Funding Your Research With Faculty Money John Piggott 19 September 2003

Overview The Faculty funds two schemes each year: Faculty Research Grant Program (FRGP)   Modest cost research as a prelude to larger external funding   Close 7 October 2003 Special Research Grants (SRG)   For small scale projects and for staff relatively new to academia   Close 31 October 2003

Funding your research Both schemes are primarily for early career researchers who are expected to have a continuing role in Faculty (especially academics level A to C) View both schemes as building blocks for gaining external funding down the track Academics level D and E will only be considered for funding in exceptional circumstances (eg., career interruption, change in research stream).

FRGP Overview Up to $20,000 pa One round per year Average worth of grant is $12,000 - $15,000 Success rate approx 50% 6-8 awarded each year Minimum budget for 2004 is $50,086, maximum total allocation will be approx $100,000 Up to three years but almost always for 12 months UG and PG students may be listed as AIs.

SRG Overview Up to $5000 for 12 months Two rounds per year Average worth is $ $5000 Success rate approx 60% 14 – 16 awarded each year No minimum budget, total funding is around $80,000 per year.

The research project The basic idea   Model development   New data set   Methodological innovation/building block   Unresearched issue   Topical issue.

The general application strategy In terms of both FRGPs and SRGs:   Go it alone or,   Decide on a research team This decision will depend on:   The scale of the project   Your track record   The track record of the potential team member   If partner is external to FCE, matching funding from partner organisation must be available.

Some possible approaches Go it alone:   The majority of applications are from sole investigators. This will work if: you have some experience in the area in which you are researching you are an early career researcher (within 5 years of your doctorate) you are in the process of establishing a good track record relative to career opportunity.

Some possible approaches Go with a colleague/senior FCE researcher/mentor:   This can work if: the partner has a successful record of grant application the partner’s involvement makes sense in terms of the integrity of the project.

The FRGP application strategy What’s important in an FRGP application? Background Significance and innovation Approach Expected outcomes Description of personnel References Budget justification

The SRG application strategy What’s important in a SRG application? Aim Significance Methodology and research plan Relationship to previous research Project budget Category of grant –developmental, mentored and general – bearing in mind associated outcomes:   Developmental – structured database and/or a working paper   Mentored – a publication in a recognised outlet (the role of the mentor is to guide the research to this outcome)   General – a publication in a recognised outlet and/or a successful larger research grant application

What to ask for Physical resources (software, databases) Casual research assistance Travel for data collection/peer consultation (inbound and outbound) Translation costs In the case of FRGPs, scholarships or partial funding for higher degree research students. Students should not be listed as CIs or AIs if receiving scholarship funding NB: If requesting software, applicants must log request with TSG prior to submitting application as Faculty may already have site licence.

What not to ask for Teaching relief Conference travel Budget items that academic units should reasonably supply (eg., computer hardware) Salaries for CIs or AIs Journal submission fees.

What to do next For FRGPs, download guidelines, application forms and instructions from the UNSW Research Office ( click on Funding > Internal Schemes) For SRGs, download the policy and application form from the Faculty Research Office ( Look at previous successes (held by the FCE Research Office) to see if one fits your model.

What to do next Write something up   Show it to your HOS, or the Postgraduate Research Coordinator in your school   FRGPs are due 7 October 2003   SRGs due 31 October 2003   You can apply for both schemes at once but projects must be distinctly different. You should note in your SRG how that project differs from the FRGP.

Some hints on writing up DO:   Write clearly and concisely Sections should be written for intelligent academics who are non-specialists in your field - motivation, demonstrating how the project will contribute to knowledge, and where it fits in the broader picture will help   Document clearly your contribution to the field so far, and those of others   Justify and explain the budget details   Estimate your RA expenses as accurately as possible. Use HR rates for casual general staff (rather than ARC rates).

Some hints on writing up   Make sure the application looks professional and well thought out - reflect on how you react to well presented and badly presented essays   Be realistic with expected outcomes and in relation to SRGs, keep in mind the outcomes associated with the category to which you are applying.   Be realistic as to what an RA can achieve in the specified timeframe.

Some hints on writing up DON’T:   Use overly technical jargon   Dismiss with contempt alternative approaches to the issue you plan to research   Leave it all until the day before. It is obvious when an application has been hastily prepared.   Generalise what you propose to accomplish and how – be specific.

Assessment Weightings The primary assessment criteria for FRGPs are: Investigator(s) (40%) Project content(60%) There are no prescriptive weightings for SRGs.

Assessment Committee Members of the Assessment Committee   One rep from each school plus ADR and Presiding Member   Same members for both FRGP and SRG Allocation of Assessors to each application   Two per application Assessment reports by assessors   Tabled to the Committee at the assessment meeting   General discussion by entire committee   Applications are ranked and budgets allocated.

FRGP Assessment Criteria The FRGP Committee addresses the following:   Is the proposed research original and innovative?   Is the project soundly based in concept and planning?   Is the project feasible, bearing in mind the expertise of the applicants and the available time and infrastructure?   Is the budget justified and appropriate?

SRG Assessment Criteria The SRG Committee addresses the following:   A clear delineation of and justification for resource support   Provision of information in relation to project methodology and argument as to the reasonableness and efficacy of the processes posited   A clear specification of the expected outcome, relative to the category of grant under which the applicant has applied

SRG Assessment Criteria cont.   A detailed statement (including budget) of how the applicant would propose to achieve the specified outcome   Argument supporting the relevance of the outcome to the wider literature and to the discipline   In the case of Mentored Grants, a clear delineation of the roles that both researchers would play in terms of the specified outcome.

Final notes Unsuccessful Discovery Projects may be considered for FRGP funding Unsuccessful FRGPs may be considered for SRG funding. If so, investigators may be asked to submit a scaled down version for SRG funding Budget constraints may preclude the award of both an FRG and SRG to the same applicant in the same round Don’t assume that Faculty grants are easy to win – they are competitive Ethics clearance only if grant awarded.