ienrol research lists all training and development opportunities related to developing skills core to the research process and doing research at Flinders University. You can book to attend workshops, information sessions, and/or seminars that aim to facilitate the ongoing development of all researchers.

This regular posting in Inspiring Research will update you as to what’s on offer in the coming weeks, listing current opportunities that you can participate in and book into now.

Click on the links below to view the course details.

Drop-In Sessions: Social and Behavioural Research Ethics, Thursday, 18 April 2019

Keeping up to date - current methodology for setting up and managing alerts and digital notifications, Thursday, 18 April 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Tuesday, 23 April 2019

Drop-In Sessions: NHMRC grants, Wednesday, 24 April 2019

Are you ready? Benchmarking your career, Wednesday, 1 May 2019

Further courses scheduled for later in the month and beyond are available at ienrol research.

Research training and development in the week of 6 May will focus on key programs funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC). Join us at workshops that will kickstart your ARC grant-planning and -development for the 2020 round and beyond.

Read more for bookings and details of these workshops led by Research Development and Support. Workshop places are limited so please book now.

Planning your ARC Grant - timelines and strategies

Tuesday 7 May 2019, 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

This session will prepare you for an ARC grant application by providing information about how to:

• Choose the right grant, including understanding project limits,
• Boost your chances by choosing the best time,
• Understand the support offered by Flinders through the EOI process, DVCR strategies, internal deadlines and review processes, and
• Understand the Flinders certification form and infrastructure levy.

Panel members will provide advice about:

• How to choose the best team
• Developing your project
• Addressing the assessment criteria

For more information and to register, visit ienrol - research.

ARC DECRA & Future Fellowship - How to write a successful application

Wednesday 8 May 2019, 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

This session will prepare you for an ARC fellowship application by teaching you how to:

• Benchmark yourself against other successful fellowship applicants,
• Build your track record,
• Understand career interruptions and how they impact your eligibility, and
• Design a competitive project

It will address how to choose Field of Research codes and write applications sections including:

• The National Interest Test Statement
• ROPE, and
• Budget and Justifications

For more information and to register, visit ienrol - research.

ARC Discovery Project - strategies for winning a grant

Thursday 9 May 2019, 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

This session will provide you with information about:

• Choosing your team - benchmarking and project limits,
• Understanding different section requirements,
• How to present your project as innovative, with benefit and impact to researchers and the broader community,
• ROPE, including Research Outputs,
• Budgets and justifications

In addition, a panel of DP recipients will provide insight into how they prepare successful applications.

For more information and to register, visit ienrol - research.

ARC Linkage Project - key considerations

Friday 10 May 2019, 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

This session will provide you with information about Linkage Project:

• Objectives and opportunities,
• Requirements and recommendations in regards to partners, financial contributions, project design and innovation,
• Budgets and justifications

In addition, a panel of LP recipients will provide insight into how they prepared successful applications.

For more information and to register, visit ienrol - research.

Please contact the Researcher Training, Development and Communication team at researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au if you have any queries.

The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) has opened applications for its 2019 Early Career Fellowships.

Early Career Fellowships are designed to support medical researchers who have held their PhD or equivalent research doctorate for less than 5 years, allowing them to undertake high quality medical research.

The maximum amount that can be requested is $120,000 per annum, up to a total of $240,000 over 2 years.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 26 May at 11:59 pm ACST. The Flinders internal closing date for a final completed draft application is 10 May 2019. For application assistance and advice, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

All submissions are to be through Smarty Grants.

Please visit THRF Early Career Fellowships webpage for more information.

The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the Code) articulates the broad principles that characterise an honest, ethical and conscientious research culture.

It establishes a framework for responsible research conduct that provides a foundation for high-quality research, credibility and community trust in the research endeavour and outlines the expectations for the conduct of research in Australia or research conducted under the auspices of Australian institutions.

The Code is co-authored by NHMRC, ARC and Universities Australia.

In support of the Code, the co-authors are developing a set of guides that provide detail on how to comply with the principles and responsibilities of the Code. The guides are designed for use by the full range of Australian research institutions and researchers from all research disciplines. The guides will also provide a reference for the development of institutional policies and processes that promote the principles and responsibilities of the Code.

The first guide supporting the Code, the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Code (the Investigation Guide), was developed along with the 2018 version of the Code and was published concurrently. Consultation on four additional guides, the Authorship Guide, the Management of Data and Information in Research Guide, the Peer Review Guide and theConflict of Interest Guide, was completed in November and December 2018. Draft versions of the next two guides on supervision and collaborative research are now provided for your consideration and comment as part of a targeted consultation process.

