Research updates

Contact information for MERI

General inquiries: bblaher@unimelb.edu.au
Grants: mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au
Graduate research: mgse-research@unimelb.edu.au
Human ethics: timm@unimelb.edu.au

You are invited to join a new graduate research student network

Are you a graduate research student interested in young children’s learning and education? A new network is being set up for graduate researchers interested in early childhood education.

All research and higher degree students with an interest in young children’s learning or education (aged birth – 8 years) are invited to join.

The network will initially offer monthly get-togethers for discussion, skill-development, sharing, networking and celebration – with snacks!

There may also be an online component – what we do will evolve in response to our members’ interests.

The network will be supported by the new REEaCh Hub (Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood) at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

Please send an email to Catriona Elek to express your interest in joining, or to find out more call 03 83440304.

Survey - Professional Learning Needs

The Centre for Program Evaluation is developing a framework that will help school leaders and teachers make decisions about professional learning needs, in relation to improving teaching practice. To ensure the framework is relevant and useful, education professionals (particularly school-based teachers and leaders) are warmly invited to share their views in an online survey.

The Delphi technique is used, where one survey is delivered several times for the purposes of ensuring that findings capture views from different educational contexts in Australia, and ascertaining where there are shared and divergent perspectives. Each survey should take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete, and it is anticipated that there will be two surveys in total to complete over the next six weeks.

Please feel free to distribute this survey link within your organisation(s) and networks. The survey will close on Thursday 27 June.

Additional engagement opportunities to provide input will also be offered through a series of workshops facilitated by the Centre for Program Evaluation in the months of June-July 2019. Questions or expressions of interest are welcome: please contact our project team here.

This study has been commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Video Abstract Awards grants scheme

The Melbourne Graduate School of Education is offering a Video Abstract Awards grants scheme. This is specifically aimed to assist researchers to create a 3-5 minute video to promote their abstract of a high impact journal article. Successful applicants will take part in a workshop on how to create a storyboard for an engaging 3-5-minute video abstract. They will then be supported by a professional videographer to film their video abstracts.

Access the guidelines and more information about this award via the guidelines document.

Applications for this funding can be located via Smartygrants

Applications will close Wednesday 3 July. Late applications will not be accepted.
Should you have any queries, please contact mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au

Call for applications
MERI Research Seed Funding Scheme for Grant Development Round 1 2019

Applications for MERI Research Seed Funding Scheme for Grant Development Round 1, 2019 are now open.  Access the guidelines here.

Applications for this funding can be located via Smartygrants and will close at midnight on Sunday 30 June. Late applications will not be accepted.

Proposals with budgets up to $6,000 will be considered and justification will be required for the expenses.

These funds are to be used to facilitate pilot research and/or research activities that will increase the competitiveness of a larger funding application and future funding submissions.

Awards are for twelve months and are only available for the 2019-2020 period. Any request for carry-over of funds must be made in writing to MERI. Please note extension is not guaranteed.

For any queries contact mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au

Call for Applications: MGSE Thesis to Pubs Awards 2019

The MGSE Thesis to Pubs Awards grants scheme is specifically aimed to assist Graduate Researchers (PhD and DEd) to write journal articles on the basis of their doctorate thesis, with at least one article in collaboration with one or more of their supervisor(s) (principal or co-supervisors).

The funding is available for individuals to be employed at MGSE as a casual Research Assistant, Level A6 for 200 hours (for a period equivalent to 1 month fulltime) within a time period of a 3 month block upon commencement of the casual contract. The funding is exclusively to support writing of journal articles.

Applications for this Award can be located via Smartygrants.

Applications will close at midnight on Sunday 7 July. Late applications will not be accepted.

Should you have any queries, please contact mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au

Now Open - 2020 McKenzie Fellowships

The McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellowships Program has been established to attract outstanding recent doctoral graduates to the University from around the world.

The Program aims to recruit new researchers who have the potential to build and lead interdisciplinary collaborative research activities inside and across Academic Divisions. The University will fund a three-year appointment commencing at Level A.6 in the University salary band ($91,125) plus superannuation. Fellowships will commence between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. Fellows will receive additional project funding up to $25,000 to be spent over the term of their Fellowship. Prospective applicants must discuss their interest in the program with the relevant faculty at the UoM, prior to submitting their application. Eligibility Exemption requests due Thursday 4 July. Applications due Tuesday 20 August. Faculty expression of interest processes may also apply.

Contact Kim Turner for any enquiries about the fellowship: mckenzie-application@unimelb.edu.au

Now Open - University of Melbourne - University of Manchester Research Fund

The UoM and the University of Manchester have established a research fund to deepen and extend collaborative research links between the universities.

Grants will be awarded for collaborative research projects that may include, but are not limited to, symposia, workshops and researcher exchanges.

Collaborations supported under this scheme should lead to external funding proposals that will support the next phase of research. Target areas should be of mutual interest to both institutions. The scheme expects to award up to ten grants: up to $10 000 per project for the Melbourne collaborator and $5000 for the Manchester collaborator for a funding period of one year. Each institution will fund its researchers' participation.

