Macquarie University Research Macquarie University Research Fellowships Scheme (MQRF)Fellowships Scheme (MQRF)

Briefing Session 2012Briefing Session 2012Expression of InterestExpression of Interest

Amanda Barnier (Deputy Chair, Human Sciences)Robyn Langdon (Former Chair, Human Sciences)

Paul Haynes (Former Panel Member, Science)Britta Biederman (MQRF 2008-10, Human Sciences)

Jennifer Cromwell (MQRF 2011-13, Arts)

General Context• 7 Research Fellowships for 2013-2015• 1 dedicated to an Australian Indigenous

Researcher• Each receive 3 years full-time salary• Up to $50,000 for research costs

(maximum of $20,000 in any year)

General Context• Sponsors and Faculty Offices:

– Support the development of competitive applications

• Research Office:– Manages applications, outcomes of

selection process• MQRF Panel:

– Manages the selection process

2012 Panel (14 members)• Chair, Malcolm Choat (Ancient History, Arts)• Deputy Chair, Amanda Barnier (MACCS, Human Sciences)• Deputy Chair, Ian Wright (Biological Sciences, Science)• Daniel Fisher (Anthropology, Arts)• Victoria Flanagan (English, Arts)• Jeanette Kennett (Philosophy, Arts)• Marion Maddox, (CRSI, Arts)• Sean Turrell (Business & Economics)• Alberto Avolio (ASAM, Human Sciences)• Joanne Mulligan (Education, Human Sciences)• Nick Titov (Psychology, Human Sciences)• Ewa Goldys (Physics & Astronomy, Science)• Paul Hesse (Environmental Science, Science)• David Raftos (Biological Sciences, Science)

General Context• Funding Rules

– Purpose of scheme• Support researchers within three years of award of PhD who

have outstanding track record (relative to opportunity) or who show evidence of excellent research potential

• Support Australian Indigenous researcher at beginning of career

• Provide incubation period for ECRs to increase competitive Provide incubation period for ECRs to increase competitive edge & secure external fundingedge & secure external funding

– MQRF recipients must apply during 2nd year to ARC, NHMRC or other agency for a Fellowship

• Enhance research capabilities of existing & emerging areas Enhance research capabilities of existing & emerging areas of research concentration & excellence within MQof research concentration & excellence within MQ

– List of COREs at List of COREs at http://www.research.mq.edu.au/about/research_@_macquarie/corhttp://www.research.mq.edu.au/about/research_@_macquarie/coreses

General Context• Funding Rules

– Applicant Eligibility• PhD on or after 1 March 2009 or submitted by 29 Aug

2012• Or make case for ECR status (career interruptions due to

non-research employment, misadventure or carer responsibilities)

• Applicants who were/are PhD candidates at MQ, or Applicants who were/are PhD candidates at MQ, or employed by MQ, must make convincing case why it is employed by MQ, must make convincing case why it is appropriate for them to continue (or recommence) appropriate for them to continue (or recommence) research career at MQresearch career at MQ

General Context• Funding Rules

– Sponsor• Nominate from host Department; Nominate from host Department; need good Applicant-need good Applicant-

Sponsor fit; consult closely!Sponsor fit; consult closely!• Relevance of Sponsor’s research profile and association with Relevance of Sponsor’s research profile and association with

area of recognised / emerging research strength are important area of recognised / emerging research strength are important (need not be a CORE)(need not be a CORE)

• Australian Indigenous candidates encouraged to consult A/Prof Susan Page, HOD Indigenous Studies, Faculty of Arts (familiar with experiences of Indigenous academic staff at Australian Universities)

• Sponsor may be named on only one EOI & subsequent Sponsor may be named on only one EOI & subsequent proposal per roundproposal per round

• Co-sponsorship is acceptable (nominate Primary Sponsor for EOI)

EOI Application Process• See Funding RulesSee Funding Rules

– Contact potential Sponsor and Faculty Research Manager for host Department to discuss endorsement of application

– Download EOI template from MQ online recruiting system http://www.mq.edu.au/jobs/index.html (Ref: 016QZ Macquarie University Research Fellow) – click on MQRF header line (or from RO website)

