BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS & ECRs

BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN
RESEARCH
WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE
STUDENTS & ECRs
Dr Judy Berman
Manager, Research
Development Office
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
Part One – Building a Track Record in Research

Post PhD Pathways

Major Australian postdoc Fellowship schemes

Positioning yourself for a career in academia

Building a track record in research: Case Study
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Building a track record in research: Case Study

Building a track record in research: Case Study

Building a track record in research: Case Study
1
2
3
3
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‘postdocing’
key funding strategies
interdisciplinary collaborations
‘enjoy your research!’
Part Two – Finding Funding

Graduate Research School

Research Services

Community of Science (COS) database

Australian Competitive Grants

Navigating a Funding Agency’s website
Part Three – Funding opportunities for ECRs
Part Four - Positioning Yourself for Multiple Career Options
Part Five - Resources
PART ONE
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN
RESEARCH
Post PhD Research Pathways:

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University academic (teaching & research)
Postdoctoral Fellowship (externally funded)
Research Associate (RA) (externally funded on someone else’s grant)
Research in industry or research organisation (eg CSIRO)
Postdoctoral Fellowship/ career researcher pathway

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Advantage – the ‘luxury’ of a research-only position
Disadvantage – financial insecurity
Challenge – to maintain the momentum of quality research and publications while
being slowed down by applications for ‘next’ postdoc (and, if successful, relocation).
So, what can you do now to position yourself for a career in academia?
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN
ACADEMIA

Find a mentor/s in
your School to advise
you on positioning
yourself for a career in
academia or for a
postdoctoral
fellowship
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Many Postdoctoral Fellowship schemes
prefer movement from your current
institution

Identify a research group to work with
(check reputation, track record and
commitment of team leader and the
dynamics of the research group)
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN
ACADEMIA

Network and develop a profile – attend
conferences, join relevant professional bodies
and committees
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN
ACADEMIA

Build a Track Record – PUBLISH, PUBLISH AND
PUBLISH!!! (in high quality journals)
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN
ACADEMIA

Start applying now for awards, prizes and
small grants

Identify websites advertising Fellowship
opportunities and career development
resources.
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH
CASE STUDY 1: IAN McARTHUR (HOS
PHYSICS)
‘POSTDOCING’
BSc (Hons) - UWA
PhD - Harvard
Postdoctoral Fellowships (3 Years) at:
 Cambridge University
 Karlsruhe University
 Hamburg University (teaching and research)
 ARC Australian Research Fellow (ARF) at University of
Tasmania (5 Years)
> tenured position at UWA
CASE STUDY 2: A/PROF. SUE BROOMHALL (HISTORY)
Teaching: History of
Medicine (IC)
PhD
Women in Book Trade in
Early Mod France
ARC Discovery
Households in Early
Mod England
ARC Discovery (APD)
Women in Medicine in
Early Mod France
UWARGS
Convents in Early Mod
France
UWARGS
Linkage
International
Households
ARC Discovery
ARC Linkage
UWARGS
Poor in Early Mod France
Public spaces (IC)
Dutch public spaces
ARC Networks
Early European
Researchers
(IC)
ARC
eResearch
Web based
repository of
Humanities
images (IC)
European explorers and
determinants of health in
early WA environments
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH
CASE STUDY 2: SUE BROOMHALL
Key principles:

A gradual broadening of research areas (each project builds
on previous expertise and adds a new area)

Research collaborations – within discipline

Research collaborations – interdisciplinary and cross
institutional

Small grants for ‘pilot projects’ in a related area, providing
the track record for large grant applications

Industry funding
BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH
CASE STUDY 3: PHIL WEINSTEIN
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

Talking with Peter Davies (Centre for Natural Resource
management (CENRM)  Shared PhD student on ‘Health effects
of soil salinisation’.

Talking with Sue Broomhall (History)  successful UWARGS
‘Socio-cultural Determinants of Health in Early WA Environments’
 ARC Linkage application (with History, Linguistics, MERC).

Talking with Darryl Poulsen (Music)  pilot research on ‘wind
instrument players and asthma’.

Talking with Helen Spafford-Jacob (Animal Biology) & GSM
funding from Wildchild for ‘Mosquitos and health’ + shared PhD
student,  ARC Linkage application.

Talking with Veterinary Studies (Murdoch) about ‘animal borne
diseases’.
CASE STUDY 4: PROF. BILLIE GILES-CORTI
(POP. HEALTH)
Enjoy your research!

Work on research topics that you feel passionate about - but having said
that, you need to tie your passions to what is fundable!

Chose your collaborator/s carefully - when starting out, align yourself with
good people with excellent track records.

