apply

Submit a completed application package and provide all documentation requested by 30 September 2024.

Application Package and Required Documentation

  • A completed and signed Pawluk Scholarship application form.
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Only PDF scans of official transcripts will be accepted and must be included as part of the application and received by the deadline.
  • A letter from the applicant’s university confirming enrolment in a current Masters or PhD program.
  • Compile all parts of the application (except reference letters) into one pdf document before submission. Preferred order is application form, letter of enrollment, transcripts. Note that free PDF merge tools are available online; e.g. ilovepdf.com/.
  • The completed application package PDF must be submitted electronically by the deadline to the Canadian Society of Soil Science Awards Program Chair, Dr Richard Heck at rheck@uoguelph: Pawluk Scholarship Application for Applicant Name.
  • Three (3) letters of reference (using the form provided) must be submitted directly by the referees to CSSS Awards Program Chair, Dr Richard Heck, at rheck@uoguelph. Use subject line: Pawluk Scholarship Reference for Last Name of Applicant.

 

Application deadline is midnight EDT 30 June 2024