– Do not apply via MQ online Jobs @ MQ system– Submit completed EOI template via email to

grants@mq.edu.au (cc to Faculty Research Manager)

Timeline

13 June Expressions of Interest (EOIs) due (note earlier Faculty deadlines)RO eligibility check

20 June Overview meeting with Panel & applications distributed

6 July Panel Shortlist meeting13 July Advise applicants of EOI outcome18 July Full proposals (from invited applicants) open

29 August Full proposals due (note earlier Faculty deadlines)

17 October Advise outcomes

EOI Selection Criteria• Track Record (40%)

– Relative to opportunity and career stage– All applicants expected to have track record of

quality publications showing promise

• Project Significance & Innovation (30%)– Does research address important problem? Will

anticipated outcomes advance knowledge?– Are aims and concepts significant and innovative?– Will any new methodologies or technologies be

developed?

EOI Selection Criteria• Approach, Resources, Environment, Sponsor

(20%)– Does applicant have relevant experience?– Are there appropriate infrastructure and intellectual

resources?– Does Sponsor have appropriate track record?– Why is MQ the right place for this project?

• Benefit to MQBenefit to MQ & National Benefit (10%)– Is the project associated with MQ current or emerging

strengths, especially in CoREs?– What are the benefits to MQ?– What is the potential for broader national benefits?

Completing the EOI

• Download EOI template from MQ online recruiting system or from RO website

• Follow the instructions!– See page 1 of the EOI form– MS Word format only, emailed

• EOIs that do not comply will be reformatted before assessment and ineligible material deleted

• Draft with enough time to get feedback

EOI Template• General rulesGeneral rules

• Include host faculty, your name & project title in header• Stick to the formatting requirements:

– Times New Roman size 12 font– Responses in boxes provided on form– Margins or line spacing NOT to be altered– EOIs submitted in Microsoft Word format– If using Track Changes in Microsoft Word, accept all changes &

save as final version before attaching to email• DO NOT EXCEED PAGE LENGTHS• Research Office will check all files, adjust formatting to these

standards and delete extra text before assessment• EOI template as a single Word file before emailing• Delete instructions & any detail not required before you email

EOI

EOI Template1.1. Applicant detailsApplicant details2.2. Project title (make understandable across Project title (make understandable across

disciplines)disciplines)3.3. PhD detailsPhD details4.4. Fellowship Sponsor detailsFellowship Sponsor details5.5. Host FacultyHost Faculty

EOI Template6.6. Research record relative to opportunity Research record relative to opportunity (1 (1

page maximum, use the two headings given)page maximum, use the two headings given)• Your research achievements, skills and evidence of impact in

your research field– What makes your research interesting and unique– How experience, skills, expertise will contribute to project’s success– Evidence of impact in the field (eg prizes, invitations – talks, lab visits,

collaborations; international links are good)– Any circumstances that have slowed your research & pubs (eg parental

leave)– [Include submitted & in-prep articles here (if ‘in prep’ link to published conference

abstract in Section 2 if possible)]

• Research funding– All grants awarded/requested (your role, all named investigators, funding

body, project title, years of funding, amounts (AUD)

EOI Template7.7. Case for Early Career Status Case for Early Career Status (if applicable)(if applicable)

• If PhD awarded before 1 March 2009, make a convincing case for ECR status

– Talk about career interruptions due to non-research employment, parental leave, carer responsibilities, misadventure

– Clearly state total amount of time research active since PhD was awardedClearly state total amount of time research active since PhD was awarded

8.8. Indigenous Research Status Indigenous Research Status (yes or no)(yes or no)

EOI Template9.9. Proposed project (1 page maximum) Proposed project (1 page maximum)

• PROMOTE YOUR PROJECT TO THE PANEL BUT AVOID DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC JARGON!

• What do you propose to achieve? Why is it worth doing? How will the research be of benefit, especially to MQ?

