Flinders University has established a Climate Response Seed Grant scheme to promote research on climate change and climate-related disaster mitigation, response and resilience, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research and, as prioritised in the 2025 Agenda, engagement with business, industry, government and non-government organisations.

The guidelines and application form are available on the Flinders' internal schemes page.

Applications close on 6 April 2020.

Book now at ienrol research to access Flinders’ researcher training and development opportunities. Workshops, information sessions, seminars and drop-in sessions aim to provide ongoing development and support to all researchers.

Key workshops in the next three weeks include:
   Human research ethics - information session;
   Finding funding opportunities;
   Biosafety training;
   Research Integrity;
   Building your track record and profile through research prizes and awards
plus scheduled one-one meetings that enable you to meet and work directly with our RDS teams.

Click on the links below to view the course details.

One-on-One meeting: Industry, Government, International & Internal grants - Tuesday 25 February 2020

Research Bite: Human Research Ethics - information session - Tuesday 25 February 2020

Research Bite: Finding funding opportunities: Navigating 'Research Professional' - 2020 updates - Wednesday 26 February 2020

Biosafety Training - Thursday 27 February 2020

One-on-One meeting: NHMRC and Health grants - Thursday 27 February 2020

One-on-One meeting: ARC grants - Monday 2 March 2020

One-on-One meeting: Industry, Government, International & Internal grants - Tuesday 3 March 2020

Research Bite: Research Integrity - Wednesday 4 March 2020

Building your track record and profile through research prizes and awards - strategies and insights - Thursday 5 March 2020

One-on-One meeting: NHMRC and Health grants - Thursday 5 March 2020

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

Research Development and Support (RDS) has released the Flinders’ Researcher Training and Development 2020 Program – a brochure providing an overview of all opportunities and initiatives that focus on supporting your research journey and career development. We offer a range of programs that support all career stages.

The brochure details Flinders’ initiatives including: Research FastStart, the Flinders’ researcher induction program; research grants “intent to apply” registers, and; researcher skills training and development workshops. 

Access the brochure now to view listings of all 2020 workshops and dates, which will enable you to forward plan and map your research training and development for the year. Workshops assist in building researcher capacity and capability, as training focusses on developing skills core to the research process and doing research at Flinders University.

Access iEnrol-Research to book into 2020 workshops and access detailed session descriptions. These listings provide an outline of learning objectives and outcomes. 

In 2020, core themes include:

• benchmark
• fund and apply
• commence
• publish
• communicate
• partner
• integrity, ethics and compliance
• research prizes and awards. 

Also new to 2020 - training and development will be offered in two formats: 

• Research Bites, short 45 minute lunch time sessions
• Workshops, 1.5 hours in length to provide deeper insight and exploration of topics, including peer-learning and Q&A panels.

RDS proactively supports Flinders’ research community and is pivotal in providing research support together with partners located within different Flinders’ Portfolios.

To contact the RDS Researcher Training, Development and Communication team directly please email researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au or call 8201 3968.

Research Bites are a new 2020 RDS researcher training and development initiative at Flinders. These 45-minute lunch time sessions are led by subject matter experts and deliver integral information clearly and with brevity. 

The first for 2020, 'Human research ethics information session', will be led by Hendryk Flaegel, Manager, Research Ethics and Compliance. This information session will cover…

• human research ethics concepts
• when you need to apply for human research ethics approval
• the application process at Flinders

We welcome you to bring your lunch along. Register to attend at ienrol - Research.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Round 2 of the Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program are now open.

The BTB program is an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund, providing up to $1 million in matching funding to support the development and commercialisation of new biological, pharmaceutical, medical and health technology projects.

The BTB program is operated by MTPConnect, in partnership with BioCurate, UniQuest, the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) and the Bridge and BridgeTech programs (Queensland University of Technology).

Expressions of Interest applications close Friday 6 March 2020. Applications must be submitted via the SmartyGrants online portal. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 2 March 2020. For application assistance and advice, contact Lucy Sheehan-Hennessy, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health). 

Information required to support your preparation can be found on the BTB page.

Please join us at an information session for the South Australian Science Excellence + Innovation Awards.

Olgatina Bushi, Principal Industry Development Officer, Department for Innovation and Skills will be visiting Flinders to give an overview of each award category and application timelines.

The information session will be held on Wednesday 11 March, 12.00-1.00pm in the Council Room, Registry, Bedford Park Campus. Please enrol at ienrol-Research.

The SA Science Excellence Awards showcase the critical importance of science and research to the development of industry and our society.

The awards acknowledge the achievements of talented individuals, including recent PhD graduates and early career science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) researchers, who are making an outstanding contribution to society both nationally and internationally.

Awards will be presented in presented in four categories in 2020:

• Awards for Science Excellence
• South Australian Scientist of the year
• PhD Research Excellence Award

• Award for Excellence in Innovation and Translation
• South Australian Innovator of the Year
• Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration (previously Excellence in Research Collaboration)
• Awards for Innovation in STEMM Teaching
• STEM Professional Award
• STEM Educator of the Year (split into School Teaching and Tertiary Teaching categories)

Ten travel scholarships for early career researchers and postgraduate students are on offer in 2020 from the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration (DRDC). A further grant round will be offered in 2021.