Closing date: Friday 28 June. More information: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/hmv6

Staff Writing Boot Camp

Date: Monday 15 - Friday 19 July
You must register in advance as places are limited. To register, contact: una.mcilvenna@unimelb.edu.au 

Are you struggling to get your research written up? Need some discipline to get (and keep) your fingers on the keyboard? Then come along to the UniMelb Staff Writing Boot Camp. This is a writing group run by members of academic staff. We work in 75-minute sessions here on campus with generous breaks. The key is commitment: attendance is strict, as is adhering to the writing schedule. No excuses. The idea is that when you feel the pain of writing, you look up to see everyone else in the same pain, and you keep going. That is the essence of Writing Boot Camp. Academics in any faculty or discipline can join.

Save the date - MGSE Research Showcase

Please save this date in your calendars for Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October for the Research Showcase, more information to come.

School Research Engagement

Shani Prendegast from Catholic Education Melbourne gave a presentation about School Research Engagement. Here are the resources from the presentation:

For more information they can contact Shani at sprendergast@cem.edu.au

Research Hub Rebuild

The Research Hub Rebuild project is redeveloping the current research website (research.unimelb.edu.au) to make it easier for visitors and external partners to clearly understand our research offer, value proposition and how to work with the University.

The new Research website will provide an open door via a phone or computer to the University's complete research offer (e.g. capabilities and resources, including platforms, Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes and Hallmark Initiatives). It will provide easy access to information that meets the needs of our external customers and strengthens collaboration with external partners.

The website will be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2019 for several external audiences.

To get involved or to learn more, please visit http://go.unimelb.edu.au/oqk6

NOW OPEN: 2019 ARC Linkage Projects

Applications for ARC Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2019 are now open in RMS.  This grant opportunity supports projects which initiate or develop long term alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.
Key dates for intake 1 – 2019:

  • Review Ready Applications due to RIC for review: 1 May 2019
  • Final applications due to MERI:  22 May 2019
  • Final applications due to RIC:  29 May 2019
  • Final applications due to ARC:  31 May 2019

A detailed timeline and submission information is available on the RIC Linkage Projects website.
Instructions to Applicants and FAQs: Now available at Grant Connect.

All documentation for this grant opportunity can be found on Grant Connect. While grant guidelines are available to view, you will need to register with Grant Connect to access all documentation.  To view the details for ‘Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2019’,  under Grant Opportunities, search for  GO ID: GO2093.

For More information and supporting document, please refer to RIC Linkage Projects webpage
Contact RIC: ric-arclinkage@unimelb.edu.au

New Mingyuan Distinguish Professorship of Education

Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University is excited to announce its new Mingyuan Distinguish Professorship of Education, which is generously funded by the Gu Mingyuan Education Fund, with the goal to produce cutting-edge research, and train a new generation of collaborative scholars in education research.

Download the details of how to apply.

Applications now open for the 2020 Fulbright Scholarships

The Fulbright Program is the flagship foreign exchange program of the United States of America, aimed at increasing binational collaboration, cultural understanding and the exchange of ideas. This year there are more than 100 scholarship opportunities across all disciplines and career stages (postgraduate, postdoctoral, academics and professionals) providing applicants with an opportunity to take part in an academic and cultural exchange, pursuing research or study at a U.S. institution. There is no better time to consider a U.S. experience! Applications are open until Monday 15 July.

MGSE Submission Policy

Please note that MGSE submission policy requires all proposals (internal and external) to be endorsed by the Dean, as Head of Department.

MERI close dates are set in advance of the close dates of the funding body (for submissions direct to sponsor) or the research innovation and commercialisation closing date (usually about a week).

If you are in a situation where you think you will be unable to make the MERI close date, please contact MERI and let us know that you are intending to apply, noting that the level of service MERI can provide in relation to feedback and assistance with proposals will be determined by the amount of lead time available.

MERI close dates are available on all funding opportunities found in the funding opportunities section below.

MGSE Grants Notice of Intent (NOI) Policy

If you are interested in making an application to any opportunity, please notify MERI at your earliest convenience. This applies to both lead (submitted through UoM) and non-lead proposals (those submitted through other institutions). This feeds in to the MGSE Submission Policy, and additionally allows MERI to provide the appropriate support for your application.

Key opportunities

The Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme

Open until 13 June

The Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme is a joint initiative of Universities Australia (UA) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The scheme supports exchanges for researchers to spend time at partner institutions in Germany and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at the University of Melbourne. Proposals must include an early career researcher.

Although UA coordinates the scheme in Australia, awards are funded by the participating universities with DAAD in Germany funding the corresponding German activity. This scheme is classified as an internal grant.

