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ARC Discovery Projects Scheme

Contents

♦ Discovery Projects ♦

*Please advise Research Services if you intend to submit an application*

Information regarding the ARC Discovery Projects scheme, including the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants & FAQs, Sample Form etc, is available HERE.

♦ Discovery 2013 Sample Application Form ♦

Discovery Projects aim to:

  • support excellent fundamental research by individuals and teams
  • enhance the scale and focus of research in the National Research Priorities
  • assist researchers to undertake their research in conditions most conducive to achieving best results
  • expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability
  • foster the international competitiveness of Australian research
  • encourage research training in high-quality research environments

Discovery Projects for funding commencing in 2012 include the new Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award (DORA), available to Chief Investigators. The Awards aim to provide opportunities to benefit, enhance and expedite the overall project for mid to late career research-only and teaching and research academics.

♦ Discovery Application Information ♦

Application Templates and Forms

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♦ Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) ♦

*Please advise Research Services if you intend to submit an application*

♦ DECRA 2013 sample application form ♦

In 2011, the ARC introduced a new scheme for early career researchers (ECRs) known as Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). Please note that while this is an element of the broad Discovery Program it is a distinct scheme to Discovery Projects, which will have a separate application process, assessment and separate criteria for both eligible researchers and organisations.

Under the DECRA scheme:

  • Eligibility is based upon time since PhD, and defines ECRs as those within 5 years of PhD
  • Previous recipients of ARC Fellowships who meet the eligibility criteria of time since PhD may apply, including Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD) recipients
  • There is no Pre-Submission Eligibility Exemption Request process
  • Only a single researcher may apply on each Proposal
  • A researcher may hold a DECRA and one ARC Discovery Project grant (including as a sole Chief Investigator)
  • Funding will be available at a fixed amount, up to $125,000 per year, for up to three years from the ARC.
  • Funding will be provided to support salary and project costs
  • Selection Criteria will be specific to this scheme
  • Up to 200 awards will be available each year.

Information regarding the ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), including the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants & FAQs, Sample Form etc, is available HERE.

♦ DECRA Application Information ♦

Application Templates and Forms

  • Part F - Budget Justification Template
    Use this template for the budget justification - a new table needs to be provided for each year.  Please consult page 17 of the Instructions to Applicants for futher information.

  • Part H - Research Support Template
    Use this template to provide details of ALL research funding (both ARC and other agencies) for the years 2011-2015 inclusive.  You need to list all projects, applications and fellowships awarded or requested.

  • DECRA Investigator Certification Form
    ALL candidates MUST complete this form and have it signed by their Head of School/Department BEFORE the application can be submitted to the ARC.  This is a requirement of the application (Funding rule 8.4.2).

♦ Future Fellowships ♦

*Please advise Research Services if you intend to submit an application*

In 2008, the Australian Government announced the creation of a new scheme, Future Fellowships, to promote research in areas of critical national importance by giving outstanding researchers incentives to conduct their research in Australia. The aim of Future Fellowships is to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers.

Future Fellowships will encourage proposals from researchers working in areas of national priority. Preference will be given to those researchers who can demonstrate a capacity to build collaboration across industry and/or research institutions and/or with other disciplines. Although international experience is important for Australian researchers, it is also important they have the opportunity to return home to continue their work. Future Fellowships will aim to encourage outstanding Australian researchers currently based overseas to return to Australia. One call for submission of Future Fellowships proposals is made each year.

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, surveillance and detection); understanding culture and communities.

There are 200 Future Fellowships to be awarded in 2011.

Dates for the award of a PhD (or having achieved equivalent status) to be eligible for a Future Fellowship) are: on or between 20 April 1996 and 20 April 2006.

Information regarding the ARC Future Fellowships scheme, including the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants & FAQs, Sample Form is available HERE.

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♦ Discovery Indigenous ♦

Formerly Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development (DIRD)

The Discovery Indigenous scheme provides funding to Eligible Organisations to support research programs led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and build research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers.

The aims of the scheme are to:

  • develop the research expertise of Indigenous Australian researchers;
  • support fundamental research and research training by Indigenous Australian researchers as individuals and as teams;
  • support and retain established Indigenous Australian researchers in Australian higher education institutions; and
  • expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability.

DI Funding Rules and Instructions

Information regarding the ARC Discovery Indigenous, including the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants & FAQs, Sample Form is available HERE.

The aims of the scheme are to:

  • develop the research expertise of Indigenous Researchers who have not participated as a Chief Investigator on a project funded under any of the ARC’s other funding schemes or previously been awarded an ARC Fellowship;
  • support fundamental research and research training by Indigenous Australian individuals and teams;
  • provide Indigenous Researchers with experience in the preparation of research funding Proposals; and
  • expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability.

Discovery Indigenous Templates and Investigator Certification Form:


♦ Super Science Fellowships ♦

The new Australian Research Council (ARC) grant scheme will be opened later this year for Early Career Researcher Fellowships in three areas of existing research strength:

  1. Space Science and Astronomy;
  2. Marine and Climate Science; and
  3. Future industries research - biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Key Points

  • The new fellowships will be administered by the ARC under the Discovery Scheme with two funding rounds available.
  • The scheme will offer 100 felowships in total (50 per round), each worth up to $72,500 per annum for salaries only (no project costs).
  • Super Science Fellows will be expected to participate in science engagement and education activities over the life of the Fellowship; to share their scientific achievements with the community and inspire the next generation with the wonder of scientific discovery.

Information regarding the ARC Super Science Fellowships, including the Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants & FAQs, Sample Form etc, is available HERE.

 

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