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ARC Discovery Projects Grants Flight DP08 from Monash to ARC. Dr Kathy Avent Research Coordinator Monash University Research Office 14 December 2006. Today’s presentation. Overview of ARC Discovery The Application Assessment Process Successful application GAMS. Overview of ARC
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ARC Discovery Projects Grants Flight DP08 from Monash to ARC Dr Kathy Avent Research Coordinator Monash University Research Office 14 December 2006
Today’s presentation • Overview of ARC Discovery • The Application • Assessment Process • Successful application • GAMS
Overview of ARC Discovery (DP)
ARC Discovery Projects (DP) • 1 round per year, applications due with ARC 2 March 2007 • 1-5 years duration • $20K to $500K per annum
ARC DP Objectives • support excellent fundamental research by individuals and teams; • enhance the scale and focus of research in NRP; • assist researchers undertake research in conditions conducive to achieving best results; • expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability; • foster the international competitiveness of Australian research; and • encourage research training in high-quality research environments. (p.11 FR)
Grant size Average 1st year funding per proposal 2007 $105,019 2006 $103,768 2005 $94,340 Average funding over project life 2007 $334,267 2006 $298,350 2005 $282,030
Grant size cont… Average approved funding per proposal 2007 64.3% 2006 69.4% 2005 72.4%
Applicant Roles CI - Chief Investigator PI - Partner Investigator Fellows: APD - Australian Postdoctoral Fellow ARF - Australian Research Fellow / QEII - Queen Elizabeth II Fellow APF - Australian Professorial Fellow
Researcher Roles & Eligibility: Chief Investigator (CI) by 1 January 2008 • Reside predominantly in Aus, temp/perm residence • Either: • Be an employee and derive at least 50% of Earnings from Eligible Organisation, or • Hold adjunct appt or equivalent at an eligible institution, or • be a Federation Fellow.
Researcher Roles & Eligibility: Partner Investigator (PI) • Not be eligible to be CI • Demonstrate significant contribution of cash, in-kind or other material resources from the researcher’s organisation, and • Take significant intellectual responsibility Cannot be both CI & PI
Early Career Researcher (ECR) status ECR • PhD or equivalent awarded on or after 1 March 2002 • ARC sets aside funds for ECR-only applications • ECR-only proposals are those where all researchers have ECR status
ECR-only applications ECR-only proposals assessed against the same criteria as other DP projects 2007 • 869 ECR-only applications (21.5%) • 14.6% success rate
Fellowships - APD APD • Awarded PhD or equivalent on or after 1 March 2004 • Duration: 3 yrs 100% research 4 yrs 75/25% research / teaching
Fellowships – ARF & QEII 1st ARF / QEII • ≤ 8 years’ professional experience since PhD award • Duration: 5 yrs 100% research • 100% salary option; must resign continuing position • 50:50 salary option
Fellowships – ARF & QEII cont… Subsequent ARF / QEII • ≤ 13 years’ professional experience since PhD award • Duration: 5 yrs 100% research • 50:50 salary option
Fellowships – APF APF • PhD or equivalent qualification or experience; no restriction date of award • not hold a continuing research-only position at a professorial level or equivalent
Fellowships • Limited number • Excellence of track record and proposed research project • Preference to candidates who move organisation • Need to justify Host Organisation, particularly where no move is intended
Application Limits • No more than 2 applications as CI or Fellow, and • may only be sole CI/Fellow on 1 of the 2 applications A sole CI application is one on which there is only 1 named CI / Fellow, regardless of the number of PIs involved.
