Australian Government CRC Project (CRC-P) grants opened on Thursday 8 February. These grants target short-term industry-led collaborative research projects that will develop products, services or processes to deliver tangible outcomes and commercial benefits to participants and their industry sectors.

Grants of up to $3 million are on offer for businesses, industries and research organisations to work together to develop practical solutions to challenges in industry.

Applications to the fifth CRC-P round close in March, with funding outcomes expected to be announced in June 2018.

Mary Lyons, Senior Grants Officer, is Flinders’ Research Development and Support contact for all CRC-P related enquiries and applications.

Information related to CRC-P grants and details of previous recipients are available at www.business.gov.au/crc-p.

Does your innovation have the potential to change our future? Is it making a difference to your community? For the past 25 years, the iAwards has unearthed, recognised and rewarded excellence in Australian innovation that is making a difference and has the potential to create positive change for the community – whether it be at home, in the office and on a global scale.

iAwards submissions are accepted from innovators across the whole Australian economy, whether you are an individual, a group, a government or private organisation or a student. Entries close 8 March 2018 for all except the student awards which close on 3 April 2018. Postgraduate Tertiary students should nominate in the main iAwards Organisation Categories (the 8 March 2018 closing date).

Entries are judged on a state level, where iAwards winners and merit recipients at the state level proceed to become National Finalists, competing at the pinnacle event of the iAwards calendar: the National iAwards. View the judging process here. Further information on the categories and the application process is available at the iAwards webpage. Please read the Terms and Conditions as there are entry fees associated with entering these awards, except for the students section.

Applications for the Australia China Young Scientists Exchange Program (YSEP) opened on Monday 5 February. YSEP is a joint governmental initiative funded by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). It is supported by the Australia-China Science and Research Fund.

Up to 16 Australian researchers will be selected and funded to undertake a two-week tailored program of visits in China, from 28 October - 9 November 2018. A maximum of three applications per institution are allowed. Mary Lyons is coordinating the applications from Flinders.

YSEP funds an annual exchange of Australian and Chinese early to mid-career researchers in the fields of science, technology and medicine. It is open to researchers in academia / research institutes and to researchers in business / industry.

The program aims to:

• Increase early to mid-career Australian and Chinese researchers understanding of the cultures, particularly the science and research practices and systems, of the two countries
• Develop the researchers’ leadership skills as future ‘science ambassadors’ for Australia and China
• Provide a catalyst for long-tem, sustainable Australia-China research collaboration

YSEP also provides participants with exposure to higher order issues outside their scientific/technical specialty, including science and technology policy and best practice research management. Participants’ travel, accommodation and associated living costs will be covered by the program.

Contact Mary Lyons for more details, including the guidelines, application form, and closing date for Flinders applications.

Applications for the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) 2018 Seeding Grants Program are now open. These grants are for new researchers working on new or established research projects. The internal closing date is Wednesday 7 March 2018.

There are a total of three Seeding Grants available, with a maximum amount of $12,000 for each.  Application forms and guidelines are now available on the APA website.

The purpose of the Seeding Grants is to help new researchers begin a research career. Applications are considered predominantly on the basis of scientific merit, rather than the applicant’s research record. Inexperienced researchers are advised that collaboration with an associate investigator who has current experience in the relevant research area will enhance the likelihood of a project receiving funding.

Please note that Seeding Grants are highly competitive. In 2017, three were awarded representing a success rate of approximately 9%. The successful applicants had on average one publication in peer reviewed journals at the time of the grant submission and one conference presentation.

The Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) and an anonymous donor are providing an Honours or Masters level student scholarship in the field of applied forest conservation science.

The scholarship supports a student conducting research into issues important to the management and sustainability of forests. Projects commencing in either first or second semester 2018 will be considered.

The scholarship amount is $3,500, of which $2,000 is to fund research costs and up to $1,500 is to cover travel, registration and accommodation costs for the successful applicant to attend the ESA annual conference to present the findings of their research. Applicants for this scholarship must fill in an application form and provide a brief (2 pages max.) description of their project and how it contributes to the sustainability of forest ecosystems. Applications close 28 February 2018. Please contact the Scholarships Office for further information on how to apply as a Flinders student.

The award covers terrestrial and freshwater ecology, and is open to both field and lab based work. Projects which include social or economic components are welcome. Preference will be given to projects addressing conservation of broad suites of species or ecosystem processes rather than studies of single focal species.

Further information on the application requirements and the online application are available at the ESA website.

Applicants must be:

• accepted into an honours or masters research program at an Australian University. A research project must constitute at least 30% of that program,
• working on a project that relates to an Australian forest conservation issue,
• able to attend the 2018 ESA Annual conference, and
• a member of the Ecological Society of Australia.