The authors seek your input on the structure and content of these two guides and, in particular, whether the guides capture all the aspects of supervision and collaborative research for which guidance is required and whether the guidance is sufficient, up-to-date and clear.

To participate in this targeted consultation process, please provide your feedback by responding to this survey. Flinders University encourages staff to participate in this call for feedback. Individual responses are welcome.

The closing date for this targeted consultation is 5:00pm (AEST) 24 May 2019.

For further information, contact integrity@nhmrc.gov.au.

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are invited to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire that will contribute to a PhD study exploring challenges faced by ECRs in the sciences in Australia. 

It is expected that the results will inform recommendations for changes to the work environment for these researchers in order to increase their job satisfaction and the likelihood of them continuing to work in research in Australia.

The online questionnaire is completely anonymous, participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time without explanation by closing your web browser.

The questionnaire can be completed at a time that is convenient to you, and it is expected that it should take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.

To participate in the study please go to: https://limesurveys.federation.edu.au/index.php/546388?lang=en

Please consider passing this invitation on to other ECRs working in the sciences in Australia.

This project is being conducted by Katherine Christian, PhD candidate at Federation University Australia, under the supervision of Dr Carolyn Johnstone, Federation University Australia, School of Arts. For more information regarding the study, please contact Dr Johnstone on 03 5327 9585.

Thank you for considering taking part in this research.

Two initiatives have been undertaken by IDS and the Flinders Library which extend access to statistical software for Flinders students and staff.

Read on for details and key contact information.

The two initiatives are:

1. All undergraduate and postgraduate students in addition to 24/7 access to IBM SPSS on campus can now also access this software from private devices. This is offered via Citrix VirtualApps, i.e. virtualisation platform that allows using IBM SPSS remotely from the University servers.
   Details regarding using VirtualApps are provided at https://staff.flinders.edu.au/workplace-support/guides/virtualapps.
   
   
2. The specialised statistical software initiative aims to give staff and HDR students access to statistical packages beyond that of the centrally available IBM SPSS, AMOS or R. It is aimed for situations when the software may be needed for a short time making its purchasing not cost-effective. Our researchers can book a stand-alone computer in HDR central (https://www.flinders.edu.au/graduate-research/progressing-through-your-hdr/hdr-central.cfm#StatisticalPC) to work with any of listed below statistical programs.

• Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3 (CMA) - CMA is a very robust and user-friendly software for performing a meta-analysis. 
• ConQuest 4 - ConQuest is a computer program for fitting various item response models.
• EViews 10 - Eviews is software primarily dedicated to time-series oriented analysis.
• Mplus 8 (Base Program and Combination Add-On) - Mplus is specialised software for structural equation modelling and multilevel modelling.
• NCSS 12 - NCSS is a general statistical package but outperforming IBM SPSS in Diagnostic Tests, Agreement Evaluation, Quality Control, Zero-Inflated Regressions.
• PRIMER-7 and PERMANOVA+ - PRIMER-7 is leading software for multivariate statistics with a strong following in the biological sciences.
• Stata 15 SE - Stata is a very good general statistical package with a strong following in the health sciences.

Training for SPSS is available throughout 2019. All dates and bookings are available through ienrol-Research.

Inquiries about either of the initiatives can be directed to pawel.skuza@flinders.edu.au. 

Research Australia's Pre-Election Statement was recently launched at Parliament House in Canberra.Six recommendations include action items on NHMRC funding, clinical trials coordination, supporting Australian health innovation, promoting health data and supporting rare disease research.

One of their key recommendations: A fully-funded, transparent Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is detailed here-in.

MPs and Senators from across the political spectrum were eager to hear what the health and medical research sector needs from the next Australian Government in order to deliver better health outcomes for Australians and a stronger economy.

Research Australia's full Pre-Election Statement outlines the six key reforms the health and medical research sector recommends to ensure a healthy Australia and a healthy economy.

One of their key recommendations: A fully-funded, transparent Medical Research Future Fund is detailed below.

In the lead up to the next federal election on 18 May, Research Australia has recommended that the next Australian Government should commit to:

• The full $20 billion capitalisation of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF);
• Giving clarity to the separate, but complementary, roles of the NHMRC, ARC and MRFF;
• Promoting transparency and contestability of MRFF funding by:
1. ensuring the quantum of funding disbursed and the disbursement process are determined on the advice of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB); 
2. one health and medical researcher, one health consumer, one health services researcher, one clinician-researcher and/or one philanthropist should be appointed to two rotating seats at meetings of the AMRAB Board with ‘observer’ status; 
3. issuing a Communique from each AMRAB meeting;
• The Health Minister seeking the advice of the AMRAB on specific matters, including: 
1. the amount of money that should be committed to each specific priority over the two-year period (best specified as a range rather than a single amount); and
2. how the money should be disbursed, e.g. targeted call for applications, open call for applications, tender to provide a particular service, grant to a specific organisation or group. 
• Implementation of a framework for the MRFF with specific goals, measurable impact and a clear rationale for complementing other research funding.

