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: mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au
Update
The move to a virtual campus presents us with a unique opportunity to focus on aspects of our research. Although conferences, travel and face-to-face fieldwork are currently not possible, research activity that can be conducted online can continue. It’s a good time to read books and articles, reflect on research, write conceptual papers, among other things. The University has created a dedicated site to provide guidance on managing research activity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Graduate Research
COVID 19 and the effects of social distancing and wellbeing will affect our Graduate Researchers (GR) in different ways. We ask that supervisors continue to meet via zoom fortnightly (full time GRs) or monthly for (part time GRs). Confirmation, completion and progress reviews should also continue to be conducted via zoom.
Some GRs may need to take leave due to career duties or increase workloads due to transferring teaching to online modes in a variety of educational and other work settings. Please document any disruptions that may impact on the GR’s progress and contact the Assistant Dean Research Training Associate Professor Kylie Smith if you have any questions or concerns.
A GR support package is available.
- Doctoral candidates in good standing who are nearing their 3-year milestone (between 2.75-3.0 EFTSL) will automatically have their candidature extended to 3.5 years EFTSL. Scholarships will also automatically be extended to 3.5 years. Please note that three-year progress reviews must still be held.
- If you cannot continue your studies in any form due to insurmountable research restrictions or valid personal reasons directly related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), you can apply for up to 60 working days (12 weeks) of leave. To do this, apply for leave via the RHD Leave of Absence form and select the reason COVID-19
- Graduate students may be eligible to apply for one or more categories outlined in the Emergency Support Fund.
The MERI team will still be providing research seminars via zoom and other activities like Shut up & write are being planned.
Further information and support is available at University of Melbourne’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): student advice and support webpage.
We have also welcomed Dr Gosia Klatt (GR coordinator of engagement) and Dr Peter Wolert (GR coordinator of coursework) to the team.
Ethics Update
The MGSE HEAG committee continues to meet remotely to review ethics applications during the COVID 19 disruptions. During this time only approved projects that are completely online or desk-based research can proceed. The Victorian DET and Catholic Education offices are not approving any new projects.
Do I need to put in an ethics amendment if I have to postpone data collection?
No. You will not need to put in an ethics amendment if your data collection has been delayed and the methodology has not changed.
When you do your annual report there will be a question asking you the status of your data collection. There will be a number of choices including:
Not yet started; Still collecting data; Completed collection. You will choose one of the first two options and there is then a section for comments where you can explain your delay.
Do I need to put in an ethics amendment if I am changing my data collection to online?
We are currently working with the Central HESC committee to streamline amendments which are changing data collection to online. Look out for further information in the coming days about this.
Drop-in Ethics Studios are still continuing via Zoom – look out for information about joining the meeting or contact mgse-ethics@unimelb.edu.au for details.
Software for Graduate Researchers and Students
Licenses for statistics software (SPSS & Stata), Adobe Creative Cloud and more software have been temporarily extended so that students and graduate researchers can access these tools on their personal devices.
- More information & new installation guides
- Online troubleshooting help via chat / service request provided by the Student IT team
- Student IT and eLearning Support
Updates on available software
Research Matters
A brief survey has been created to collect MGSE staff ideas about how we can all work together during this social isolation period. Jim, Sophie and John would like to collect suggestions for studies, research, or any exciting questions that these Covid-19 times invite. The survey will be open until Friday 17 April.
iThenticate for thesis submission now mandatory
The use of iThenticate at thesis submission has become mandatory as of 30 March 2020. Graduate Researchers will be required to provide an iThenticate similarity report of their full thesis when submitting their thesis for examination. Please encourage your Graduate Researchers to share their iThenticate report with you before they submit their thesis. For information on the process, please refer to the iThenticate flowchart.
For more information, please visit the Graduate Research Hub.
Research Computing Services - COVID-19 operations
In support of our virtual campus, Research Computing Services (RCS) is maintaining the full operations of our HPC, GPGPU, and Melbourne Research Cloud computing platforms along with our data storage and data management services to the research community across the University.
All RCS face-to-face training has been suspended until at least 20 April. RCS will continue to review this situation and are working to develop more online modules to enhance access and delivery. Please continue to monitor RCS services, contact them and check their training calendar.
Seminar: Undertaking your Confirmation
Date: Wednesday 15 April
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Venue: Zoom Meeting
Is one of your Graduate Researchers approaching their confirmation?
Kylie Smith is running a seminar to help GRs learn about the purpose of confirmation, what they need to do, and get all of their queries answered.
Research Ethics Drop-in
Date: Wednesday 15 April
Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm
Venue: Zoom Meeting
Do you need a hand with your ethics application? Not quite sure how to tackle a particular problem?
Come chat with Tim Mattingsbrooke, Ethics Consultant at MERI, and Tricia Eadie, Acting HEAG Chair, about any concerns you have.
No need to RSVP, simply join via the link on the day.
