Professor Nick Mansfield

University Support for HDR Students

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Uni support for HDR Students

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

Infrastructure supportFaculty operating funds (academic technical & administrative staff, general facilities) via the Faculty Funding Model (FFM)Major and minor capital works and major equipment and facilities are funded through specific University allocationsGeneral infrastructure (Library, IT, animal facilities, mechanical & electrical workshops, HDR support services etc) are supported through University Office budgets

Project supportFaculty support through the HDR component of the FFMFunding via Postgraduate Research Fund (PGRF - Research Grants)External funding support

Life supportAustralian Postgraduate Awards, APAIs, International Postgraduate Research ScholarshipsMacquarie University Research Excellence ScholarshipsSponsored scholarships

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Postgraduate Research Fund

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

Competitive Grants SchemeRequires written (typed) application

One Grant tenable during HDR candidature (before thesis submitted)Up to $5,000 per candidate

The Primary Goal: To enhance HDR student experience and add value to (improve the Quality of) HDR thesis. Note PGRF funding is NOT to be used for funding the CORE expenses of the projectAlignment with MQ Strategic Research Framework

Skill Development: Exposure to competitive research grant process (with the supervisor’s guidance)Experience in the preparation and justification of budgetsExposure to peer-review

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Completion

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

The University receives funding from the Australian Government for HDR students based on a research training performance model which includes HDR completions (50%) external research funding (40%) and refereed publications (10%)

The Faculty does not receive any funding for HDR students beyond 3 years for PhD and 2 years for MPhil

Both the University and you are making an extremely large investment in your HDR program and your future career

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Intellectual Property

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

• Intellectual Property (IP) is product of the (creative) mind that can be protected by law.

• The holder of this legal entitlement (the owner) has exclusive rights in relation to the subject matter of the IP.

• These exclusive rights may be potentially commercially valuable and therefore:

– Can generate research income.

– Provide the most efficient mechanism to transfer research results to our stakeholders and the community.

– Enhance the impact of publications.

What is it and why does it matter?

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What IP is the University interested in?

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

• Copyright refers to exclusive rights re the copying of the exact expression (recording) of ideas (not the ideas themselves).

• The Copyright in your thesis or related original work (e.g. a film, script, artwork) belongs to you.

• For commercial purposes the University is interested primarily (but not exclusively) in patents because they offer the most effective protection of the ideas themselves.

• Patenting a particular concept, device or technique does not mean you are restricted from using the knowledge and skills gained in your degree studies in your later career (it may mean that commercial exploitation of the IP is restricted, however).

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Why is the University interested in IP?

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

• Under the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research the University is legally required to exploit the results of publicly funded research for the benefit of Australia.

• The approach facilitates benefits for the inventors, the institution and the Australian and international community.

• An individual’s experience in IP protection and commercialisation adds significantly to employability in many fields.

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Research students and IP

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

• To protect the interests of its students and its stakeholders, MQ requests HDR students to assign to the University at time of enrolment any protectable (registrable) IP they might develop, or share in developing, in the course of their HDR candidature.

• If you have concerns about the IP assignment agreement, you should discuss these with officers and/or Director of the Higher Degree Research Office or the Dean HDR.

• It is important that you do not feel under duress or undue influence in making the assignment.

• You can request a waiver of the assignment.

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What do you get from assigning IP to the uni?

OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

• In exchange for assigning your IP to the University you receive the same rights as staff of the University.

• These rights include a share of any financial benefits derived from commercial exploitation of the IP – typically 50% of net financial returns.

• The University has the resources and access to expertise necessary to (a) protect IP, and (b) determine its commercial potential.

• If the University decides not to proceed with protecting and commercialising the IP, the rights may be assigned back to the inventors.