To view the Pre-Election Statement please visit the Research Australia website.

Cure Brain Cancer’s Early Career Fellowships aim to support bright young researchers to develop their career in brain cancer research.

The Cure Brain Cancer Early Career Fellowship will offer grants-in-aid of up to $115,000 per year for three years. Including up to $100,000 salary (depending on experience and academic level), and $15,000 for research costs, including up to $5,000 for travel and conferences per year.

The closing date for applications is 15 May 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for completed final draft applications is 1 May 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Support Officer (NHMRC and Health).

Cure Brain Cancer believes that it is important to build capacity in innovative brain cancer research and development to achieve our mission of improving survival for people living with brain cancer. It is expected that Fellows undertake a significant piece of publishable work during their tenure that will lead to a more permanent position within the brain cancer research field.

If the applicant is successful with an NHMRC or Cancer Australia or other Fellowship then this must be disclosed to Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and the Foundation's contribution will be revised down to an appropriate top-up level depending on individual circumstances.

For more information, visit the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation website.

The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) has opened applications for its 2019 Mid Career Fellowships.

Mid Career Fellowships are designed to support medical researchers who have held their PhD for between 5-10 years, allowing them to undertake high quality medical research.

The maximum amount that can be requested is $160,000 per annum, up to a total of $480,000 over 3 years.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 26 May at 11:59 pm ACST. The Flinders internal closing date for a final completed draft application is 10 May 2019. For application assistance and advice, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

All submissions are to be through Smarty Grants.

Please visit THRF Mid Career Fellowships webpage for more information.

With an expected Federal election in mid-2019, the next Science meets Parliament is your chance to influence the way science and technology shape Australia.

Experts from across the nation have taken part over the last 20 years, learning about the policy- and decision-making process and connecting with parliamentarians to enhance understanding of how science contributes to Australia’s health, environment, wealth and wellbeing.

You could follow in their footsteps at the 20th Science meets Parliament to be held on 13-14 August 2019.

Join Science and Technology Australia and work alongside passionate and curious colleagues from across the STEM sector towards the mutual mission of enhancing the role, reputation and impact of science and technology in Australia.

Early Bird registration closes on 30 April 2019. To register and more details about the event, visit the Science and Technology Australia website.

The Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme is a joint initiative (PDF 1.2MB) of Universities Australia and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany's national agency for the support of international academic cooperation.

It fosters research collaboration of the highest quality between Australian researchers from Universities Australia member universities and German researchers from German universities and research institutes.

The scheme supports exchanges for Australian researchers to spend time at partner institutions in Germany and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at Australian universities. Researchers must be working on a joint research project with their German counterparts, rather than simply furthering their own individual research in Germany. The inclusion of early career researchers is a significant focus of this scheme.

Applications opened on 3 April 2019 and close on 22 July 2019. Applications must be submitted through Research Development and Support, as Universities Australia will not accept applications direct. This year the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) will support 2 applications from Flinders being submitted under this scheme. The Flinders internal closing date is 13 June 2019. Applications must be emailed to research.grants@flinders.edu.au by COB on 13 June 2019.

For application assistance and advice, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

The CSIRO Space Technology Future Science Platform (Space FSP) Round 2 call for proposals is open until Friday 26 April 2019.

External partnerships are welcomed and encouraged. To explore opportunities for collaboration with the CSIRO, researchers are encouraged to speak directly with CSIRO science contacts or the Space FSP Leader via Space-FSP@csiro.au.

Mr Tony Kyriacou, Defence Partnerships Director, can provide application advice and assistance.

The Space FSP was launched in November 2018 with an initial $16 million investment. It aims to build world-leading capability and drive cutting-edge research within CSIRO in support of the Australian Space Agency’s goal of tripling the size of the Australian space industry by 2030.

The Space FSP will leverage both CSIRO’s existing base of space activities and our as-yet-unharnessed expertise from other science areas to develop technologies that lead to new innovations in the space sector. It will directly address the high-value, high-risk leapfrog R&D areas prioritised by the Australian Space Agency to accelerate the growth of the Australian space sector.

