ARC Future Fellowships Information Session

Transcription

1 ARC Future Fellowships Information Session Julie Matarczyk Snr Manager, Research Grants & Development January 2013

2 Overview Key dates Outcome trends Selection criteria and weightings Targeted Priority Areas Preparing your application Future Fellowship levels Funding support ARC assessment process Resources and contacts

3 ARC Future Fellowships UOW Timetable (for 2013 funding) Key Dates Thur, 10 Jan January Thur, 17 Jan Mon, 4 Feb Mon, 18 Feb Wed, 20 Feb Timetable ARC due date for eligibility ruling requests Project Description provided to Associate Dean Research (internal candidates) or UOW Nominator (external candidates) Hard copy draft of complete (RMS valid) application due to RSO Hard copy final application due to RSO Signed UOW External Grants Submission Form required (available from UOW website) RSO to finalise applications. Further changes only permitted where required by the RSO Applications due to ARC

4 Essential Documents for Applicants Document Future Fellowships Funding Rules for Funding Commencing in 2013 Future Fellowships Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2013 Frequently Asked Questions Application Form (electronic) Available from: ARC Website: OR via the UOW Website: RMS

5 Future Fellowship Success Rates UOW AUST UOW AUST UOW AUST UOW AUST Applications submitted Applications funded Success Rate (%) Total $ Awarded % 20.5% 23.5% 26.4% 22.7% 30.7% 23.5% 34.7% $5.11m $147.4m $2.8m $143.8m $3.47m $144.3m $3.09m $151.56m Source: ARC Website

6 ARC Selection Criteria and Weightings Follow, and write to, the selection criteria as per the Funding Rules: Future Fellowship Candidate 40% Project quality (including National Research Priority) 35% Strategic alignment 15% Collaboration/Outreach 10%

7 ARC Selection Criteria and Weightings a. Investigator (40%) research opportunity and performance evidence (ROPE); capacity and leadership to undertake the proposed research; record of high quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline/s; evidence of national and/or international research standing; contribution to national and/or international public policy debates and initiatives;

8 ARC Selection Criteria and Weightings b. Project quality (35%) Does the research address a significant problem? Is the conceptual/theoretical framework innovative and original? Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance knowledge? Are the design and methods appropriate? Will the proposed research provide economic, environmental, social, health and/or cultural benefit to Australia? Will the proposed research be value for money? Is there a contribution to public policy formulation and debate? Does the project address National Research Priorities? Will the project contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge in one or more of the targeted priority areas?

9 ARC Selection Criteria and Weightings c. Strategic alignment (15%) How well does the FT candidate align with and/or compliment the research strengths or developing research strengths and staffing profile of the Administering Organisation? Are the necessary facilities to complete the proposed Project available? What resources will be provided by the Administering Organisation to support the Future Fellowship candidate during her/his FT and after the end of the FT?

10 ARC Selection Criteria and Weightings d. Collaboration/Outreach (10%) Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, if appropriate; and promotion of research outcomes? How will the Future Fellowship candidate build collaboration across industry and/or research organisations and/or with other disciplines?

11 Magic formula??? The magic formula can be found in the selection criteria. a candidate of national or international research standing relative to opportunity, who has a record of high quality outputs and the capacity to undertake the work an innovative, but appropriate, approach to a significant problem, with the potential to advance knowledge and provide benefit to Australia a candidate well aligned with the research strength of the chosen host, with access to the necessary intellectual and physical resources for success a clear plan to build appropriate collaboration, and effectively manage the outcomes of the research

12 Targeted Priority Areas a. National research capacity Demonstrate how the project and the Future Fellow will: increase Australia s capacity to undertake research in the targeted areas at the most appropriate Administering Organisation, attract Australian or overseas researchers to conduct research in the best research environment, whilst developing existing or emerging research strengths.

13 Targeted Priority Areas b. Targeted Research Areas Bioinformatics Computer system security Indigenous health and wellbeing Managing innovation Renewable energy and green technology Pattern recognition and data mining Safeguarding Australia (especially electronic security) Understanding culture and communities

14 Targeted Research Areas don t fit? NOTE: The following Questions and Answers are taken directly from the FAQ document on the ARC website: My research area is not listed amongst the targeted research areas listed in the Funding Rules. Am I still eligible to apply? Yes. Whilst targeted research areas do exist, the ARC will still welcome and accept any eligible Proposals from all research areas. All Proposals submitted for a Future Fellowship will be assessed and ranked based on the selection criteria listed in the Funding Rules. All funding recommendations made to the Minister will be based on merit. Is there a quota for the targeted research areas? No. Quotas are not set for Future Fellows in the targeted research areas.