• Address the following:– Project Aims– Background context– Expected outcomes & outputs – Significance & innovation– A brief description of your approach

» Brief ballpark statements – tested experimental techniques; innovative paradigms already piloted in publications # - #; combining own & Sponsor’s expertise

» Just aim to get across you know what you’re doing» You can’t spell out detailed methodology & Panel know that

EOI Template9. Proposed project (cont.; 1 page maximum) 9. Proposed project (cont.; 1 page maximum)

• Address the following - Benefit to Macquarie University:– Is the project associated with any of MQ’s current or emerging

research strengths?– Why is MQ the appropriate place for this project and what are the

benefits to MQ from this project (especially important for applicants who have MQ PhD, currently employed, or employed in the last year)

– What is the potential for the research to contribute to the NRPs?– What are the potential benefits to Australia?

10.10. References cited in proposed project (1/2 References cited in proposed project (1/2 page maximum) page maximum)

EOI Template11.11. Curriculum Vitae (1 page maximum) Curriculum Vitae (1 page maximum)

• No specified formatting, so include basic information as well as information that is most relevant to and best supports your case for a Fellowship

• E.g., Research awards, research experience, other recognition and involvement, unique things that you haven’t put elsewhere in the application

EOI Template12.12. Publication list (4 pages maximum)Publication list (4 pages maximum)

• List pubs under following headings & in this order: – Scholarly Books– Scholarly Book Chapters– Patents– Refereed Journal Articles– Refereed Conference Papers– Other publications

• Referencing– Include acceptance date for “in press” (avoid “forthcoming”)– Don’t include pubs only submitted (mention in Section 1)– Full referencing details (full author list as published, page no's)– Include indicator of rank– Asterisk publications relevant to proposal

EOI Tips– Common reasons why EOI candidates not Common reasons why EOI candidates not

invited to submit Full Proposalinvited to submit Full Proposal• Administrative

– Correct EOI form not attached (eg only letter of interest)– Application incomplete– Page limit exceeded– Case for ECR status not convincing– Sponsor named on more than one EOI– Sponsor not confirmed

• Quality of application– Track record relative to opportunity not strong (tough field –

5% success rate)– Project significance & innovation not outstanding, lack of

clarity

EOI Tips– General AdviceGeneral Advice

• Panel comprised of senior researchers, but multi-multi-disciplinarydisciplinary

– Make project interesting, understandable & clear to people outside your area; avoid technical jargon

– Tell main story about project, as to intelligent lay person. Convince Panel why research is interesting, innovative & significant. Why does it matter? Why are you best person for job?

• Give yourself time to leave, & come back; get others to read it – a rushed job & a lack of polish show

• Top-ranked applicants are those whose project is very clear to all Panel members, backed up by strong, relevant track strong, relevant track recordrecord

EOI Tips– Research recordResearch record

• Don’t be modest but back up claims; state highlights (eg, developed / changed a paradigm). What impact have you had?

• Funding Rules state that the Scheme supports: – “…“…researchers who have an outstanding track record researchers who have an outstanding track record

(relative to opportunity) or who show evidence of (relative to opportunity) or who show evidence of excellent research potential”.excellent research potential”.

– In 2011, the selection of an Australian Indigenous Researcher In 2011, the selection of an Australian Indigenous Researcher required that the required that the candidate candidate “must demonstrate “must demonstrate engagement with Indigenous community, including engagement with Indigenous community, including capacity to mentor other Australian Indigenous capacity to mentor other Australian Indigenous Researchers.”Researchers.” This will be confirmed in the Full Proposal This will be confirmed in the Full Proposal stage.stage.

EOI Tips– PublicationsPublications

• Don’t assume Panel members know convention for your area• Include introductory sentence to clarify conventions (Is person

who did most of work usually listed first or last? Are papers in your area usually multiple-authored or sole-authored? Are conference papers the norm rather than journal papers?)

• Be sure to include indicators of quality (size of field, usual citation rates, scholars who are citing your work, quality of journals you are publishing in)

• Explain conventions for rate and quality of publication and quality

Final EOI Tips

–BrittaBritta–JenniferJennifer–RobynRobyn–PaulPaul