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BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS & ECRs

BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS & ECRs. Dr Judy Berman Manager, Research Development Office. WORKSHOP OUTLINE. Part One – Building a Track Record in Research Post PhD Pathways Major Australian postdoc Fellowship schemes

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BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS & ECRs

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  1. BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCHWORKSHOP FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS & ECRs Dr Judy Berman Manager, Research Development Office

  2. WORKSHOP OUTLINE Part 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

  3. PART ONEBUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCH

  4. 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?

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN ACADEMIA • Network and develop a profile – attend conferences, join relevant professional bodies and committees

  8. POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A CAREER IN ACADEMIA • Build a Track Record – PUBLISH, PUBLISH AND PUBLISH!!! (in high quality journals)

  9. 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.

  10. BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCHCASE 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

  11. CASE STUDY 2: A/PROF. SUE BROOMHALL (HISTORY) Teaching: History of Medicine (IC) PhD Women in Book Trade in Early Mod France ARC Discovery Households in Early Mod England ARC Discovery (APD) Women in Medicine in Early Mod France UWARGS Convents in Early Mod France UWARGS European explorers and determinants of health in early WA environments Linkage International Households ARC Discovery Poor in Early Mod France ARC Linkage Public spaces (IC) UWARGS Dutch public spaces ARC eResearch Web based repository of Humanities images (IC) ARC Networks Early European Researchers (IC)

  12. 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

  13. BUILDING A TRACK RECORD IN RESEARCHCASE 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’.

  14. 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).

  15. PART TWO FINDING FUNDING

  16. FINDING FUNDING • Graduate Research School • UWA’s Research Services • Community of Science (COS) database • Australian Competitive Grants Registser • Navigating a funding agency’s website

  17. GRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIPS OFFICEhttp://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

  18. 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.

  19. COMMUNITY OF SCIENCE (COS) DATABASEhttp://www.research.uwa.edu.au/cos2 COSis 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

  20. AUSTRALIAN COMPETITIVE GRANTShttp://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_services/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………………………………………..

  21. 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)

  22. PART THREE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS (ECRs)

  23. 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.

  24. 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

  25. 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.

  26. CASSFOUNDATION 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

  27. PART FOUR POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR MULTIPLE CAREER OPTIONS

  28. 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.…….

  29. 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

  30. 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!!!

  31. PART FIVE RESOURCES

  32. 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.

  33. 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 - Funding http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/fundingOffers Science Next Wave - Find a job http://aaas.sciencecareers.org/js.php

  34. 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.

  35. RESEARCHJOBShttp://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

  36. 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.

  37. 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

  38. RESEARCH SERVICESwww.research.uwa.edu.au Research Development Officers (RDOs) Dr Judy Berman x8033 Manager, Research Development Office jberman@admin.uwa.edu.au Room 2.08, Second floor, Central Admin Building Mr Tim Pitman x8034 tim.pitman@.uwa.edu.au Dr Debbie Thackray x4765 Debbie.thackray@uwa.edu.au Ms Rochelle Flemming x4611 Rochelle.flemming@uwa.edu.au Dr Margaret Jones x8525 Margaret.jones@uwa.edu.au

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