Guidelines
FLEET is committed to providing opportunities for FLEET affiliated Higher Degree Research (HDRs) Students, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Associate Investigators (AIs) to develop their networks and their professional skills. The FLEET ECR grant scheme is designed to provide all of these early career researchers (ECRs) with the opportunity to work towards these aims, as well as develop their proposal writing skills, and a chance to add a successful grant application to their CV.
The FLEET ECR grant scheme has two aims. The first is to encourage and explore significant new collaborations with Chief Investigators (CIs), international Partner Investigators (PIs), or Associate Investigators (AIs), and to build their research networks. As well as providing career development opportunities for FLEET affiliated ECRs, the scheme aims to strengthen collaborative links between participating organisations.
The second aim is to provide opportunities for ECRs to participate in professional development or other activities that are outside the scope of their usual research project, and have a strategic benefit to FLEET.
Applications are sought from all FLEET members for travels in 2023, ECRs and students are highly encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
HDR students
Applicants must have completed at least one full time equivalent year of HDR candidature, be currently enrolled, and progressing satisfactorily.
An applicant based at an Australian university under the supervision of an FLEET CI or AI and is contributing to the FLEET research program. An applicant based at an international university working on a topic closely aligned with Centre research under the supervision of a FLEET PI or AI may apply on the recommendation of their supervisor.
Other ECRs
An applicant based at an Australian university must be employed as a FLEET research fellow under the supervision or mentorship of a FLEET CI or AI. An applicant based at an international university and working on a topic closely aligned with Centre research under the supervision of a FLEET PI or AI may apply on the recommendation of their supervisor.
An Early Career Researcher is defined as someone who has been awarded her/his PhD or equivalent research doctorate within five years of the submission date of their application; or received her/his first substantive academic or research appointment within the last five years.
Scheme
- Funding of up to AUD$5000 is available to successful candidates, however this is dependent on the number of competitive applications in each round received.
- Funding for applicants based at Australian universities is available for visits to a FLEET collaborating, partner or associated institution (see list of FLEET collaborating, partner and associated institutions in Appendix A). Funding may also be approved for visits to other institutions (for example, an institution with which FLEET may be building collaborative links).
- Funding for applicants based at an international partner or associated institution is available only for visits to work with a CI or AI at an Australian FLEET node i.e., Monash, UNSW, UoW, RMIT, UQ, ANU, Swinburne. In exceptional circumstances, funding may be provided for visits to other Australian institutions where an Associate Investigator is based.
- The applicant should discuss the proposal with their supervisor at their home institution in the first instance. To be eligible, the applicant must have the support of their FLEET supervisor and/or host. HDR students must also have made adequate arrangements for supervision at the host institution. All applicants are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate approvals from their home institution.
- In cases where similar support schemes are offered by the student’s or ECRs home institution, the applicant must demonstrate that they have sought, or are seeking, funding support under the home institution scheme.
Funding rounds and closing dates
All rounds are now closed.
Allowable budget items
Funds may be used for the following items:
- return economy flight to the partner or associated university plus transfers
- food & accommodation
- visas
- registration fees
- other related items associated as negotiated with FLEET.
Assessment
Applications will be assessed by the Education and Training Committee on the basis of the strength of the proposal and its alignment with FLEETs strategic research priorities (40%) as well as the potential career development benefits to the applicant (30%).
Application information
Applications will be assessed by the FLEET Education and Training Committee on the basis of the strength of the proposal and its alignment with FLEET’s strategic priorities as well as the potential career development benefits to the applicant. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application as soon as possible following the closing date for the round. Successful applicants will be provided with details about arranging travel and fund access. Within one month return from the visit, the applicant must submit a one page report on the visit. They may also be invited to participate in an interview with the Centre’s Communications Officer.
To apply for Round Two, please submit the below form by COB 30 Jun 2023 with a two-page pdf containing:
- description of the proposal including timeline and objectives;
- benefit (to your career and FLEET);
- detailed budget, justification and value for money.
In addition, the application must also include:
- a 2-page CV, detailing your track record relative to opportunity
- for research fellows and students, a letter of recommendation from supervisor
For all inquiries about this FLEET ECR collaborative grant, please contact Dr Tich-Lam Nguyen, FLEET Chief Operating Officer at: tich-lam.nguyen@monash.edu or +61 3 9905 9278.
Apply at FLEET internal grants page, access via the FLEET member portal or FLEET cle(v)er KPI portal.