The Australian Government’s Global Connections Fund and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) next round of Priming Grants are now open. Priming Grants offer total funding of $7,000 AUD per applicant to eligible Australian small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and researcher partnerships for activities preparing cooperative, international R&D projects or facilitating technology solutions. The Global Connections Fund encourage translational activities, end use development and commercialisation outcomes in 17 priority economies.

The Priming Grants Expressions of Interest is open from 5 February until 19 February 2018 at 5:00 PM (AEDT). Priming Grants are intended to stimulate the formation of joint Australian-Partner research and innovation by reducing the financial risk on both sides to enter into a collaboration proposal. Your proposed partner should not be part of an existing research or commercial relationship but a new opportunity you are seeking to explore.

The grants will support Australian SMEs and researchers to:

• enable initial exploratory partner meetings to take place
• undertake consortium meetings (travel-related costs), assistance with minor project expenses; and /or costs associated with establishing formal relationships (legal agreements) or funding applications for joint activities.
• support potential SME-researcher partnerships in exploring the viability of an intended research and development (R&D) collaboration or technology solution
• explore avenues for follow-on project seed‑funding

All information concerning the Priming Grants and the application process is available on the Global Connections Fund website.

The CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform (SynBioFSP) is pleased to announce the opening of the second round of CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellowships.

The scheme aims to attract outstanding national and international early-career post-doctoral researchers (equivalent to Australian Academic Levels A and B, or in exceptional circumstances, Level C) to expand Australian research capacity in synthetic biology.

A key element of the SynBio FSP is establishment of a collaborative community of practice extending across CSIRO and Australia more broadly, and linking into international efforts in the field. Research projects must demonstrate an ability to build Australian capacity in synthetic biology.

Fellowships will be hosted at a Host Organisation (usually an Australian University, but other Australian research organisations may also be eligible) and will be a partnership between the Fellow, CSIRO, and the Host Organisation. Fellows will be employed by the Host Organisation but will maintain a strong linkage to CSIRO through a partnering CSIRO Mentor(s) and various joint activities designed to support development of a synthetic biology community of practice across Australia.

Fellows will have a Visiting Scientist appointment at CSIRO and may spend a portion of time physically located within a CSIRO research group if appropriate for the Fellowship project.

The SynBio FSP is built on a philosophy of responsible development of synthetic biology technology, striving for ethical outcomes and working within the bounds of social acceptance. Project proposals in the social sciences, as well as in lab-based research, are encouraged.

Important Dates

Applications open: 10 January 2018

Applications close: 5 March 2018 – 5 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Further information and application instructions for the Fellowships are available here.

Further enquiries can be directed to: SynBioFSP@csiro.au. CSIRO strongly encourages women, people of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and other minority groups to apply.

Applications for the 2018 round of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) PhD Top-up Scholarships and the Travel Grants are now open.

The PhD Top-up Scholarship is worth up to $6000 per year to support full-time or part-time Australian PhD students pursuing research relevant to JDRF's mission - to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. JDRF also provides grants of up to $2,000 for domestic travel, and up to $4,000 for international travel to early stage scientists, and allied health/nursing professionals. The awards are designed to provide funding for travel to research institutions or scientific meetings, for the purpose of furthering the recipient’s expertise in type 1 diabetes research or management.

JDRF PhD Top-Up Scholarships

Applicants must be:

• Recipient of a Research Training Program Stipend, NHMRC Postgraduate Award or a University-funded PhD Scholarship
• Not in receipt of any other PhD top-up funding
• Pursuing research relevant to type 1 diabetes and its complications
• Australian citizens or permanent residents currently residing in Australia

Applications must be submitted by 5pm AEDT Wednesday, 28 February 2018.

Visit this page for more information and application forms. Should you have any questions please email travelgrants@jdrf.org.au or call 02 9020 6139.

JDRF Travel Grants

Two categories of Travel Grants are available:

Early Stage Scientist Travel Grants for medical and science graduates who are undertaking type 1 diabetes research, and researchers in the early stage of their career (PhD students or not more than 5 years post-doctoral as of the current Travel Grant round deadline).

Allied Health and Nursing Travel Grants for allied health or nursing professionals or students, enrolled in a post graduate research program, whose research will impact on the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and their carers and families.

Applicants must be:

• Currently working at an Australian institution;
• Australian citizens or permanent/temporary residents currently residing in Australia.

Applicants must also be:

• Engaged with Australian diabetes research for more than 12 months; however if this does not apply, contact Dr Julia Warning on 02 9020 6105 to discuss possible eligibility.

