Early Career Researcher Program

This program supports on a competitive basis, early career researchers with a demonstrated research capacity who have little or no experience in applying for financial support and conducting funded research.  The support of this program will identify the applicant as a member of a research group at USQ and enable the publication of their research outcomes that will assist the researcher in the development of a research track record and enhance future applications for research funding support.

Duration of funds

Projects will be supported for a twelve-month period and applications are invited from individuals or small teams (all of whom must be early career researchers).  Funds will be available as from 1 January 2012 with the expectation that allocations will be expended in full or committed for expenditure by 31 December 2012. Funds from this program are not intended to support a project that is for a research higher degree.

Eligibility

Eligibility is restricted to:

• Staff currently holding full-time or fractional appointments at Academic Level A or B
• Not previously received central University or external support in a competitive research funding round (receipt of faculty or centre funding does not exclude applicants)
• Teaching-only appointees are not eligible to apply
• Early Career Researcher (ECR) = PhD 5 years post award

It is expected that applicants will

• Have completed a research higher degree
• Will not be participating in higher degree studies over the funding period
• Show evidence of beginning a track record in publications

An applicant must also

• Demonstrate alignment with a USQ Research Centre
• Nominate a mentor, who is an established researcher at the USQ, and is prepared to provide advice on the preparation of the application and make a committment to offer support tothe applicant in the conduct of the proposed project.