International conference travel grants and national conference travel grants are valued up to $5,000 and $2,000 each, respectively. Proposals must relate to a NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR)/DCRC research priority area.

Applications close 5pm AEDT Wednesday 1 April 2020. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 18 March 2020. For application advice and assistance, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

The applicant/awardee must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident studying/working at an Australian institution. Funding will be awarded pending acceptance to present at the named conference. Proof of abstract acceptance will be required before funding will be released: (if your presentation has not been accepted yet, you can still submit a conference travel grant application indicating this and providing the expected date of notification of acceptance).

Applicant/awardee must be a member of the DCRC and the NNIDR. Membership is free and available through the NNIDR website.

For further information, visit the NNIDR website.

The Research Professional system is accessible to all Flinders staff interested in sourcing research funding opportunities, and gives users access to a powerful database of worldwide funding opportunities. 

Rene Logan - Sales Manager, Australia and New Zealand - will be visiting Flinders to hold a Research Professional masterclass during a Research Bite session on Wednesday 26 February 2020.

During this session you will be able to drive your own searches in real-time, with Rene there to advise and guide you through the system and its latest updates and features.The functions of Research Professional will be worked through. Simple keyword searches will initially be demonstrated, followed by more complex searches, using discipline areas and types of funding available through Research Professional.

Bookmarks for funding opportunities, and saving email searches and setting up email alerts will be demonstrated.

We welcome you to bring your lunch along. Register to attend at ienrol - Research.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) has established an International Fellowship program to support outstanding Australian scientists/clinicians to strengthen their research experience by working in internationally renowned breast cancer research centres outside of Australia.

Please note that there is no scheduled closing date for this scheme. However, applicants should be aware that the Fellowships can commence at any time, and funding is available for one to two years. All applications will be considered at the time of submission.

For Guidelines and further details please see the NBCF grants website. For application advice and assistance, please contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

The Bridge Program equips researchers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and networks to enable the successful commercialisation of new pharmaceuticals. Delivered by QUT, the Bridge Program involves a consortium of pharmaceutical companies, universities and industry affiliates.

Launched in 2017, the program selects 100 participants annually from across Australia to take part in face-to-face and online training in the various disciplines that contribute to the commercialisation of new medicines. Covering the scientific, legal, financial, clinical, regulatory and reimbursement elements of pharmaceutical commercialisation, the program is available to researchers, entrepreneurs and others in the pharmaceutical ecosystem from around Australia.

The tacit industry knowledge that the Bridge Program consortium provides makes the program unique in its integration into venture capital and global pharmaceutical networks and its ability to share specific, detailed and practical know-how.

The program is designed to complement work schedules and involves:

• Online learning materials through an interactive digital platform
• Bridge Industry Talks series, reaching most capital cities in Australia
• The Bridge Symposium, held in October over 3 days

As part of the Bridge Program, participants also have the opportunity to participate in the Pitch Competition by submitting a 2-minute video pitch. The winning pitches are awarded a US tour to visit the headquarters of major pharmaceutical companies to expand industry connections and discuss collaboration.

Applications are to be submitted through the online form, accompanied by a two-page CV by 6 March 2020.

For more information, visit The Bridge program website.

This course is fully supported by industry and government, and there is no course fee.

Early- and mid-career researchers (EMCR) are invited to join the premier conference in Australia for career development of EMCRs from academia, industry and government.

Science Pathways 2020: Global dialogues promises to be bigger and better than ever by shifting the conversation to think globally. The event will be held on 6–7 July 2020 at Deakin Downtown in Melbourne.

You will explore how research and researchers can cross international boundaries to contribute to and lead global efforts in tackling society’s greatest challenges. 

Through engagement with international partner organisations, Science Pathways 2020 will provide the platform for you to discuss, debate and plan your career in the global context. This will be done in the welcoming, constructive and inclusive environment synonymous with the Australian Academy of Science's EMCR Forum events.  

Science Pathways 2020 offers unique opportunities to network with leading scientific professionals from some of Australia’s top organisations in public and private enterprise, and to engage and have your say in sessions on issues relevant for EMCRs. 

Early-bird tickets are available for just $255 per person. Registration includes attendance and catering at the two-day conference, and a ticket to the networking function. Early-bird registrations close 9 am AEST on Monday 20 April 2020. Conference registration does not include travel or accommodation costs.

Register via the conference website.

Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis (FMMA) encompasses instruments across both the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Medicine and Public Health. Their continual aim is to improve the experience and the research outcomes of Flinders staff and students who their our facility and services.

FMMA now includes access to powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD). XRD is a characterisation technique used for examining the crystal structure of materials. The instrument is a Bragg-Brentano geometry X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) with a cobalt X-ray source.

It is ideal for qualitative and quantitative phase analysis, and the determination of crystal structure. The cobalt source allows this instrument to accurately analyse high iron content samples. In addition to this, the instrument is equipped with a capillary stage for the measurement of a very small amount of sample. Data analysis capabilities for XRD include the use of the ICDD PDF-2 Database, DIFFRAC. EVA Software for phase identification as well as the Topas software package (Rietveld refinement method) for crystal structure determination and quantitative phase analysis.