JDRF Travel Grants will be reviewed in two rounds in 2018. Cut-off for consideration in the current round of JDRF Travel Grants is approaching.

Applications must be submitted by 5pm AEDT Wednesday, 28 February 2018. Remember that applications through Research Development and Support must be submitted 10 working days prior for review and submission.

Visit this page for more information and application forms. Should you have any questions please email travelgrants@jdrf.org.au or call 02 9020 6139.

Research Development and Support has partnered with the Business Improvement team to create a simplified process for research project certification. This has built on an extensive process of consultation with researchers, research leaders and research support staff. A fully digital certification detail and sign off process has been developed to replace the former paper/pdf process.

A pilot commenced Monday, 5 February with the colleges of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Nursing and Health Sciences. Feedback and observations from this pilot will feed into the implementation of a fully automated research management system planned for later in 2018. Researchers from outside of these colleges are to continue using the current certification form.

Key benefits of the new process include:

• Consistent and automated workflow eliminating physical signatures – no more pushing and chasing forms from one desk to another!
• Simple online, mobile friendly form gathering the right amount of information
• Visibility to track the request status 
• Information provided to the right people at the right time
• Improved reporting and governance

If you are a member of a college participating in the pilot, here’s what you need to know:

• All research project certification requests will made using the new online form found in the ‘actions’ tab of your Flinders Pro page.
• Other non-research certifications will continue to be via the current process
• This will initiate the online sign off process by your respective Dean of Research or Vice-President/Executive Dean and ensure the request initiator can view the progress of the request at any time​
• Notifications will be sent to co-applicants and their Dean (Research) & Dean (People and Resources)​

Support information is available online and via your College Research Support lead:

HASS – Narmon Tulsi  - narmon.tulsi@flinders.edu.au

NHS – Kay Govin  - kay.govin@flinders.edu.au

S&E – Kylie Sappiatzer  - cse.research@flinders.edu.au

A user guide is available here

Overall the new approval workflow is:​

We aim for the new research certification process to be a big step forward in reducing paperwork and time spent chasing approvals. As a pilot of new processes always reveals new learnings and improvements your participation is much appreciated and your feedback is welcome. Feedback is to be sent to your relevant college contact listed above. If you are not in these colleges, please contact tom.symonds@flinders.edu.au.

Interested parties are invited to submit an application to the Inspiring South Australia program at the SA Museum for funding to develop & perform a Perform your Science project during National Science Week 2018. Perform your Science is an opportunity for PhD students and early career researchers to tell their science research stories through the arts, to bring their science to life through live performance and to awaken the artist within!

The project will culminate in a series of live performances suitable for a general community audience to be held in an Adelaide theatre venue during National Science Week in August 2018. Inspiring South Australia is inviting applications from PhD students who are in their third year of study through to early career researchers (post-conferral of up to five years) based in South Australian universities, research institutes or industry.

Expressions of interest close on 23 February 2018. Successful applicants will then be invited to make a more detailed Application. Please read the letter of invitation and guidelines before submission, available here. Flinders is offering support for the development of Flinders' applicant entries. Contact Dr Marina Delpin.

Each live performance should be of up to five minutes in duration. It may include any one or a combination of the following:

• Dance
• Music
• Theatre
• Puppetry
• Circus
  
• Other performance art forms

Ten grants of up to $2,000 each will be available to selected applicants to assist with performance development costs.

Perform your Science encourages collaboration. Applicants are urged to seek scientific and/or artistic collaborations and engage with partners to bring as much creativity to the project as possible. Applicants should take a lead role in the project. This may include direction, production, on-stage performance etc.

While this is first and foremost a story-telling project designed to elicit creative ways of telling the stories of local science and research, there will be a competitive element and the winning performance will be judged by an expert panel including science and arts specialists. There will also be a People’s Choice Award. Awards will consist of prizes of $2,000 to the Winner and $1,000 to both the Runner Up and to the Winner of the People’s Choice Award.

The Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) Adelaide Briefing on Medical Countermeasures will be held on Friday 9 February 2018. Medical Countermeasures is an exciting program for DMTC, building on extensive research already undertaken by our government, industry and research partners. The program aims to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics against chemical, biological and radiological threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.

Participating in the briefing will deepen your understanding of the Medical Countermeasures Program and of the guidelines and timeframes for applications under Round 3. Click here for more information.

Adelaide's Briefing Session

Date: Friday 9 February

Time: 09:30 am - 10:30 am

Location: The University of Adelaide, Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences Building North Terrace, Room 6052a/b (level 6).

