Research Funding UOW External Grants Claire Carter Research

Research Funding: UOW & External Grants Claire Carter Research Grants Manager Research Services Office

Overview • Why do I want a grant? • How do I apply? • UOW Grants Schemes • External Grants Schemes • Tips for success • Resources & Contacts Schachman H K J. Biol. Chem. 2006; 281: 6889 -6903

Why do I want a Grant? § Start my research § Build my track record § Get pilot data to support a future grant application § Establish collaboration with other researchers/ universities/organisations § Gain experience in grant writing § Become experienced in grant management

How do I know what’s available? § Contact your Grants Officer § http: //www. uow. edu. au/research/rso/grants/UOW 072925. html § Ask experienced colleagues § Search COS Funding Opportunities database § http: //www. uow. edu. au/research/rso/UOW 077796. html § RSO Grants Calendar and Website § http: //www. uow. edu. au/research/rso/grants/index. html § Look out for RSO emails announcing schemes § Explore the Internet § Identify relevant funding agencies (discipline based) and track them

How do I apply? • Read the relevant guidelines and application form (download from website) • Contact your Grants Officer • Advise your FRC Chair / Associate Dean (Research) • Ensure you have all required forms signed • UOW External Grants Submission form • Faculty approval forms • Certification forms • Any others specified by the scheme • Give yourself plenty of time!

UOW Grant Opportunities https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/raid/rso/internalfunding/index. html

UOW Internal Grants • Faculty Grants – Contact your FRC Chair / Associate Dean (Research) for more information • University Research Committee (URC) – URC Small Grants – URC Research Partnerships Grants – URC RIBG (Pool 2) Grants • University Internationalisation Committee (UIC) – UIC International Links Grants

Small Grants Scheme Aim: to support Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to: 1. develop their research profile and 2. manage research projects to increase their potential to obtain external funding (eg ARC Discovery and NHMRC Project grants) • 1 yr funding; $5 -20 K • Applications close in July each year For more information, visit: https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/raid/rso/internalfunding/UOW 045662. html

Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG) Pool 2 Aim: to support equipment costs associated with research grants • Annual funding round; typically $20 -75 K • Applications close in June each year For more information, visit: https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/raid/rso/ribg-p 2/UOW 022093. html

Research Partnerships Grants Scheme Aim: to assist researchers establish industry and Government collaborations that will lead to external funding (eg ARC Linkage Projects and NHMRC Partnership Projects) • • 1 year funding: $5 K-$20 K contribution Matching partner organisation (cash and in-kind) Partner organisation minimum cash contribution of 20% Two rounds per year (May and October) For more information, visit: https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/raid/rso/urc-research-partnership/UOW 021755. html

UIC International Links Grants Aim: to assist researchers to enhance research and teaching links with overseas institutions • • Annual funding round; up to $10 K Focus on links with target country ($50 K pool) Targeting Faculty-related links ($75 K pool) Closing date mid June For more information, visit: https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/raid/rso/uic -international/UOW 021758. html

External Grant Opportunities http: //www. uow. edu. au/research/rso/UOW 009249. html

How do I win a Grant? 1. Understand the requirements § Are you (and UOW) eligible to apply? § What are the Selection Criteria? § Is this the right scheme for you? § Understand the assessment process § Know your audience § Put yourself in the assessors’ shoes

How do I win a Grant? 2. Give yourself time • Be aware of the deadlines (including internal ones!) • Allow time for feedback and review from Faculty Research Chairs/peers/ Grants team • Allow for contingencies • Proof read and complete checklist • A polished application has a greater chance of success

How do I win a Grant? 3. Make use of available support • • • Research Services Office Managers of Innovation and Commercialisation Associate Deans of Research Faculty Research Support Coordinators Supervisors and colleagues

RSO Services - Grants • Grants writing workshops • 4 sessions each year • Research Grant Information Sessions • (targeting specific schemes: eg ARC Discovery and Linkage Projects, NHMRC Project Grants) • Research Grants Management Workshops • (see PODS website for more info) https: //intranet. uow. edu. au/pods/calendar/index. html • Application development advice • particularly in relation to budgets and compliance • Research Grants website • http: //www. uow. edu. au/research/rso/grants/index. html

Some writing tips: • • Follow the guidelines and formatting requirements Make a clear argument Remember to engage the non-expert Ensure your approach is well described and plausible Justify your budget Address all selection criteria Use headings and sub-headings to break up text Use bullet points

Common selection criteria • Alignment with scheme aims • Strength of research project – Clear explanation of research objectives – Approach and training – Overall benefit (to the institution and/or Australia) • Excellent team track record • Budget and Justification • Nature of the alliance and commitment from Partners (if applicable)

Tips for success 1. Seek advice from an experienced colleague or mentor 2. Spend time on strategic planning, identifying research goals and the corresponding resource needs 3. Familiarise yourself with the funding criteria and guidelines 4. Be attentive to funding cycles 5. Take time to carefully write your proposal 6. Make use of all available support 7. Ensure you meet all ethics requirements (of UOW and funding agency) 8. If you are unsuccessful, use reviewers' feedback to revise your research goals and future proposal

How NOT to win a Grant! • Not following guidelines/instructions (eg formatting and other requirements) • Using too much jargon and technical terms • Making overstated claims about outcomes • Requesting budget items that aren’t allowed • Packing every page with text • Using overly long sentences

Research Services Office Contacts • Julie Matarczyk, Snr Manager, Research Grants & Development juliema@uow. edu. au ext: 4728 • Claire Carter, Research Grants Manager: ccarter@uow. edu. au ext: 4349 • Sharon Clarke, Grants Officer ext: 5815 (HBS, Medical, Engineering): clarke@uow. edu. au • Elizabeth Phillips, Grants Officer ext: 4522 (Arts, Creative Arts, Education, Informatics, Commerce): eliza@uow. edu. au • Danielle Annese, Grants Officer ext: 5874 (Science, Law) annese@uow. edu. au • Sue Dellit, Grants Assistant: sdellit@uow. edu. au ext: 3160

Questions ?

Example proposal layout (refer to the specific guidelines for your scheme) • • Project Title Aims & Background – Include a clear and concise statement of project aims, identifying anticipated results and outcomes and provide a brief background • Significance & Innovation – Describe why the research (and the problem it addresses) is significant and – Explain why the project aims and concepts are innovative • Approach & Methodology – Outline the conceptual framework, design and methods and demonstrate that these are adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the project – Explain the roles of all personnel involved • Timetable – Provide a timeframe for the project and specific activities to be undertaken • Justification of the budget – Explain WHY the project requires the resources and associated costs requested in the budget • Flow on Expectations – Demonstrate how this application/project will lead to subsequent applications for external funding, future research, enhanced collaboration, positive national benefit, etc.