Researcher Development Funding 2016

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER FUNDINGGUIDELINES

About the Award

The Early Career Researcher Grant supports ECRs in balancing teaching and administrative duties while establishing a research profile. The award will provide ECRs with funding to allow for teaching, marking or admin buy-out or RA assistance. Awards of up to $20K per applicant are available. This Award may or may not be linked to a project, but must demonstrate the building of research capacity and research reach.

Expressions of Interest for these awards will be opened annually.

For 2016 funding, Expressions of Interestwill open on 2 November and close on 29 November 2015

Roles and Responsibilities

It is the applicant’s responsibility to:

a. complete the Expression of Interest form;

b. ensure in advance that the relevant Dean supports the application; and

c. submit application to the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Development) by 29 November 2015 (Sunday).

d. Undertake to provide a report for the Office of the DVC (R&D) at the end of the funding period detailing outcomes, impact, achievements etc that have arisen from this funding.

Assessment Panels

The Assessment Panel will be drawn from the academic body across the University ensuring expertise across both the Sciences and Humanities clusters. The panel, which will include representation from the Office of Equity and Diversity, will be charged with the assessment of applications making recommendations to Office the DVC (R&D) by the specified date.

Application/Eligibility Criteria

1. For the purpose of this policy, an Early Career Researcher is considered to be those who were awarded their PhD within the past 5 years (eligibility exemption applies for career interruption for up to 3 years) and who hold a long term academic appointment.

2. Applications are for individuals only – not teams.

3. Applicants must be tenured or a contracted academic employee, with a contract not finishing before 30 December 2017.

4. Applications are open to academic staff employed in Schools at Western Sydney University.

5. Applicants who have received this award in the previous 12 months are not eligible to apply.

6. Academic staff who are employed via an ARC or NHMRC grant are ineligible to apply.

7. Applicants undertaking ADP leave during this period may apply for funding – but will not be able to apply for teaching/marking/administration relief funding as a part of the application.

8. Applicants may apply for more than one scheme, but will only receive one award (ie. You may apply for both the Women’s Fellowship and an ECR Award, but you will only receive funding from one of these schemes if your application is successful).

9. Funding may be requested for a new initiative or project, or for additional funding for an ongoing project.

General expenditure guidelines

Funding must be expended by 31 December 2016. Purchases may not be made for implementation in 2017 (eg travel cannot be paid for in 2016 and taken in 2017).

Purchases cannot be for equipment that would be provided to you as an employee (eg, computers, laptops, printers, phones etc). A case can be made for the purchase of specialized research equipment that will relate to the project you are applying to have funded.

Funding cannot be used to extend an existing employment contract.

All budget items must be fully justified.

Enquiries and Submission of Documents

Submissions must be lodged with the Office of the DVC (R&D) by the 29 November 2015 (Sunday).

All applications must be approved by the applicant’s Dean and/or Director before submission.

Applications should be sent via email to ResearcherDevelopment@westernsydney.edu.au

The subject line should state the scheme for which you are applying; your School/Institute followed by your surname and then your first name e.g. ECRGrant/ICS/Jones

Guidelines for ECR Award

Early Career Researcher Grant – up to $20K

This funding supports Early Career Researchers to juggle teaching and administrative duties while establishing a research profile. This grant is intended to be investments in people and pilot projects that are likely to lead to securing external research funds.

Funding will cover project cost such as personnel, travel, equipment and resources. Funding will be awarded for projects that demonstrate outcomes that will lead to research impact, career development and enhance the recipient’s research profile.

Up to $20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants. All funds must be spent by 31 December 2016.

Definition

For the purpose of this Guideline, an Early Career Researcher is considered to be those who were awarded their PhD within the past 5 years (eligibility exemption applies for career interruption for up to 3 years) and who hold an academic appointment.

Assessment Criteria

Applicants must address the following criteria for assessment.

i. Originality and significance of the research — demonstrate how the research has contributed to new knowledge, or advancing the boundaries of the disciplines.

ii. Research quality and methodological robustness.

iii. Research track record in relation to opportunity.

iv. Research impact — describe the likely impact and benefits of the research beyond the academy.

v. Likelihood of future external funding as a result of this project.

vi. Anticipated enhancement of recipient’s research profile