Morning tea will be provided. Please RSVP no later than Wednesday 7 February to Lisa Paddick.

The Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group) are inviting  interested defence personnel, defence industry participants and academics from the 32 Australian Universities that are party to the Defence Science Partnering Deed to participate in a half day workshop to contribute to the development of the long term capability and capacity building research plan for the ‘Research Network for Undersea Decision Superiority’ (the Network).

Invitees will gain an understanding of the exciting long term research opportunities available in defence and to help frame the research capability-building agenda for the new national, collaborative Network.

Defence Science and Technology Group, as part of the Future Submarine Program Science and Technology Plan, is seeking to establish a long term research initiative to build world class research capabilities and capacities in Australian partner universities and leverage the significant skills, expertise, networks and infrastructure of Australia’s research base for sovereign benefit.

This initiative, the Network, focuses on the human element and will provide a mechanism to fund and oversee research projects that lead to improved decision making in the context of military operations in future submarines. Enabling submariners to make the best decisions possible in a low information environment has been identified as an area of focus for research for improving future capability.

As part of the process of setting up this Network, a research capability and capacity building exercise is being undertaken to facilitate the establishment of a consensus on long term needs and opportunities, as well as clear outcomes to guide the investment of resources. Information sessions on the Network, followed by formal facilitated workshops will be undertaken in February 2018 around the country to establish research themes leading to the desired capability.

The Adelaide workshop will be held on Tuesday 13 February 2018, 8:45 am – 1:00 pm (followed by lunch and networking until 2:00pm), in the Horace Lamb Room 422 (accessed via Hub Central), University of Adelaide. Registration is available via the Eventbrite website by 11 February 2018.

A wide range of scientific disciplines have the ability to contribute to providing solutions, ranging from exercise physiologists, ergonomists, workplace psychologists, nutritionists and biomedical scientists to integration engineers, human factors researchers and others.

Please forward this invitation to other interested academic or defence personnel however, attendance is limited so please ensure you register using the Eventbrite website.

Please contact the Network Project Director, Sharon Humphris, (Sharon.Humphris@curtin.edu.au) if you have any questions.

The Trustees of the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation are pleased to announce two classes of research grants to be awarded in 2018 and commencing in 2019.

Bellberry is delighted to announce a collaboration with the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, which will increase the number of available Research Fellowships from two to three.

The Viertel Foundation was established to benefit organisations or institutions involved in medical research into diseases, and the alleviation of hardship of the aged and the sick. The closing date for both awards is 30 April 2018.

Bellberry is a private, independent Not-For-Profit organisation founded with the dual aims of protecting the welfare of human research participants and improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of research in Australia.

Senior Medical Research Fellowship and the Bellberry-Viertel Fellowship

The Senior Medical Research Fellowship and the Bellberry-Viertel Fellowship are intended to be amongst the most prestigious awards available to those who wish to continue a career in medical research in Australia. The Fellowship is an integral part of a scheme that is intended to provide both salary and project grant support for outstanding Australian medical researchers. Three Fellowships are available, each for five years tenure at $250,000 p.a. for a researcher from any discipline in medical science to be awarded in 2018 and commencing in 2019.

Viertel Clinical Investigator awards

$85,000 is available for a clinical researcher who has recently completed their clinical and research training and are commencing their first substantive appointment (appointment of 5 years or more) clinical position, or have been in such a post for no more than 24 months on 30 April. Up to five awards available this year.

Only Australian nationals or permanent residents are eligible for these awards.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and application forms is available from The Viertel Charitable Foundation website, or email: charities@eqt.com.au.

Are you a researcher who realises the importance of sharing your research with a wider audience? Maybe you've seen your field of science misrepresented or badly reported in the news. Would you like to be heard when your field of expertise hits the news? Scimex enables researchers to communicate science to the public through the media and is free for experts.

Since it's launch in 2015, Scimex has enabled researchers and journalists to collaborate on effectively communicating research science to a variety of audiences. "SciMex provides a direct link to journalists," said Annie Hastwell, Journalist at the Australian Science Media Centre. "More than 1500 national and international journalists use this database as their first point of call to find scientific experts for media interview and comment."

Registering for Scimex is easy, and for those already registered now is the time to update your profile, ready for a new year of amazing discoveries and stories to tell. "Being registered significantly increases your chance to comment on breaking news and be quoted in the media," said Annie. "When research experts sign up to our database, we will reach out to them whenever their field of expertise is in the news to ask them to provide comment for Expert Reactions. We monitor the coverage these comments receive and keep the researchers informed."