15 Application Overview A. Administrative Summary B. Classifications and other statistical information C. Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) D. Description of Project/Program of Research E. Project Cost F. Budget Justification G. Personnel H. Host Organisation (if applicable) I. Research Support J. Statements on progress of ARC & NHMRC-funded projects K. Additional Details

16 Preparing Your Application The ARC s online Research Management System (RMS) is used to submit applications. Please allow plenty of time to prepare your online application, particularly if you aren t familiar with RMS Additional text is uploaded as pdf in the relevant sections: Part C: Research Opportunity & Performance Evidence (ROPE) Parts D1, D2 & D3: Project Description (8 page limit), References (3 page limit) & Strategic Statement (3 page limit) Parts F1 & F2: Justifications of funding requested from ARC (4 page limit) & details of UOW contributions (1 page limit) Part I: Research Support (20 page limit) Part J: Reports on ARC/NHMRC grants (1 page limit per report)

17 Future Fellow Candidates Mid-career definition: between 5 and 15 years experience since PhD. Specifically, a researcher holding a PhD awarded on or between: 1 March 1998 and 1 March 2008 Future Fellowship candidates must select a salary level equal to or greater than their current salary Future Fellowship Level 1 (C) Level 2 (D) Level 3 (E) Salary Salary (plus 28% on-costs) $108,461 $138,830 $131,296 $168,060 $154,129 $197,286 Current ARC or NHMRC Fellows may only apply in the final year of their fellowship Future Fellows must spend a minimum of 24 months of the fellowship at the Administering Organisation

18 Future Fellowship Level 1 Salary $108,461 (plus 28% on-costs) equivalent to Academic Level C (or at a salary level below) within an Australian University; recognised nationally as being influential in expanding the knowledge of their discipline area; and have made independent and original contributions to research, which has made a significant impact on their field of expertise.

19 Future Fellowship Level 2 Salary $131,296 (plus 28% on-costs) equivalent to Academic Level D (or at a salary level below) within an Australian University; recognised internationally as being influential in expanding the knowledge of their discipline area; have made independent and original contributions to research, which have a significant impact on their field of expertise; and lead and foster excellence in research, including research training supervision.

20 Future Fellowship Level 3 Salary $154,129 (plus 28% on-costs) equivalent to Academic Level E (or at a salary level below) within an Australian University; recognised internationally as being influential in expanding the knowledge of their discipline area; made outstanding contributions to research, which have a high level of impact on their field of expertise internationally; lead and foster excellence in research, including research training supervision; make/have made a contribution to high level research policy; and capable of initiation and management of large research projects.

21 Cross-Scheme Eligibility Cannot submit a FT for funding in 2013 and: a DECRA for funding in 2014 a DORA within a DP for funding in 2014 an LF for funding in 2013 an NHMRC Fellowship/Award for funding in 2013 or 2014

22 Host Organisations If the Applicant proposes to undertake research at an organisation other than the Administering Organisation, it must be listed as a Host Organisation within the Proposal. Future Fellows may conduct research at Host Organisation(s), providing that it is in the best interests of the research and its outcomes, and is of national benefit to Australia, for up to: 12 months over the life of the fellowship at Host Organisations that are not Eligible Organisations; or 24 months over the life of the fellowship at Host Organisations that are Eligible Organisations

23 What support can I apply for? Salary and on-costs for the Future Fellow Up to $50,000 pa for basic non-salary items, such as infrastructure, equipment, travel and relocation costs directly related to the Future Fellow s research. The following budget items are supported: access to national and international infrastructure (archives etc); expert services (e.g. transcription, translation, data collection etc); maintenance, infrastructure and equipment; one laptop every two years and access to high performance computers; travel approved by the ARC (up to $50k over 4 years), not including fieldwork; publication and dissemination of project outputs (to be included under other ) Duration of funding: 4 years full-time

24 What is excluded? General Infrastructure Salaries for personnel other than Future Fellow Student fees or stipends Teaching relief Hosting workshops or conferences Research Support including travel for other investigators Basic facilities (including but not exclusively) Computers Photocopying, telephones, postage, internet access etc

25 Strategic Statement by Admin Org Admin Org must provide a strategic statement which: a) details UOW s existing and/or emerging research strengths (e.g. Research Strengths, SRIs, Global Challenges, SMART, IHMRI, ACES etc), b) describes how the FT candidate aligns with and/or compliments the staffing profile of the Admin Org, c) outlines plans for integration of the FT candidate into the ongoing activities of the organisation at the end of the Fellowship, d) is signed by the DVC(R). Standard URC contribution 2 PhD stipends ($49,306 p.a. for 3 years) but can make a case for alternative research support to equivalent value

26 ARC Assessment Process Assessment of proposals is undertaken by the ARC and its selection advisory committees, which: assign independent readers/assessors to review proposals; identify ineligible proposals; rank each proposal relative to the others on the basis of the proposal and the assessors' reports; assess and recommended budgets; and prepare funding recommendations Rejoinder process has been forecast for May

27 Resources Associate Deans (Research) and Colleagues Can provide invaluable advice and review RSO Website: Future Fellowships essential information Access to external editorial advice Grant Writing Workshop presentations (hints such as Generic Features of Well Ranked Applications ) ARC Website: Information on previously funded grants provided in selection reports

28 RSO Contacts Specific Advice and Feedback Julie Matarczyk, Snr Mgr, Research Grants & Dev: ext: 4278 Sharon Clarke, Research Grants Manager: ext: 5815 James Walsh, Research Grants Officer: ext: 4097 Haylee Greenfield, Research Grants Officer: ext: 5874 Libby McMahon, Research Project Officer: ext: 1244 General and Research Management System (RMS) enquiries Jarene Colless, Grants Assistant: ext: 3160