Research updates

Contact information for MERI

Visit the MERI contact page to learn more about the team.

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

Ethics Update

A message from the Department of Education and Training
Although schools have resumed face to face teaching, and early childhood sites are seeing an increase in attendance, these sites continue to face various pressures. The Department will continue to reduce the burden on these sites by limiting researcher contact in the period ahead.

New applications
New applications to conduct research in schools and early childhood sites will not be accepted for the time being. This will be reviewed over the course of Term 3 informed by advice from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.

Phase 1 from 29 JunePhase 2 from 20 July
The Department will accept applications to amend existing RISEC approvals. No researchers may approach schools and early childhood sites.Researchers with approved RISEC applications may approach schools and early childhood sites to seek participants, subject to Government policy at that time.

Thank you to Renata

The MERI team would like to thank Renata for all her hard work in the last four months stepping in to assist Tim with Ethics. The implication of a new process to capture applications that have been submitted in Themis has resulted in better processing of applications.

Research News

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD Scholarship

    Closes Friday 31 July

    The Melbourne School of Graduate Education, in partnership with the Indigenous Studies Unit, is offering an eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate research student a PhD position with our Curricula Project team to conduct the next phase of delivering online teaching resources for teachers in accordance with the Australian curriculum framework.

    The successful candidate will receive a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship of approx. $31,200 pro rata per year for 3.5 years of the PhD (Fulltime) plus an additional top up scholarship approx. $17,664 pa for 3 years and $7,008 for 6 months through the 'David and Elizabeth Tudor Top-Up PhD Scholarship (in Indigenous Knowledge)'.

    For applying, research project enquiries and support for applicants, please contact Dr Melitta Hogarth.

    For more about eligibility and outcomes about the scholarship download the information sheet.

  • AXA COVID-19 rapid response grant recipient

    Jon Quach has been awarded a $300,000 AXA COVID-19 rapid response grant for his project 'Improving the mental health of young children after COVID-19'. This was a  competitive global callout and the AXA Research Fund has only awarded 10 grants. This is a great achievement for Jon and many thanks to the Advancement team of Georgina Luck and Tracy Houston for their amazing work supporting Jon.

  • Clean-up your Themis workbench by Friday 31 July

    It’s time to clean up your Themis workbench, in preparation for the new improved Ethics Research Manager (ERM) system to be introduced for Human Ethics in early Q4 2020.

    Please login to Themis to finalise and submit any draft Human Ethics research applications, especially those dated November 2019 or earlier. If you no longer require any drafts, then please copy them for future reference, by close of business on Friday 31 July.

    To find out more, visit the REPS Program pages on Staff Hub, or email the team via ethics-melbourne@unimelb.edu.au.

  • U21 Research Project - Request to Staff

    Dr Licho Lopez is conducting a Universitas21 funded study of how MGSE prepares the next generation of teachers to work with African diasporic students in Australian schools from early childhood to secondary. This is a comparative study that, in addition to MGSE, will also examine teacher preparation programs in Lund University (Sweden), University of British Columbia (Canada), Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile).

    In a time of heightened awareness of #BlackLivesMatter across the country, understanding how our School responds to the call to better equip the next generation of teachers to address antiblackness in schools is of utmost importance.

    Please complete this short survey by Tuesday 21 July.

    There is also an option to complete the survey using this WordDoc version. If you choose this option please e-mail the completed survey directly to lllopez@unimelb.edu.au.

  • Call for papers - Considering Viral Technologies: Pandemic-Driven Opportunities and Challenges

    In April 2021, The University of Melbourne will host the Seventeenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge & Society.  Since the beginning of the current COVID situation, lockdowns, quarantines, and stay-at-home orders have swept across our everyday lives – and at an incredible speed. To keep our societies functional during this time, we have turned increasingly to digital communication tools and networks.

    Visit the Technology, Knowledge & Society website for more information on Call for Papers. For more information about next year's conference visit the Special Focus page.

  • ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships

    The EOI process for FL21 will involve an application for review by an internal panel followed by an opportunity to receive feedback. Please register a NOI. Further details on this process will be available on the Staff Hub shortly.

  • Now Open: ARC Schemes - Expression of Interest

    Expression of Interest (EOI) for ARC schemes opening in the third and fourth quarter of the year are now available. If you are interested in applying for the current rounds please complete the EOI so that the MERI team can support you through the application process.

