Faculty Research Grants Guidelines for Grant Applications

Aims of the Faculty Research Grants

• To develop a strong research environment within the Faculty
• To promote collaborations between Faculty Schools/Centres and other local, national and international partners
• To foster research projects with the potential for continued external funding
• To foster early career staff in undertaking research project

This year, the Faculty will fund four categories of research grants as detailed below. A total amount of $250,000.00 of funding is available for this year.  There will be a specific amount of funding allocated to each category of grant as detailed below.

Early career researchers will not be a separate category but will be assessed against different criteria in any of the four categories.

General Conditions

• Applicants may only apply to one category (i.e. one application) as a First Principal Investigator. 
• Early career researchers must submit their application with a mentor. Early career researchers are defined as academic staff members (levels A and B) who have not previously received a grant listed in the National Competitive Grants Index (or a Faculty Research Grant) as a principal investigator and who have completed a research higher degree in the last five years.
• Level E staff may only apply for Category 4 grants but can be mentors on applications with early career researchers.  Mentors will need to provide a mentoring plan with their application demonstrating the mentoring they plan to undertake.  Please see application form for more details. 
• Applicants who have received two Faculty Research Grants in the past three years cannot apply in the current year unless they have applied for at least one external grant or have produced at least one publication in the past three years Applicants will be required to provide this evidence in the application form.
• Research fellows (level A and above) employed on contracts are eligible to apply provided they have the support of their head of school or centre director.
• Staff employed in adjunct or honorary positions cannot be named as First Principal Investigator.

Category 1:  Pilot Study/Proof of Concept Grant

($80,000 has been allocated to this category)

The purpose of the Pilot Study/Proof of Concept Grants is to enable staff to undertake a pilot study or proof of concept which will lead to applicants applying for external funding. The applicant/s should identify the external scheme(s) to which they intend to apply for funding when the pilot study/proof of concept project is completed, including the proposed timeframe for the external application(s), total indicative budget and duration.  The reviewers will assess the project’s potential to lead to an application in the external scheme(s). 

1. Academic eligible staff levels A to D may apply.
2. A maximum of $10,000 can be requested. 

Examples of acceptable requests for funding:

• Design and /or test tools
• Test method
• Test concept

Category 2: Research Project Grant

($50,000 has been allocated to this category)

The purpose of the Research Project Grant is to develop smaller research projects that have a high likelihood of leading to publication or external funding.

1. Academic eligible staff levels A to D may apply.
2. A maximum of $10,000.00 can be requested.
3. Applications should demonstrate that the project will produce:

A major competitive research grant proposal that will be submitted within 18 months of receipt of funding and be administered fully by La Trobe University; and/or

At least one peer reviewed referee paper within 18 months of receipt of funding.

Examples of acceptable requests for funding:

• Literature review/ systematic review
• Research assistance salaries where this directly relates to the development of a grant proposal¹;
• Collecting data;
• Data analysis;
• Visiting Fellows where there are specific outcomes leading to a major grant application.  These must be clearly stated.

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1. Normally, Research Assistants should be appointed at the RA02 level but if a Higher RA level is required then sufficient justification must be provided in the application.  For example, buying out time to complete a literature review is a permitted use of these funds.

Category 3: Publication Support Grant

($30,000 has been allocated to this category

The purpose of the Publication Support Grant is to enable time release or extension of a fixed term contract for staff to undertake the writing up of a publication/s that is likely to expeditiously result in A or A* academic publication(s).

1. Academic eligible staff levels A to D may apply.
2. A maximum of $3,000.00 can be requested.

Examples of acceptable requests for funding:

• Funding of or extension of contract for a research assistant at the end of a grant to enable writing up of publication/s
• Time release from teaching/marking duties to write publication/s.

Category 4: Collaborative Grants

($90,000 has been allocated to this category)

The purpose of Faculty Collaborative Grants is to facilitate the development of significant multi disciplinary research projects which have a high probability of attracting external funding support. Within this category it is anticipated that only 6 applications will be funded.

1. Academic eligible staff levels A to E may apply.
2. The first Principal Investigator must have a research track record which is competitive for a chief investigator in external grants schemes (e.g. NHMRC, ARC).
3. Applications must demonstrate that the research project involves multidisciplinary collaborations between units (schools, departments and centres) within the Faculty or between Faculty units and partners in other Faculties or external to the University.
4. Funding is primarily for research project development that has a high probability of attracting external research funding, including:
• Systematic reviews
• Collaborative pilot studies
• The development of research methodologies and tools
• Collaboration activities
• Grant application preparation
5. Faculty Collaborative Grants must lead to the submission of a significant multidisciplinary collaborative grant application based on the project proposal within eigtheen (18) months. Additional outcomes may include the establishment of ongoing collaborations and publications and conference presentations based on project outcomes.
6. Priority will go to -
• applications that involve multidisciplinary collaborations between more than one School/Centre in the Faculty and/or external partners to the Faculty
• projects likely to lead to external funding
7. A maximum of $15,000.00 can be requested.