Be generous

Do ‘unique’, not ‘me too’ research (when preparing grants, read the
literature carefully and identify the gaps: submit 'novel' ideas rather than
simply 'me too' research)

Work with industry partners and do research that is needed - that will help
with their agendas, that can feed into policy and practice. (think ahead –
future ARC Linkage Project partners).
PART TWO
FINDING FUNDING
FINDING FUNDING

Graduate Research School

UWA’s Research Services

Community of Science (COS) database

Australian Competitive Grants Registser

Navigating a funding agency’s website
GRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOOL,
SCHOLARSHIPS OFFICE
http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/home/fellowships_postdoc
Postdoctoral Awards, a few examples……
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UWA Postdoctoral Fellowships
UWA Re-entry Research Fellowships
ARC Postdoctoral Fellowships
NH&MRC Fellowships
Medicine and Dentistry
Whitfeld Fellowships
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
Rhodes University Fellowships
University of Edinburgh Visiting Research Fellowships
Dan David Prize Scholarships
AINSE Postdoctoral Fellowships
Australian Institute of Marine Science Fellowships
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowships
UWA RESEARCH SERVICES
www.research.uwa.edu.au
FINDING FUNDING
http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_services/research_grants/finding_funding
Locating Funding Opportunities

There is a wide variety of funding available for research grants, fellowships, travel awards,
contracts, prizes and equipment grants to name a few. The funding can come from local, state,
Australian and international government organizations, private companies, professional associations
and other academic institutions. The opportunities for this funding change daily. Prior knowledge
and recommendations from colleagues can provide advice on some schemes. You can also go to:

Research Announcements Mailing list
Funding Schemes

Internal Funding Opportunities

External Funding Opportunities
The Research Development Officers
The Research Development Officers provide strategic advice to researchers on issues related to
external research funding; assist with the establishment of strategic research collaborations within
UWA and facilitate cross-disciplinary communication.
Also, links to ’Preparing an application’, ‘Award of a grant’, ‘Managing a Grant’, ‘Forms and
Guidelines’ and more.
COMMUNITY OF SCIENCE (COS) DATABASE
http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/cos2
COS is a comprehensive database of international and Australian
funding opportunities
COS has over 400,000 funding opportunities worth over $33 billion - range of
subject areas and award types
COS Databases & Funding Alerts
 Search the Funding Opportunities Database
 Search Funding Opportunities from Australia Based Sponsors
 Search the Expertise Database
 Search UWA Expertise
 Search WA Expertise
 Log into Your Profile
 Establish a Profile
COS Training - to arrange a session for yourself, school, centre, discipline
group, etc please contact Liz Davey: [email protected]; tel: 6488 3702
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITIVE GRANTS
http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_services/research_g
rants/award_of_grant/ACGs
Commonwealth Schemes (by portfolio)
Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry - Australia

Australian Egg Corporation Limited

Australian Pork Limited

Cotton R&D Corporation

Dairy Australia

Fisheries R&D Corporation

Forest and Wood Products R&D Corporation
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Grains R&D Corporation
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Grape and Wine R&D Corporation
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Horticulture Australia Ltd
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Land and Water Australia Ltd
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Meat and Livestock Australia
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Rural Industries R&D Corporation
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Sugar R&D Corporation
Attorney-General's

Criminology Research Fund
Australian Greenhouse Office
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Renewable Energy Commercialisation Programme
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Anti-Doping Research Program

Telecommunication Research Grants
Defence

Army History Research Grants Scheme
Education, Science and Training………………………………………..
NAVIGATING A FUNDING
AGENCY’S WEBSITE
Check for:

Corporate Plan (what are they excited about, what will they be
funding over the next 5-10 years?)

Sub-program R&D plans

Total funding available (solicited and unsolicited)

Examples of projects funded (are they funding in your area?)

Who have the $$$’s been going to? (Universities, CSIRO,
consultancies?)

Discuss your project with a Program Manager (meet on his or her
next visit to the state)
PART THREE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY
CAREER RESEARCHERS (ECRs)
WHITFELD FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/home/fellowships_postdoc/whitfeld_fellowships

Aim: to provide support to students to prepare publications
arising from their theses and to prepare a grant application.

Eligibility: the nominee must have submitted their thesis for
examination within six months before the nomination
deadline, or intend to submit within six months after the
nomination deadline.

Closing date: 29th Feb, 29th August, 2008

Conditions: These fellowships will be paid at the rate of a
half-time (0.5) Research Associate Level A.
UWA FUNDING SCHEMES
http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/page/77452

UWA Research Grants Scheme (UWARGS) – approx July
 70% of funding to Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
 Feedback and resubmission for ECRs
 $30,000 (+$14,500 teaching relief)

Supplementary Travel Grants for New Academic Staff - continuous
 $750 max.
 to present a paper at a national or international conference
 Level A and B who first took up a continuous appointment within the last 5
years. Women are particularly encouraged.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships – approx March
 UWA graduates who have spent some years elsewhere since graduation are
considered equally with those from other universities.
 Three or four years (75% research + 25% teaching)
Re-entry Postdoctoral Research Fellowships – approx. Nov

UWA Safety Net Scheme
(http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/for_researchers/resources_for_rese
arch_staff
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
(WA)
http://home.it.net.au/~afuwwa/bursaries.html