Space FSP investments will focus on the Strategic Priority Areas identified by the Australian Space Agency, and the three Opportunity Areas identified by the CSIRO Space Roadmap:

• space-derived services
• space object tracking
• space exploration and utilisation.

Annual competitive funding rounds will be conducted in 2019 (Round 2, open March – April 2019), 2020 and 2021. Round 2 proposals may be for projects of up to 3 years in duration. All projects are required to include education and outreach/knowledge-sharing goals.

A path to impact is vital for all Space FSP projects, and external partnerships are welcomed and strongly encouraged. Collaboration will typically be carried out under a co-investment model (please note that Space FSP funds cannot be used to fund external organisations to undertake R&D activities).

Potential partners can be involved in proposing a new project, or can join existing projects.

For further information, visit the CSIRO Space FSP website.

Applications are now open for two media residencies (Science and Humanities) at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Each of the two programs brings five selected PhD-qualified early career researchers (within seven years of completing their PhD) to the ABC for an intensive two-week media bootcamp.

The scheme aims to equip emerging scholars with media and communication skills to help them reach and engage a wide audience for their specialist knowledge and research.

Applications close Wednesday 1 May 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Karen Ashford, Director, Media and Communications, Office of Communication, Marketing and Engagement.

For more information, visit the ABC website.

The Australasian Groundwater Conference (AGC2019) will be held in Brisbane Queensland, 24-27 November 2019.

Coordinated by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Flinders University, this conference promises to be an epic event filled with informative presentations, entertaining networking events and stunning field trips exploring the sights and sounds that this sub-tropical dynamic region has to offer.

AGC2019 will provide an important opportunity to showcase exciting and innovative work in groundwater in the following thematic areas:

• Resources | extractive industries, agriculture, renewables and groundwater management
• Infrastructure | supporting growing populations and the supply of food, water and energy
• Environment | sustainability and environmental protection within a changing climate

Present your work, take part in the discussion, and make the most of this significant gathering of groundwater professionals in the Australasian region.

Abstract submissions are currently open and will close on 14 June 2019. For more information, visit the AGC2019 Abstract submission webpage.

Early Bird registrations will close on 30 August 2019.

Visit the AGC2019 website for more information and how to register.

Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd (APRIL) is seeking applications for Innovation and Commercialisation projects.

APRIL Innovation Projects are negotiable to around 12 to 15 months, have a maximum budget of $50,000 to $75,000 and require a minimum external cash co-investment of 25 per cent of the total cash cost of the project.

There will be two calls per calendar year for Innovation Projects, with the first deadline being 17 May 2019. The Flinders internal closing date is 3 May 2019 for a completed final draft application.

For application advice and assistance on Innovation projects, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

Open all year round, Commercialisation Projects are where the path to market of a product or technology may be close and additional co-investment may bring it to fruition. For application advice and assistance on commercialisation projects, contact Mark Bruce, Senior Commercialisation Manager.

For more information on both these project opportunities, visit the APRIL website.

APRIL is an independent, member based research entity, which continues the approach to research, education, training and commercialisation of the very successful CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork, which concludes 30 June 2019.

The Biology Society of South Australia is joining with the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia to assist field research projects for Honours and PhD students.

This year’s grant is jointly sponsored by the Biology Society of South Australia (BSSA) and the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia (NCSSA).

Funds up to the value of $3,300 per successful applicant are available for research aimed at:

• Improving understanding of the conservation status of species or ecological communities
• Providing recommendations for improvement of some aspect of biodiversity conservation
• Understanding the ecology of species or communities
• Understanding threats to biodiversity and management of those threats.

The closing date for applications is Friday 10 May 2019.

Please see the BSSA website for guidelines and applications.

The 2019 grant round for the Worldwide Cancer Foundation is now open for registration and application preparation.

Applications can be submitted between Thursday 4 April 00.01hrs (UK Local Time) and Friday 3 May 2019 17:00hrs (UK Local Time). Please note, the Foundation will only accept the first 500 applications submitted in the grant round.

The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is as soon as possible. For application advice and assistance, please contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

The Foundation's goal is to support research that seeks to answer the difficult questions in cancer biology.  They are looking for innovative and truly novel ideas that have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of cancer and how to beat it. They award grants to support fundamental or translational research into the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of cancer.

The Foundation does not support clinical research, including clinical trials, patient care, nursing or healthcare delivery research. We also do not support other types of applied cancer research such as policy, public health or psychosocial research.

For more information, on how to register, what to consider before applying, and their research strategy, visit the Worldwide Cancer Foundation website.