Scimex has an easy to follow registration process where you create your own expert profile listing, and you can promote your research to journalists and add events to the Scimex event listing. Below is an example of an Expert Profile, courtesy of Scimex.

The Flinders Media Officer contact is Tania Bawden, Journalist (Research) Office of Communication and Engagement. Tania can also be contacted via mobile on 0434 101 516. Karen Ashford, Director - Media and Communications in the Office of Communication and Engagement, can also be contacted for assistance and advice in media training (M: 0427 398 713).

Where to go if you are contacted by the media?

The Office of Communication and Engagement at Flinders offers media training in group and one-on-one sessions. Contact the Office of Communication and Engagement as your first point of call if you have been contacted by the media.

Other handy media links

The Conversation has experienced journalists and editors who can provide assistance and advice to those wanting to start out or improve their writing communication skills in respect to print media. Flinders is a supporter of The Conversation and encourages our academics to get involved.

The Media Centre for Education Research Australia (MCERA) assists in improving the quality of research-informed education reporting.

Science Media Savvy provides some excellent top tips for researchers.

Applications are now open for the 2018 Building Research Leaders Program - a strategy to support the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes required to become a research leader. This program is targeted at researchers who are 5+ years post-PhD and consists of six face-to-face sessions, run from March to October.

In 2018 ECRs will meet with their Dean (Research) to discuss and develop their application, which includes aims, goals and a plan to implement learnings into everyday practice. This approach is intended to encourage holistic, achievable, supported research career planning and development for each program participant.

The application form can be downloaded from the Building Research Leaders program webpage.

Please contact Marina Delpin, Program Manager: Researcher Professional Development, if you have any queries.

Building Research Leaders Program 2018 flyer

Science Pathways is Australia’s premier conference for career development for Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR). In 2018 Diversify your thinking will offer an interactive program focusing on: how to achieve equity in STEM; how to access to funding from non-traditional sources; and key considerations for interdisciplinary research. This meeting aims to engage Australia's EMCRs, across all disciplines and from around the country in active discussion. The EMCR Forum wants to learn more about the specific challenges researchers face and, with them, devise some possible solutions—both aspirational and practical.

The EMCR Forum’s fifth national meeting, Science Pathways 2018: Diversify your Thinking, will be held in Brisbane at the Mercure Hotel on 23 - 24 April 2018. Early bird registrations are available now.

The EMCR Forum is committed to supporting equity, diversity and inclusion. They are offering two programs to support attendance:

• Theo Murphy Grants cover all the main cost of attendance including registration, accommodation and travel.
• Carer Grants offer a small sum to offset the increased costs associated with caring that may result from attendance.

Read more about these schemes and apply by 25 February.

Do you want financial support for short or long-term stays in Dresden for scientific, professional and cultural exchange with Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden)? Are you an academic working in diabetes or depression research projects? Or are you a professional staff member who will provide support to promote collaborative partnerships and/or joint projects between TU Dresden and Flinders? If you are any of these, support is now available through the Scientific and Administrative Staff Mobility 2018 program.

Over the past five years, Flinders and TU Dresden have conducted leading-edge international health and medical research, promoted staff and student mobility exchanges, and health professional education opportunities. This, and other collaborative engagement partnerships with TU Dresden, has now led to the creation of the Scientific and Administrative Staff Mobility 2018 program. Applications for the program close 16 February 2018.

Funding is available for €89 per day for up to 22 days, or €2,000 per month to cover living expenses plus €1,200 once for travel costs. Applications are sought for:

• The development of new or continuation of ongoing projects in the field of diabetes or depression
• Preparation of applications for third-­‐party funds for joint projects
• Initiation of joint projects within the partnership, e.g. in research support, fundraising, student & staff exchange, etc.
• Professional and cultural exchange on administrative level, e.g.via job shadowing

Applications are to be submitted, with the following documents, via email to Mr Felix Klee, Department for Development and International Affairs, Carl Gustav Carus School of Medicine at TU Dresden, felix.klee@tu-­dresden.de:

• Letter of motivation/project outline (short description of your current position, proposed outcomes, expected benefit from the stay, proposed schedule for the planned stay, previous connections to TU Dresden);
• Declaration of consent signed by your manager; and, if possible,
  
• Letter of invitation of the corresponding partner at TU Dresden

Support Documentation

Staff Mobility 2018 program overview

Professional Staff project suggestions for Staff Mobility 2018 program

TU Dresden contacts overview

Queries or assistance with the application submission for the program can be sought at Flinders from Dr Stephanie Agius, Research Development Coordinator, Research Development and Support. Stephanie can be contacted by email: stephanie.agius@flinders.edu.au, phone: extn 2505 or mobile: 0432 973 853.