Universities Australia maintains a webpage on this scheme: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/iqa6

German applicants should consult the DAAD website: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/jqa6

More information on submission: https://research.unimelb.edu.au/support/funding/internal/ua-uom-germany

Sofja Kovalevskaja Award

Junior academics of all disciplines with outstanding qualifications, who completed their doctorates within the last six years, are eligible to apply for up to €1.65 million each, enabling them to spend five years establishing and heading their own research groups at a research institution in Germany. Applications close 31 July.

Visit the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award website.

Special Alert Call for EOIs: MacArthur Foundation 100&Change $100 million grant

100&Change is the MacArthur Foundation’s global competition for a $100 million grant to fund a single proposal that promises real and measurable progress in solving a critical problem of our time. They are seeking proposals that articulate both a problem and its solution. Competitive proposals will address a significant problem and provide a solution that is impactful, evidence-based, feasible, and durable. The University is convening an internal selection process to identify potential projects and choose the most competitive one for submission. We are currently calling for Expressions of Interest from academics who have projects with potential for funding at a $100 million scale. To receive the EOI form and for further information, please contact Georgina Luck.

Funding Items

Inviting nominations - 2019 CHASS Australia Prize

The annual CHASS Australia Prizes are a great opportunity for the sector to showcase the excellent work being done in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) in Australia.
I invite you to nominate yourself, your colleagues and others in your networks in any of the four prize categories:

  • Distinctive Work: an artistic performance, exhibition, film, television show, play, composition, creative or research project, or practical contribution to HASS policy - cash prize of $3,500 sponsored by Routledge
  • Future Leader: an individual under 30 demonstrating leadership skills and potential in the Humanities/Arts/Social Sciences - cash prize of $2,000 sponsored by Future Leaders
  • Student: an essay, research or creative project in any Humanities, Arts or Social Sciences area – cash prize of $500 sponsored by CHASS
  • Book: non-fiction - cash prize of $3,500 sponsored by Routledge

Nominations are open from anyone regardless of their years of training/study in the field, as long as the nominated work fits within the specified criteria. Please note there is no nomination fee for any category and self-nominations are welcome. The application process can be completed online.

Terms and conditions apply, please refer to the website for more details.

If you are interested, photos from past award ceremonies are on the Facebook page and information about past shortlists is available here: http://www.chass.org.au/chass-media-releases/.

Nominations will close at 5pm AEST on Friday 21 June applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Now Open - Applications for Fellowships at the State Library of NSW

Over $200,000 in research funding is now available for scholars to work with the Library's rich collections.

Download the summary of the opportunities, a media release and the link to the online application forms

Call for applications- Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia's 2020-21 Workshop Program

Applications are due by Friday 4 October

This grant is for workshops to be held between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.

ASSA’s Workshop Program provides grants to researchers in the social sciences for the purpose of funding two-day research workshops on issues of national concern. The program provides an arena for intellectual exchange, a forum for developing connections between research and policy, and a platform for supporting Early Career Researchers.

Workshops will be funded to a maximum of $9,000. This sum includes provision of $1,500 towards the cost of preparing a digested analysis paper. This paper should be an analytical summary of the workshop content, and is intended to be accessible to people with no special knowledge in the topic of inquiry. At least one of the workshop convenors must be an ASSA fellow, and at least two of the participants must be Early Career Researchers based in Australia. Workshops with an emphasis on policy often include government officials and policy analysts.

Please go to ASSA's website for information about the Workshop Program, and to download the guidelines and application form.

Please contact Dylan Clements for more information, or with any inquiries you might have.

Forrest Research Foundation

The Forrest Research Foundation is offering 4 post-doctoral fellowships in any subject area to outstanding early career researchers who wish to undertake their pioneering research at one of the five Western Australian universities. The fellowships are open to candidates who have completed their PhD since 1 January 2017, or who will complete their PhD before 31 December 2019.

Contact mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au for further information.

MGSE Research Professional Magazine

Curated Opportunities for MGSE Academics

Your funding opportunities can be found through Melbourne Graduate school of Education Research Professional Magazine, this curated fortnightly e-publication is updated simultaneously with the MGSE News release.

SCIP (Social & Cultural Informatics Platform) research data consultations

To arrange a booking to meet with a SCIP socio-informatician to discuss research data management and any informatics questions and needs (including help with arc applications), please contact SCIP to request a time, and provide a brief description of your requirements.

Important Publications Affiliations

It is important to ensure that all of your publications affiliations reference your position at MGSE, as this affects internal funding distribution. Please see example below:

Professor John Smith, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, the University of Melbourne

Publications Launchpad

Minerva Elements

Have you been entering your publications into Minerva Elements? If so, please also send your supporting evidence to MERI
This way, we can also include your recent publications in ‘Publications Launchpad’.

Below is a summary of publication and Minerva updates:

How To Add Publications To Minerva: Minerva Elements is the system used to add and update publications. A Minerva User Guide is available. It is also important to check against the University Publications Collections Guidelines on evidence needed for each publication category. Please contact MERI for further advice on publications collection.

Training: additional MGSE specific training sessions will be held in the coming months or contact MERI to organise a one-on-one session.