BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH

WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS &

ECRs

Dr Judy BermanManager, Research Development Office

WORKSHOP OUTLINEPart 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 1 – ‘postdocing’ Building a track record in research: Case Study 2 – key funding strategies Building a track record in research: Case Study 3 – interdisciplinary collaborations Building a track record in research: Case Study 3 – ‘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 ONEBUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN

RESEARCH

BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH

Post PhD Research Pathways:

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

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

PhD

Women in Book Trade in Early Mod France

ARC Discovery (APD)

Women in Medicine in Early Mod France

UWARGS

Convents in Early Mod France

ARC Discovery

Households in Early Mod England

UWARGS

European explorers and determinants of health in early WA environments

ARC Discovery

Poor in Early Mod France

ARC Linkage

Public spaces (IC)UWARGS

Dutch public spaces

Teaching: History of Medicine (IC)

Linkage International

Households

ARC Networks

Early European Researchers

(IC)

ARC eResearch

Web based repository of Humanities images (IC)

CASE STUDY 2: A/PROF. SUE BROOMHALL (HISTORY)

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…… 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 SERVICESwww.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: cos@uwa.edu.au; tel: 6488 3702

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITIVE GRANTS http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_servi

ces/research_grants/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 Grains R&D Corporation Grape and Wine R&D Corporation Horticulture Australia Ltd Land and Water Australia Ltd Meat and Livestock Australia Rural Industries R&D Corporation Sugar R&D Corporation

Attorney-General's Criminology Research Fund

Australian Greenhouse Office 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 FELLOWSHIPShttp://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 SCHEMEShttp://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_research_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: 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

UNIJOBhttp://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 - Fundinghttp://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/

full/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 Directoryhttp://grantsdirectory.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/

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/

GRDirectory.pdf

RESEARCH SERVICESwww.research.uwa.edu.au

Research Development Officers (RDOs)

Dr Judy Berman x8033Manager, Research Development Officejberman@admin.uwa.edu.auRoom 2.08, Second floor, Central Admin Building

Mr Tim Pitman x8034tim.pitman@.uwa.edu.au

Dr Debbie Thackray x4765Debbie.thackray@uwa.edu.au

Ms Rochelle Flemming x4611Rochelle.flemming@uwa.edu.au

Dr Margaret Jones x8525Margaret.jones@uwa.edu.au