For information regarding access, training and costs, please contact Dr Jing Zhao.

The Department of Defense office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) provides research funding across a wide range of areas. Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) pre-announcements have started to be announced by CDMRP to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY20 funding opportunities. 

The pre-announcements provide a general overview of the anticipated funding mechanisms. The Program Announcements will include detailed descriptions of funding mechanisms, evaluation criteria, submission requirements, and deadlines. Each Program Announcement may be downloaded from the Grants.gov website upon its release. 

Synopsis of Current Program Funding Opportunities, including the pre-program announcements and all relevant dates are available at the CDMRP website. 

Inspiring Research will alert the research community when opportunities open and detail the application process and support available from RDS.

The FY20 Department of Defense Appropriations Act provides research funding for the following peer reviewed programs managed by the CDMRP (all amounts are USD):

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program - $20.0 million
• Autism Research Program - $15.0 million
• Bone Marrow Failure Research Program - $3.0 million
• Breast Cancer Research Program - $150.0 million
• Chronic Pain Management Research Program - $15.0 million
• Combat Readiness Medical Research Program - $10.0 million
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program - $10.0 million
• Epilepsy Research Program - $12.0 million
• Gulf War Illness Research Program - $22.0 million
• Hearing Restoration Research Program – $10.0 million
• Kidney Cancer Research Program - $40.0 million
• Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program - $40.0 million
• Lung Cancer Research Program – $14.0 million
• Lupus Research Program - $10.0 million
• Melanoma Research Program - $20.0 million
• Military Burn Research Program – $10.0 million
• Multiple Sclerosis Research Program - $16.0 million
• Neurofibromatosis Research Program - $15.0 million
• Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program- $15.0 million
• Ovarian Cancer Research Program - $35.0 million
• Pancreatic Cancer Research Program - $6.0 million  (new for FY 20)
• Parkinson's Research Program – $16.0 million
• Peer Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program – $15.0 million
• Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (14 Topics) - $110 million
• Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (44 Topics) - $360 million
• Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program - $30 million
• Prostate Cancer Research Program - $110 million
• Rare Cancers Research Program - $7.5 million  (new for FY 20)
• Reconstructive Transplant Research Program - $12.0 million
• Scleroderma Research Program - $5.0 million (new for FY 20)
• Spinal Cord Injury Research Program - $40.0 million
• Tick-Borne Disease Research Program - $7.0 million
• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program - $6.0 million
• Vision Research Program - $20.0 million
  

The Joan Southgate Southern Africa-Australasia Travel Fund assists with reciprocal travel and on-costs between Australasia and Southern Africa for Masters, PhD students and early career practitioners studying aspects of wildlife conservation and management, who would benefit from working with practitioners studying in a similar field.

Applicants must be a financial member of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) or the Southern African Wildlife Management Association (SAWMA), for at least a year, at the time the application for the travel grant is submitted. 

The award is available annually for members needing assistance to travel to the affiliate country for study. Applications open 1 February and close on 31 March each year. 

Funds are available for travel, living expenses and accommodation. Up to a maximum of $5000 plus support of registration fees for attendance of either an AWMS or SAWMA annual conference is also available.

The principles to guide the selection of successful recipients from the fund are:

• The travel will assist in sharing knowledge and skills  in some aspect of conservation management between the two southern hemisphere regions
• The travel for study should endeavour to provide broad-scale, low-intensity management solutions for the conservation of wildlife
• The results will be presented to either SAWMA or AWMS annual conference.

The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 17 March 2020. For application advice and support, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Support Officer (IGII).

The AWMS and the SAWMA support the Joan Southgate Southern Africa-Australasia Travel Fund.

For further information, visit the AWMS website.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canberra, Australia welcomes project proposals for initiatives focusing on Dutch-Australian cultural heritage to be initiated in 2020.

The embassy’s shared cultural heritage programme identifies 4 themes; the so-called 4 M’s: Maritime, Military, Migrant and Mercantile heritage.

The application/project criteria are:

1. The project commences after 15 February 2020 but before 1 December 2020 and will run for a period not exceeding four years;
2. The project promotes the sustainable preservation of Australian-Dutch cultural heritage;
3. The project focuses on one (or several) of the above mentioned 4 M’s;
4. The project has a long-term impact;
5. The project is mainly aimed at an Australian target group, based in Australia;
6. The project promotes cooperation between Australian and Dutch counterparts;
7. The project creates awareness and knowledge about Australian-Dutch cultural heritage primarily among an Australian audience;
8. A strong communication strategy, in which the financial support from the embassy is acknowledged, is part of the project planning;
9. If applicable: involvement from key stakeholders and the community to ensure the project can continue after Embassy funding ceases.

The final deadline to for applications is 1 October 2020, but applications will be accepted until this date or until funding is exhausted. The Embassy aims to decide on applications within 13 weeks after receiving the original by mail. For application advice and assistance, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

More information, including eligibility and the application form, is available at the Netherlands Worldwide website.