2013 Early Career Researcher (ECR) Grant Scheme Alice Boland 13 th June th July 2012

2 Overview Aims of the ECR grant program Changes from previous round Important dates / Assessment process Eligibility criteria The application form – key questions incl. the budget Brief on the Project Proposal Themis submissions

3 Aims of the ECR Grant Scheme Support early career researchers who demonstrate clear evidence of high research potential to progress their research careers, by funding on a competitive basis high quality research projects and pilot research projects Encourage research by new members of staff seeking to establish their program of research at the University of Melbourne. Enhance the staff member’s competitiveness in bidding for external research funds Familiarise new researchers with the application processes involved with applying for competitive grants

4 Changes from last round Eligibility extended to those who have an honorary appointment in one of the following Medical Research Institute based Departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences:  Florey Department of Neuroscience  MHRI Department of Neuroscience in Mental Health  Medical Bionics Department Applicants will not normally have held an external grant listed on the Australian Competitive Grant Register (ACGR) as a named participant (Chief Investigator or a Fellow) in the application. However, those applicants who have held a Fellowship as a named CI where the awarded grant was funded salary only (ie no other research costs funded, eg, ARC Super Science Fellowships) are eligible. For most Faculties, draft applications no longer required.

5 Important Dates Key DatesSubmission Date – All other faculties Faculty of Engineering MDHS, Business and Economics and Science Submission Dates For all Faculties Applications OPEN: Monday 2 nd July 2012 Academics from Engineering submit soft copies to Eileen Doufas Shea to review NA3 August 2012 NA Academics submit final applications and lodge in Themis Submissions. 17 th August th August rd August 2012 Faculties submit ranking spreadsheet to MRO 31st August 2012

6 Important Dates For applicants from MDHS, Business and Economics and Science On the 3 rd of August: Submit a FINAL copy of the application to your Faculty Administrator. –MDHS : submissions to Michelle Ward, by –BusEc: hard copy AND submissions to Jen Decolongon, –Science: submissions to Sharon Maybir, by Lodge your application in Themis submissions including sign off by the HOD (some Faculties also require HOD signature in the application form, please check with your individual Faculty Administrator for details.) For applicants from the Faculty of Engineering On the 3rd of August: submit soft copies to Eileen Doufas Shea to review (no signature required at this stage); then On 24 th August 2012, lodge your application in Themis submissions including Themis sign off by the HOD

7 Important Dates Applicants from all other Faculties On the 17 th of August : Lodgment of FINAL applications to Faculty Administrator Enter you final application in Themis submissions Ensure your HOD is able to approve your application in Themis submissions. (Some Faculties also require HOD signature in the application form, please check with your individual Faculty Administrator for details.)

8 Important Dates: All Faculties Wednesday 31 st August Faculties will provide ranking and funding amounts to Melbourne Research September/October Central Committee meet to make the final funding decision, based on faculty rankings October/November Successful applicants will be notified and Acceptance documents will be sent out. October/November Acceptance paper work returned to the Research Office January 2013 Funds made available to successful applicants

9 Clarification of the Eligibility Criteria As at the 1 st January 2013, applicants must: –be within the first five (5) years of an academic appointment –not normally have held an external Australian Competitive Grant as a named Chief Investigator (although some applicants with funded salary only may be eligible) –be PhD-qualified –be an employee of the University of Melbourne (minimum 0.5 FTE) or hold an honorary appointment in one of the following Medical Research Institute based Departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences:  Florey Department of Neuroscience  MHRI Department of Neuroscience in Mental Health  Medical Bionics Department

10 Clarification of the Eligibility Criteria (cont.) Salaried appointments must be held for the duration of the project. Apart from those with honorary appointments at the MDHS departments listed above, Honorary staff are not eligible Funding is not available for those funding their own postgraduate studies

11 Completing the Application Form On our website you will find the following information to assist you: Funding Guidelines Instructions to Applicants Sample Application Form Australian Competitive Grants Register List of ECR Faculty Administrators Themis Submissions Instructions Frequently Asked Questions

12 Completing the Application Form Question 1 - Project title 10 words maximum; memorable and readily understood Question 2 - Project Summary Maximum 150 words; interesting; gathers the reader in; brief yet including the aims, expected outcome and significance

13 Completing the Application Form Question 3 - Future Funding Plan In 150 words maximum, explain how the project will contribute to your career development and enhance your competitiveness in securing future external research funding. Tips for completing Question 3 - Future funding plan Demonstrate how the ECR funding will help you to gain future funding and improve your track record by leading to publication(s) Mention if you are using this grant to form the basis of a project proposal which you intend to submit to the ARC/ NHMRC if you intend to present your work at national/international forums If applicable, mention if it will lead to collaborations