  • Update - Re:Cite APA 7th Edition

    The Library has now updated Re:Cite to reflect the changes to the APA citation style in the 7th edition of the Publication Manual. They will continue supporting both APA 6 and APA 7 until the end of Semester 2, 2020 after which time they will retire APA 6 resources.

  • New research systems and tools available

    Visit the Research Gateway to discover research IT projects being delivered to support our research community. You will find links under 'New systems and tool delivery' to see the rationale for implementing these projects, the benefits the Gateway will derive and resources they use to inform the development of our systems, including: research IT projects, research portfolio business systems roadmap, and a researcher journey map.

  • Applications open next week - OTP program

    Applications Open - Monday 6 July and close - Sunday 2 August

    The Open Talent Pathways program provides research students at Masters and PhD level the opportunity to embark on their first journey in the startup ecosystem. Successful applicants will be introduced to the tools and approaches of the entrepreneur and empowered to find and develop their own start-up idea.

MERI Events

  • Research Connect

    Date: Tuesday 7 July
    Time: 1pm - 2pm

    Register

    This session is recommended for both ECRs intending to apply for the scheme and research administrators, and will include time for question and answer.

  • Human Research Ethics Drop-in

    Date: Thursday 9 July
    Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm

    Join via Zoom

    Do you need a hand with your ethics? Not quite sure how to tackle a particular problem? Come chat with Tricia Eadie, Acting HEAG Chair, and Tim Mattingsbrooke, Ethics Consultant at MERI, and get all your questions answered. Save the date to your calendar.

Funding Items

  • 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.

  • Grants for PhD students working on creativity and wellbeing

    Applications close 5pm Friday 10 July

    COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented financial impact on the research community. The Creativity and Wellbeing Hallmark Research Initiative (CAWRI) has released a pool of A$15,000 to fund small grants up to A$1000 each, for PhD students working within the theme area. Restrictions apply.

  • Laura Bassi Scholarship

    Closes Saturday 25 July

    All currently enrolled masters and doctoral candidates, as well as academics in the first five years of their employment, are eligible to apply for the Laura Bassi Scholarship, which awards a total of $8,000 three times per annum.

  • Marles Medal

    Nominations close Monday 27 July

    The Marles Medal in Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) was established in 2020. The Marles Medal recognises research impact: the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health and wellbeing, the environment or quality of life beyond academia. In 2020, awardees will receive a cash award of $10,000. Please visit the website for key dates, eligibility, and how to apply. For any enquiries contact: ric-internalgrants@unimelb.edu.au.

  • 2021 Early career researcher grants open for applications

    Applications due to RIC by Monday 27 July

    Applications are now open for the 2021 Early Career Researcher Grants. This program aims to support early career researchers who demonstrate clear evidence of high research potential, to progress their research careers and enhance competitiveness in applying for external research funding.

    Grants are awarded for one year, beginning 1 January 2021, with a maximum value of
    $25,000 for humanities and social sciences and $40,000 for science and technology. Please see the RIC webpage for details of the application process and any specific submission requirements for your Academic Division (including faculty-specific deadlines). Eligibility Exemption Requests (where applicable) are due to RIC by Monday 27 July.

    Final applications are due via SmartyGrants and Themis by Tuesday 15 September. For any enquiries contact ric-internalgrants@unimelb.edu.au.

  • Research Funding Opportunity: Australian Data Partnerships (ARDC)

    The ARDC's Australian Data Partnerships will fund you to establish and develop national data assets to support leading edge research & broader impact. Funding available of up to $500k. Open call commences July 2020.

  • Woodward medal

    The Woodward Medal in Science and Technology and the Woodward Medal in Humanities and Social Sciences - are awarded annually to a member of staff for research published in the five years leading up to 31 December of the preceding year.The research must have made a significant contribution to knowledge in a field of science and technology or humanities and social sciences. In 2020 awardees of each medal will also receive a cash award of $10,000. Please visit the website for key dates, eligibility, and how to apply. For any enquiries contact: ric-internalgrants@unimelb.edu.au.

  • ARC Scheme Dates - Advance Notice

    Please note dates are subject to change. All official dates will be published on the ARC website's grant calendar you can also download the ARC NCGP Scheme Timeline 2020-2021.

  • 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

MGSE Policies

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.