Closing date: July 31, 2008

Amount: $2,500 - $4,000

Female graduate student and AFUW member

For example, the Jill Bradshaw Award - for the
completion of a higher degree by research and/or
to assist a woman who has completed a higher
degree by research but, at the time of the
application, does not have access to academic
support for her further writing and research.
CASS FOUNDATION
POSTDOCTORAL TRAVEL GRANTS

Closing dates: Feb 29th, 2008; 29 August 2007

Amount: up to A$5,000 or $80 of cost

Areas of Research Funded: Education, Energy Sciences, Engineering, and Health &
Medicine, Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Technology

The travel grants are available to assist attendance at international conferences or
other approved activities conducted outside Australia. Preference for those presenting
rather than just attending conferences

Success rate – approx one in 4.5

ECR defined as 7 or 8 years since award of PhD.

For more information:
http://www.cassfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&
id=17&Itemid=54
PART FOUR
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR MULTIPLE
CAREER OPTIONS
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR
MULTIPLE CAREER OPTIONS
Undertake a skills audit
Take stock of and value your generic
skills. For example:
•Research,
•teaching,
•problem solving,
•analysis and interpretation,
•critical thinking,
•reporting/writing,
•evaluation,
•oral and written communication
skills,
•interpersonal skills,
•negotiation,
•I.T.…….
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR MULTIPLE
CAREER OPTIONS

Increase your generic skills though workshops
and seminars offered at UWA through
Organisational and Staff Development Services
(OSDS). Check:
http://www.osds.uwa.edu.au/about/programme

For example:

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Cross-cultural communication
Excel (or any other course which will broaden your
computing expertise)
Project management
POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR
MULTIPLE CAREER OPTIONS
Job applications

Learn to sell yourself – in an
interview and on paper. Learn
the vocabulary for self
promotion.

Invest time in learning how to
write a successful job
application – how to address
selection criteria etc.
Recommended reading - Lloyd
White, How to Write a
Winning Job Application.

Be persistent and be
resilient!!!
PART FIVE
RESOURCES
UNIJOB
http://www.seek.com.au/hes/

For people interested in job opportunities at
Universities, UniJob provides a searchable
database of positions at participating
institutions.

Users can customise their job search profile and
register to have matched positions emailed
directly to them.

The UniJob site also features information and
articles on topics such as job search strategies,
choosing and changing careers and career
development.
SCIENCE NEXT WAVE
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
A weekly on-line publication with articles dedicated to scientific training and career
development. Academic career advice and salary surveys are also available. This site
can be searched for positions advertised in Science. Users can register to have new
employment opportunities emailed to them.
Science Next Wave - Career Development Centre
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development
Academic career advice for early career researchers, including professional issues and
advice for writing grant applications
Science Next Wave - Funding
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/fundingOffers
Science Next Wave - Find a job
http://aaas.sciencecareers.org/js.php
GRADUATE CAREERS AUSTRALIA
http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/full/40
Provides career resources for postgraduate students
For example: How to Find a Job?
http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/f
ull/29
This section of the Graduate Careers Australia
website has been designed to help you research
your job options, apply and interview for jobs and
increase your employability in the labour market.
RESEARCHJOBS
http://www.researchjobs.net.au/index.php
ResearchJobs
an email and website based service
that lists advertisements for:
 vacant
research positions
 scholarships
 fellowships and calls for proposals
within the R&D sector
GrantsLINK?
http://www.grantslink.gov.au/

GrantsLINK makes it easier to find suitable and relevant grants
for your community projects from the many Australian
Government grants that are available. GrantsLINK also helps
you find the best source of funding and assists you to complete
application forms.

The Australian Government offers a significant number and range
of grant programmes. GrantsLINK makes it easier to become
familiar with grants, find the most appropriate grant programme
to meet your communities' needs, and apply for grants.

GrantsFINDER helps you identify the programme/s relevant to
your project, and then connects you directly to the managing
department's guidelines, application form and programme
information.
WA Grants Directory
http://grantsdirectory.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/
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Department of Local Government and Regional
Development Grants Directory
Grants and assistance programs for communities and local
governments in regional and metropolitan Western
Australia.
The Grants Directory is a compilation of grants and other
assistance programs available to communities and local
governments in regional and metropolitan Western
Australia. The Directory contains programs provided by the
Western Australian and Australian Governments as well as
private sector organisations.
Download the 2007 Directory:
http://grantsdirectory.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/Publications/GRDirec
tory.pdf
RESEARCH SERVICES
www.research.uwa.edu.au
Research Development Officers (RDOs)
Dr Judy Berman x8033
Manager, Research Development Office
[email protected]
Room 2.08, Second floor, Central Admin Building
Mr Tim Pitman x8034
[email protected]
Dr Debbie Thackray x4765
[email protected]
Ms Rochelle Flemming x4611
[email protected]
Dr Margaret Jones x8525
[email protected]