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Faculty of Science Bridging Research Grants

1. Aims

  • To strengthen the capability and competitiveness of researchers and schools in the Faculty of Science by supporting high quality research proposals that have narrowly missed out on funding in ARC Discovery - Projects and NH&MRC Project Grant schemes and thereby help to ensure continuity of expertise and productivity.
  • To enhance the research performance of the Faculty of Science as measured by research publications and success in competitive research grant schemes.

2. Benefits

A maximum of $35,000 may be awarded per application. Funding is for one year only.

3. Eligibility requirements

  1. Funding to support ‘near miss’ ARC or NHMRC project proposals only
    Applications will only be accepted from chief investigators (CI1 only) whose ARC or NHMRC grant application has been rejected as being within the highest band below the cut-off for funding for 2009.  Priority will be given to those applicants who had a ‘near miss’ ARC DP grant application assessed within the B+ band, and the commensurate level for NH&MRC.
  2. Applicants not to be in receipt of significant and concurrent funding
    Priority will be given to applicants not in receipt of significant research funding from other sources.; Those with ARC or NHMRC funding will need to demonstrate the difference between the proposed research and that already funded. There will have to be significant differences in the fields of research, in order to be eligible.
  3. Applicants not to be undertaking an Outside Studies Program (OSP) or Long Service Leave (LSL)
    Applications will NOT be accepted from investigators who propose to undertake an Outside Studies Program (OSP) or Long Service Leave (LSL) during the term of the grant.  In the case where CI1 is absent for extended periods, the eligibility of CI2 to administer the funding will be made on a case-by-case basis.
  4. Limit on number of applications
    A researcher may be a Chief Investigator on one application only.

4. Funding arrangements

  1. Purchase of equipment
    Small items of equipment essential to the project may be requested. These must be justified clearly, and would not normally cost more than $20,000. This scheme will not generally support the purchase of items that would normally be expected to be provided by a school as a part of the research environment.
  2. Salaries
    Chief Investigators' salaries and stipends as part of a higher degree by research (HDR) scholarship will NOT be provided. Salaries for other positions may be requested and based on the Monash University rates including 21.34 per cent on-costs. All new appointments should be requested at the bottom step of the relevant salary scale. Requests to appoint at a higher salary must be fully justified.
  3. Travel costs
    Applicants should provide an estimate of all travel costs, including fares, and full justification for the travel.  Funding for travel may preclude access to the Faculty of Science travel grant scheme.
  4. Faculty Research Committee responsible for allocation of funding
    The Faculty of Science Research Committee (FRC) is responsible for approving the allocation of funding. Funds awarded must be spent in accordance with the grant outlined. Any variation will require the approval of the Associate Dean (Research).

5. Deadline for applications

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 14 November 2008. Late applications will not be accepted.

6. Application procedures (NB: there is no formal application form template to be filled in)

  1. Structure of application
    The application must comprise a research proposal that clearly indicates how this bridging grant project will improve the chances of success in a future application for external funding and should include a copy of the ‘near miss’ ARC or NH&MRC application (a copy of all assessors’ reports and the rejoinder must be included).
  2. Format of research proposal
    The research proposal must not exceed two pages (12 point font with no less than 2 cm margins) and be written for an audience not familiar with the research discipline. Excess pages will be discarded. The following headings must be used:
    • Aims: Provide a clear and concise statement of the (revised) aims of the project.
    • Research plan: Briefly outline the (revised) scope of the research to be conducted, indicating the weaknesses identified by the assessors, and state how the plan overcomes those weaknesses and positions the team for their next grant submission  Please also include an anticipated timetable for the (revised) scope of the research to be conducted. The selection panel must be convinced of the feasibility of the project.
    • Justification of budget: Carefully justify all components of the budget. Budget requests must be itemised and all items ranked in priority order  (A = essential, B = highly desirable, C = desirable). Budget items should not all be ranked as priority A.
  3. Highlighting of relevant parts in the ARC or NHMRC application
    Please highlight the parts of the project for which funding is being sought.
  4. Endorsement by head of school and provision of details of research funding
    The head of the school that will administer the project must endorse the application and provide details of any research funding held by the applicant. This should be in the form of a signed brief statement, attached to your application.
  5. Submission of application
    An electronic version must be emailed to tom.keegan@sci.monash.edu.au and a signed original printed copy lodged with Tom Keegan, Faculty of Science Research Office, Room G35, Building 19N, by the closing date.

7. Completion of report at expiration of grant

A detailed one page report, which includes an acquittal of funds spent, and a statement indicating the success (or otherwise) in securing outside funds, must be submitted to the Faculty of Science research office within two months of the expiration of the grant.  

8. Further information

Should you require further information please contact:

Mr Tom Keegan
Manager, Research and Research Training
Telephone:  (03) 9905 2079
Email:  tom.keegan@sci.monash.edu.au

 

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