ARC DP Research Projects Types of research funded: • Pure basic research • fundamental, no immediate direct benefit • Strategic based research • to solve practical problems • Applied research • to find uses for the above
The Application
Track Record Investigators 40% • track record relative to opportunities • capacity to undertake the proposed research
Part E – Project Description (10 pages) • E2 Aims & Background • E3 Significance & Innovation 30% • E4 Approach & Methodology 20% • E5 National Benefit 10% • E6 Communication of Results • E7 Role of Personnel • E8 References
Proposed Project Content Significance and Innovation 30% • does the research address an important problem? • how will the anticipated outcomes advance the knowledge base of the discipline? • is the research principally focussed upon a topic or outcome that falls within one of the NRPs,and if so how does it address it? • are the Proposal’s aims and concepts novel and innovative? • will new methods or technologies be developed? (p.40 FR)
Proposed Project Content cont… Approach 20% • are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the Proposal? • how appropriate is the proposed budget? (p.40 FR)
Proposed Project Content cont… National Benefit 10% • what is the potential of the research project to result in economic and/or social benefits for Australia from the expected results and outcomes of the project? • what is the potential for the research to contribute to the National Research Priorities? (p.40 FR)
Assessment Process
Selection Criteria • Track Record 40% • Significance & Innovation 30% • Approach & Methodology 20% • National Benefit 10%
ARC Panels BSB - Biological Science & Biotechnology EE - Engineering & Environmental Science HCA - Humanities & Creative Arts MIC - Mathematics,Information&Communication Sciences PCG - Physics, Chemistry & Bioscience SBE - Social, Behavioural & Economic Sciences
College of Experts (CoE) • 75 members • 1-3 year terms • approved by the Minister • experts of international standing, drawn from the Australian research community: higher education, industry and public sector research organisations
Reviewers Each application assigned to: • 2 CoE members • 2 OzReaders • 4 IntReaders (at most)
Assessment Process • Each reviewer returns an assessment on each of the Selection Criteria • The applicant(s) is allowed 5,000 character reply/comment on assessors’ comments • Two weeks to prepare response • Rejoinders submitted in GAMS
What makes for a successful Application (ARC presentation – Dr Mandy Thomas)
Top-ranked applications • Balance technicality and accessibility • Present problems and/or controversies and explain how they will solve them • Explain how the momentum of the subject demands funding now • Show how Australian work fits into the international picture • Back up compelling claims with evidence and others' judgments
Top-ranked applications cont… • Carefully moderate ambitious goals with plausible approaches • Display evidence of responsible but daring approaches to the problem • CIs have strong international track records • Present excellent progress reports on previous grants
Low-ranked applications • Too much technical jargon • Grandiose and implausible claims about outcomes • Don't support claims of excellence or progress with evidence • Relate to "backwater" research without momentum • Weak links into national and international research networks
Low-ranked applications cont… • Emphasize data collection rather than solving problems • Set negative or depressive tone about the state of the subject in Australia • Contain a high rate of spelling and grammatical errors • Text may not make sense at all to the reader
Grant Application Management System (GAMS)
GAMS What is GAMS? GAMS is the ARC’s web-based system used to capture research proposals, assessment scores/comments and rejoinders.
GAMS cont… Who needs GAMS? All researchers wanting to apply for ARC funding will require access to GAMS. All researchers named on an application for ARC funding will require a GAMS ID.
GAMS cont… How do I access GAMS? GAMS is accessed through the ARC’s website: https://gams.arc.gov.au/, using your GAMS ID and password.
GAMS cont… How do I get a GAMS ID? Complete the Research Office online request form at: http://www.monash.edu.au/research/academics/funding/ (follow the ARC links) GAMS IDs are issued by the ARC, on request from the Research Office. The ARC will send your GAMS ID to the RO; we will set your password and inform you of both the GAMS ID and password.
GAMS cont… What else about GAMS IDs? A GAMS ID is for life! GAMS IDs and passwords are case sensitive You can edit your own personal details in GAMS
Useful links and information DP08 • DP08 mailing list: email arc@adm.monash.edu.au with ‘Subscribe DP08’ mailing list in subject line • http://www.monash.edu.au/research/academics/funding/information/arc/ • http://www.arc.gov.au/apply_grants/discovery_projects.htm
Need help? Contact the Research Office: Tel: 61 3 990 53012 Email: arc@adm.monash.edu.au