14 Completing the Application Form Question 4 - The budget $25,000 maximum for humanities $40,000 maximum for engineering and science Grants below $5000 will not be awarded Main points to remember when completing the budget : Only items that you are requesting to be funded from the ECR grant should be listed and must EXCLUSIVE OF GST. Publication costs and student fees are not to be requested Requests must be listed under the specific subheadings and justified in Section 4 of the proposal

15 Completing the Application Form Question 4 - The budget continued: Personnel: CI’s salaries are NOT funded RA’s, admin support and technical staff can be requested When including staff on this project it is important to include on-costs, which cover Super, payroll tax, work cover, leave loading, etc.

16 Completing the Application Form Question 4 - The budget continued: Teaching Relief: For teaching relief and other duties (each department has different rates) you need to speak with your Departmental Manager to determine the correct rate specific to you. Approval from the Head of Department is required. Equipment: Only essential equipment that is not available to you should be requested and strongly justified. All equipment costs should be based on a quote however it is NOT necessary to include the quote.

17 Completing the Application Form Question 4 - The budget continued: Maintenance: group your consumables under one heading. Estimated prices at the time of submission will suffice Travel: Travel costs may be requested for fieldwork, to visit libraries or the use of Laboratory facilities nationally or internationally. You will need to break down the cost of travel into each component

18 Completing the Application Form Question 4 - The budget continued: Other Any other item that does not fit in the previous headings. For example you can account for the hiring of external services such as translators, group facilitators, etc.

19 Completing the Application Form Question 5 - Project Proposal: It is recommended that you have your supervisor or mentors look over this section and provide feedback The proposal is broken into 5 subheadings. In the Instructions to Applicants you will find descriptions of each section. Section 4 “Justification” - Why is the budget item necessary and how will it benefit your project? The proposal is to be no more than 3 pages in length plus one page for references

20 Completing the Application Form Question 6.0 Supporting documentation: Publications (2007 – Present, Refereed Only) In press articles can be listed so long as acceptance dates (month/ year) are included Publications should be listed under the subheadings indicated in the Instructions to Applicants The category ‘Other Publications’ should only contain references that are scholarly, publically available and that can be critically reviewed (newspaper articles, etc.) Q6.1, Q6.2 and Q6.3 are all situation based and do not apply to everyone Q6.4 has been added for MDHS and Science Faculty applicants to include their CV

21 Completing the Application Form Q6.1- Research only staff must include an explanation on how they will be able to work on the project and manage their workload. Q6.2- If you are not within your first 5 years of employment at the University of Melbourne and still wish to apply you will need to submit a statement for eligibility exemption. Q6.3 – Researchers who DO NOT currently hold an appointment until 31 December 2013 must include a letter from the HOD supporting their application. Q6.4 – For MDHS and Science Faculty applicants, CVs must also be provided

22 Themis Submissions Once you have completed the final version of your application form you should lodge it on Themis Submissions. DO NOT submit any draft application to Themis (e.g. incomplete)

23 Faculty-Specific Information and Requirements for MDHS Application requirements for MDHS applicants MDHS submission guidelines will be available on 13th June Please refer to the MDHS website: internal-grant-funding Mentoring Applicants are encouraged to make use of the faculty-based mentoring of their application for content and strategy, please contact Marjorie Dunlop ( On 3rd August 2012 Electronic submission in Themis (including Themis sign off by Head of Department/ School) submission to Michelle Ward Faculty Research Unit contact for Eligibility and Faculty Process: Michelle Ward, Senior Research Development Officer, phone: ,

24 By noon 3 rd August 2012 Applicants from the Faculty of Science are required to supply an e-copy only of their application to their Faculty Administrator and a CV, no more than 3 single spaced pages using a font that is at least 12 point. The CV needs to include all grants received to date, and the applicant's current and past positions held. The application (signed by HOD) and CV must be submitted as 1 pdf and ed to Electronic submission in Themis (including Themis sign off by Head of Department/ School) Contact for Eligibility and Faculty Process: Sharon Maybir, phone: , science- Faculty-Specific Information and Requirements for Science

25 Reminder of Submission Dates Key DatesSubmission Date – All other faculties Faculty of Engineering MDHS, Business and Economics and Science Submission Dates For all Faculties Applications OPEN: Monday 2 nd July 2012 Academics from Engineering submit soft copies to Eileen Doufas Shea to review NA3 August 2012 NA Academics submit final applications and lodge in Themis Submissions. 17 th August th August rd August 2012 Faculties submit ranking spreadsheet to MRO 31st August 2012

26 Questions and comments ECR Scheme webpage chemes/uom/ecr