Graduate Researcher Selection Policies and Practices
Date: Thursday 16 April
Time: 1pm - 2.30pm
Venue: Zoom Meeting
Do you want to supervise new Graduate Researchers?
Join Peter Woelert to learn how you can better identify and support applicants who are competitive for entry to MGSE programs and scholarships. Learn how policies impact scoring and selection, as well as the funding context affecting MGSE scholarships.
A Journal of the Plague Year: An Archive of COVID-19
The Melbourne History Workshop in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies has launched the Melbourne node of 'A Journal of the Plague Year: An Archive of COVID-19' in collaboration with colleagues at Arizona State University, who initiated the project on 13 March.
Staff are encouraged to document how COVID-19 has affected your lives. Share your story in text, images, video, tweets, SMS texts, Facebook posts, Instagram or Snapchat memes, and screenshots of the news and emails - anything that speaks to the realities or paradoxes of the moment. The project is a way of helping our community to understand the extraordinary as well as the ordinary aspects of this pandemic.
In the future, historians will be also able to use this record of daily life to better understand the changing nature of our lives.
ORCIDs and Researcher Profile Support
An Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) helps with the disambiguation of researchers and research outputs, enables linking and reuse of high quality, persistent data, and connect research activities. Funding bodies including the ARC are strongly encouraging applicants to create and ORCID.
On 17/11/16 the University of Melbourne Executive endorsed a compulsory ORCID for all University of Melbourne academic staff. It is important for all academics to:
- Register for an ORCID, if they do not already have one.
- Connect their ORCID to their Minerva Elements account.
A new ORCID Identifier printable guide has now been published.
Entering details on Find an Expert through Themis
Please read and follow the steps below on how you can provide details of any grants you have been awarded that are not recorded in the Themis Agreements module.
Specifically “How do I add a biography to my Find an Expert profile?”
A biography is one of the first things people will see when they view your profile in Find an Expert. To add a biography to Find an Expert:
- Login to Themis
- Go to UoM Research Self Service
- Select the Themis Researcher Profile option
- Select Public Staff Profile
- Select Biography Details
- Enter your biography into the Biography Text field
- In the Additional Grant Information field you can provide details of any grants you have been awarded that are not recorded in the Themis Agreements module. Information you enter here is published in the Projects section of your Find an Expert profile.
- Click Save
Please note that this information will take about a day to feed from Themis to Find an Expert.
For further support, please contact Themis Support on 834 40888/Option 3/Option 2.
Journal of Artistic and Creative Education
Deadline for submissions: Sunday 31 May, 5pm
Studios are inherently practice-oriented sites that evoke and invite intercultural, sociomaterial, technological and integrative connections. This edition invites authors to consider place, site and space in ways that contribute to artistic and creative education. We invite authors to submit a 4000 word (or equivalent) paper or creative submission. We also invite interested parties to register their interest as reviewers for this exciting special issue of JACE.
Minivera Elements - updating publications
MGSE academic staff are encouraged to add their research outputs in the university publications system: Minerva Elements.
- All continuing and fixed term staff are required to lodge their research outputs in the School Annual Research Output Collection
- Casual Academic staff and research students are encouraged to lodge their research outputs
- For all staff and students, it is essential to lodge the research outputs where they relate to funded research activities.
Annual Research CollectionMERI is looking to deploy an improved process for the annual collection of publications at MGSE. Before the process is put into practice, an audit of publications accepted during 2019 across the following categories is required:
- A1 Books - authored - research
- B1 Chapters in research books
- C1 Journal articles - refereed
- F1 Conference publications - full written paper - refereed
Please send a list of your research outputs published from 1 January 2019 until today. The MERI team will check if they are already listed in Minerva Elements. These lists can be sent to mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au.
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 into the MGSE Submission Policy, and additionally allows MERI to provide the appropriate support for your application.
Key opportunities
2021 Melbourne Research (Career Interruptions) Fellowships
closes Wednesday 15 April 3pm AEST
Applications now open: ricunimelb.smartygrants.com.au/MRF2021
To enable eligible researchers who are University of Melbourne staff and who do not have a continuing tenured research position, whose careers have been severely interrupted, delayed or otherwise constrained, to enhance or re-establish their academic research careers. Includes up to 12 months of salary and project costs of $20,000. Must have completed a PhD degree between 14 April 2010 and 14 April 2017, or have experienced exceptional circumstances.
Applicants must be able to commence no later than 30 June 2021.
Jeff Northfield Memorial Award for Excellence in Teacher Research 2020
closes Sunday 19 April 5pm AEST
Applications are now open for this award initiated in recognition of the significant contribution of former Monash Education academic Jeff Northfield, in supporting and conducting teacher research. The Jeff Northfield Memorial Award for Excellence in Teacher Research is awarded to one recipient each year who demonstrates an ongoing and current commitment to teacher research. The recipient receives a cheque for AUD$1,000 and a certificate in recognition of the award.