Additional information for all categories

Applicants who have received previous Faculty Research Grant funding will be expected to show evidence of research outcomes, e.g. publications, conference presentations, external grant applications. Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate outcomes in all three areas*. The Committee will review outcomes of previously funded projects and progress reports on currently funded projects when considering applications for support in the current grant round.

*See requirement for progress report (Q13. Project Description, e) Progress Report) on application form.

 

1. Eligibility to Apply
   1. Eligible staff for all grants should submit their applications on the Faculty application form. Applications for 2010 Faculty Research Grant Scheme to the Research Division Manager, Neil McDonald by the due date, Friday, 16 October 2009.
   2. If you have previously received funding through this Scheme you must provide evidence of any competitive grant applications that resulted or evidence that a follow-up Faculty Research Grant is required to enable a credible external grant application to be finalised. Without this evidence your current application will not be considered.
   3. All previous grants awarded (this applies to the first named PI on each grant) through this Scheme must be fully acquitted before any new grant will be approved (unless you have received approval for an extension from the Associate Dean (Research).
2. Assessment Criteria
   
   Eligible applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
   1. Significance & Innovation
      The potential to increase knowledge about human health, improve human health care or health and social care by application of new ideas and procedures to important topics
   2. Approach/Scientific Quality Projects should have –
      • a sound research design
      • demonstrate a well-planned, logical and feasible proposal which has the potential to contribute to knowledge
      This includes -
      • clarity of objectives, research questions and/or hypotheses
      • strengths and weaknesses of the methodology.
   3. Track Record (not relevant for Early Career applications)
      The extent to which prior research performance of the applicants suggests that the project can be accomplished, e.g. outcomes from previous grants. Track record is considered in relation to opportunity, with regard to factors such as legitimate career interruptions, administrative and teaching load, and typical publication rates for the field in question.
   4. Budget
      Projects should have a sound budget justification, including details of Research Assistant time commitment and pay rates.
3. Budget Information
   1. Successful applicants for all grant categories will be assigned a fund number for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011. Funds must be expended within the timeline set. Unexpended funds will be transferred back to the Faculty account at the end of the funding period. Extension will not normally be given. If the fund is in debit at the end of the funding period, the relevant Division/Centre will be responsible for balancing the account.
   2. A list is attached of salary scales and a link to salary service costs (on-costs) for Research Assistants. RAs would normally be employed at the lower end of the scales. Further justification will need to be provided if applicants wish to employ RAs at a higher level.
   3. Equipment requested as part of the budget must be part of the research project. This should be clarified in the application.
   4. It is acceptable to use a Faculty Research Grant to provide additional funds for a research project that has already been partially funded, but on the condition that the application makes clear that the Faculty Research Grant is to fund a clearly identifiable separate part of the project - see Additional Information (c) of guidelines.
4. Advice to Applicants
   1. Often proposals can be improved by utilising a peer review system, e.g. applicants are strongly recommended to have their proposal reviewed by one person for the content area and one person for the research methods.
   2. Applicants whose projects will involve computing or technical services assistance need to discuss requirements and if necessary make application with the officer-in-charge of the relevant unit in order to determine the extent of the costs and time involved. Applicants should submit a copy of the support services application form, duly signed by the relevant officer-in-charge, with their Faculty Research Grant application form.
   3. The application form is available for download on the Faculty Research Grant Scheme page.
   4. Applications must be completed in the spaces provided or within the recommended number of words or lines as specified in each question, using Verdana Font type, minimum font size 11. The final application should not exceed the number of pages specified on the application. Any application that does not conform to these standards will be returned to the applicants and will not be reviewed.
   5. Where applicable, applicants must obtain approval from the Faculty/University Human Research Ethics Committee and should provide evidence of Ethics Committee approval. No internal funds for research may be released until ethics/safety approval has been received.
5. Extensions to Grants
   1. Extensions to grants are not normally granted unless there are extenuating circumstances. Funds not expended by the due date of 30 June 2011 will be returned to the Faculty Office. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to contact the Faculty Office no later than 31 March 2011 if an extension is required.
6. Submission of Application
   1. The original application must be submitted in hard copy form to the Faculty Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, 3086. Applicants must also email a copy of their application to the Research Division Manager, Neil McDonald via n.mcdonald@latrobe.edu.au.
   2. Applications must be received in the Faculty Office no later than 5p.m. Friday, 16 October 2009.
   3. Enquiries and requests for clarification should be directed to Neil McDonald, n.mcdonald@latrobe.edu.au

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Appendix 1

Salary Scales and On-Costs For Research Assistants

Salary Pay Scales

The link below is for the current (July 2009) pay rates available from the Salary Scales and rates of Payment - Academic Staff page on the People and Culture web site. It is expected these will be adjusted when the new EBA is signed and again in July 2010. The final increase can only be estimated. However, please allow an increase of 2% for Jan to June and another 4% for July to Dec for the purposes of your application.

• All Staff -Teaching and Research, Research only and Professional

Salary Service Rates (On Costs)

Please refer to the Salary Service Rates 2010 available from the Budgeting 2010 page on the Finance web site for information on 2010 Salary Service rates (on costs).