DiscoveryEarly Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Julie Matarczyk and Rochelle Waren Research Services Office April 2011
Overview Key Dates What is DECRA Eligibility Selection Criteria Grant limits Budget Applying for a DECRA Essential documents DECRA Rules
Overview cont. Is this the right time to apply? Somefoodfor for thought Previous trends Future Fellows and APDs Good reasons to apply (or otherwise) What we can offer Who to talk to? Where to now?
Time Table Date Timetable 1 st of April Notice of Intent to Apply submitted to RSO 18 th of April Draft of complete application submitted to RSO in hard copy form 4 th of May Final applications to be submitted to RSO 13 th of May All applications to be submitted to RSO on RMS and signed off as final 18 th of May Application due to the ARC
DECRA Objectives There will be 200 DECRAs awarded for 2012 Support and advance promising early career researchers Promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways Focus research effort in the National Research Priority areas to improve research capacity and policy outcomes Enable research and research training in high quality and g g q y supportive environments.
Eligibility Candidates must at the closing time of submission: a) have been awarded a PhD on or after 18 May 2006 b) commensurate with a period of significant career interruption for maternityorparental leave; carer s responsibility; illness; international post doctoral studies; or non research employment (not exceeding three years), have been awarded a PhD on or after 18 May 2003 Recipients must legally, reside predominately in Australia for the duration of the Award.
Weightings DECRA Candidate 30% Selection Criteria Research opportunity and performance evidence (ROPE) Capacity to undertake the proposed research Does the research address a significant problem? Project Is the conceptual / theoretical framework innovative and original? Quality 50% Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance knowledge? Does the project address a National Research Priority area? Institutional i Support 20% Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high quality research environment? Are the necessary facilities available to complete the project? Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, if appropriate and promotion of research outcomes?
Grant Limits Candidates can only submit one DECRA proposal p this round. A researcher may only apply for up to two DECRAs over the period in which they are eligible. In addition to the DECRA, recipients may receive funding for one Discovery Project, or as Centre Personnel under the ARC Research Centres Program. A researcher holding an ARC Fellowship may apply for a DECRA in the final year of Fellowship fundingbut, cannot hold an ARC Fellowship and a DECRA concurrently.
Budget The maximum funding awarded under DECRA is $125,000 per award. Salary contributions from the ARC is $85,000, including 28% on costs. Project costs up to $40,000 Three years in duration
Budget What you can apply for Access to national and international research & infrastructure facilities. Workshop services Equipment Personnel 1 PhD stipend minimum of $22,860. Maintenance Travel, economy domestic and /or international costs. Publication and dissemination of Project outputs and outreach activity costs may be supported by to 2% of total project costs only.
Budget What you can t apply for Capital works and general infrastructure costs Fees for international students Costs not directly related to research ie visas. Accommodation lab and office space Access to film or music editing facilities Basic library collection Standardreference reference materials Office computers, photocopiers and telephones
Selection and ApprovalProcess Proposals are considered against eligibility criteria and compliance with the funding rules. Proposals will be assigned to independent assessors, from a range of organisations. Written comments on the proposal might be provided. Selection Advisory Committee will rank proposals relative to other proposals on the basis of all available assessors reports Where available feedback will be provided d on unsuccessful applications.
Preparingyour application Applications are submitted electronically through the ARC s Research Management System (RMS). Ensure you have an RMS ID set up and allow yourself plenty of time to create you application on the system. If you require an ID please contact the ARC at rms.arc.gov.au https://rms.arc.gov.au/rmsexternal/pages/main.jsf
Preparingyour application cont. There are 10 sections (A J) The following sections require additional text and should be uploaded as pdf; Part C: Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (including your publication list) Part D: Project Description (6 pgs max) and Strategic Statement (2 pgs max) Part F: Budget Justification (1 page max) Part H: Research Support (template on UOW website) Part I: Statements t t on progress for ARC funded dprojects (if applicable)
Part D2 Strategic statement by the Administrating i i Organisation i Existing and / or emerging gresearch strengths of the Administering organisation Positioning of the DECRA Recipient within a high quality research environment; and The research only and/or research and training pathways available at the Administering Organisation during and after the completion of the project
Essential Documents Can be found at: http://www.uow.edu.au/research/rso/uow096838.html QUESTIONS?
Is this the right time to apply?
Some food for thought. 200DECRA s onoffernationally offer ARC likely to receive in excess of 2000 applications National success rate of 10% or less
Previous trends Future Fellowships Also 200 Fellowships available each year 1st year saw submission of 975 applications for a success rate of 20.5% 2 nd year saw submission of 759 applications for a success rate of 26.4% **The first year was significantly more competitive
Previous trends Australian Postdoc Fellowships (APDs) Year Applications Applications Success rate Success rate of received awarded for APDs whole of DP 2008 676 120 17.8% 21.4% 2009 649 109 16.8% 20.4% 2010 654 112 17.1% 22.7% 2011 793 108 13.6% 22.0% APDs have always been highly competitive y g y p DECRA increases the number of awards available but competition will still be fierce!
Successful APDs over the past 3 years Year and Faculty Year PhD Awarded Journal articles Publications & Patents Conference other Papers publications Patents 2009 Science 2007 23 10 4 2009 Informatics 2007 18 2 2009 AIIM 2005 10 3 1 2009 AIIM 2008 22 1 0 2010 AIIM 2007 16 1 2010 Law 2006 5 3 2011 AIIM 2010 23 1 2011 AIIM 2007 15 Average 16.5 1.75 1.25.25
Goodreasonsto applynow? Track record relative to opportunity very strong Excellent institutional fit and support Only 1 or 2 chances left within eligible period
Bad reasons to apply now? I do not have a salary next year It is the only option left It is my last chance
Reasons to hold off? Avoid wasting 1 of your 2 chances in this very competitive round Track record not as strong as it could be Other beneficial activities to undertake, rather than writing the proposal (such as writing a good quality paper) Better knowledge of trends/strategies for later rounds
What UOW has to offer Grants UOW Small Grants (and others) COS online database Workshops Grant writing workshops Where to publish Writing for publication
Who to talk to? Associate Dean Research Mentor Research Services Office Colleagues Research Strength Directors
Where to now? Apply for a DECRA if it is the right time for you Talk to your Faculty and colleagues Find a mentor Get a plan in place with achievable targets Apply for UOWfunding orotherother smallerschemes schemes Publish Apply for DECRA next round?
Questions?
RSO Contacts Specific advise and feedback: Julie Matarczyk, Snr Mgr, Research Grants & Dev.: juliema@uow.edu.au ext: 4728 Claire Carter, Research Grants Manager: ccarter@uow.edu.au ext: 4349 Sharon Clarke, Research Grants Officer: clarke@uow.edu.au ext: 5815 Danielle Annese, Research Grants Officer: annese@uow.edu.au ext: 5874 Tansie Jarrett, Research hgrants Officer: tansie@uow.edu.au ext: 4522 Rochelle Waren, Research Dev Officer: rwaren@uow.edu.au ext: 4726 General and Research Management System (RMS) enquiries Sue Dellit, Grants Assistant: sdellit@uow.edu.au ext: 3160