Eligibility
All teacher researchers in Victorian Schools are eligible.
Submit and contact
Send your application or enquries to edu-alumni@monash.edu.
2021 McKenzie Fellowships Program
closes Thursday 21 May 5pm AEST
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 the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Starting at salary level A6, plus $25,000 project funds. Applicants must be able to commence no later than 30 June 2021.Expression of Interest
For more information visit the McKenzie Fellowship page.
Call for papers: ANAT SPECTRA 2020 Symposium
Submissions due Monday 1 June
Artists, scientists and researchers collaborating across disciplines are invited to submit paper proposals for the ANAT (Australian Network for Art and Technology) SPECTRA 2020 Symposium. ANAT SPECTRA is Australia's pre-eminent showcase of the best research and creative work being produced through interdisciplinary collaborations between artists and scientists today.
Presented by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music in partnership with the Australian Network for Art and Technology, ANAT SPECTRA 2020 is a 3-day symposium with exhibitions, immersive screenings, performances and public talks from 30 September-4 October on the Faculty's Southbank campus.
The deadline for abstracts is 1 June, with notification of acceptance 15 July.
More information on submissions visit the ANAT SPECTRA 2020 Symposium page.
Funding Items
Australia-Japan Foundation Grants (DFAT)
closes Tuesday 14 April
These grants build and strengthen links between Australia and Japan. They enable the cultivation of expertise and shared interests. Grants are worth $AUD120,000 each for up to three years.
Student Services and Amenity Fees (SSAF) Grants
closes Sunday 19 April
Do you have an idea for a project that will benefit a wide and diverse reach of students? Turn that idea into reality with a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Grants of up to $20,000. Securing a grant for your project is a great opportunity to develop some great skills for yourself while benefiting the student community in a meaningful way. Applications opened 23 March and close 19 April 2020. *SSAF grants are open to both students and staff applicants.
Student Engagement Grants (SEG)
closes Sunday 19 April
Do you have an idea for making an impact in the community? Does it address a social, economic, environmental or cultural issue? Project manage that idea into reality with a Student Engagement Grant of up to $10,000. Securing a grant for your engagement activity is a great way to give back to your community while developing some great skills for yourself. Applications opened 23 March and close 19 April 2020. *SEG grants are open to students only.
ARC Special Research Initiatives for Australian Society, History and Culture
To support excellent research into all aspects of Australian society, history and culture from ancient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander beginnings to modern-day Australia. Applicants can request between $20,0000 and $100,000 p.a. for between 1 to 3 consecutive years. Funding will commence as of 1st October 2020.
Notice of Intent: Open Now
| Date | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Draft Applications to MERI | Wednesday 18 March | 9am |
| Draft Applications to RIC | Wednesday 25 March | 9am |
| Final Applications to RIC | Wednesday 15 April | 5pm |
For more information visit the ARC Special Initiatives page.
ARC Linkage Projects
If you are contemplating submitting an application in round 2 or 3, please notify MERI.
Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 2
- Submit review ready application to MERI: 29 June 2020
Submit review ready application to RIC: 6 July 2020
Request not to Assess due to RIC: 20 July 2020
Request not to Assess Close: 22 July 2020 - Final Application due to MERI: 22 July 2020
Final Application due to RIC: 29 July 2020
Final Applications due to ARC: 5 August 2020
Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 3
- Submit review ready application to MERI: 26 October 2020
Submit review ready application to RIC: 2 November 2020
Request not to Assess due to RIC: 15 November 2020
Request not to Assess Close: 17 November 2020 - Final Application due to MERI: 17 November 2020
Final Application due to RIC: 24 November 2020
Final Applications due to ARC: 1 December 2020
Australian-American Fulbright Commission, AU
closes Monday 6 July
The Australian-American Fulbright Commission invites applications for its professional scholarship in vocational education and training. Applications are open to employees within the vocational education and training sector as well as training leaders in business and industry to undertake a short course or research programme in this field at a US institution. The scholarship may also be used for other forms of professional development, including visits to relevant organisations.
Scholarships include living, travel and dependent allowances, and health insurance worth up to AUD 100,000, for up to four months. Visit the Fulbright Australia page for further information.
Economic and Social Research Council
Open call for project ideas and significant grant opportunities (may need UK partner). Applications are open on an ongoing basis.
The Ford Foundation - Challenging Inequality
The Ford Foundation is a prestigious United States funder that has fellowship and project opportunities available in the broad thematic area of Challenging Inequality. Having a United States partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Applications are open on an ongoing basis
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has a grants database with fellowship and project opportunities that includes Higher Education in the Humanities, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Diversity, Scholarly Communications, and International Higher Education. Having a United States partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.
The Economic and Research Council
Applications are open on an ongoing basis
The Economic and Social Research Council has Calls for Proposals for a range of project ideas and specific grant opportunities. Having a United Kingdom partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.
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.