Research culture fund for La Trobe researchers
2020 fund information and application guidelines
Sponsored by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), a number of grants of up to $1000 are available to La Trobe academic staff to support the enhancement of university research culture.
Purpose of the scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to encourage academic staff to take the lead in developing a range of academic, social and cultural activities that will enhance the research culture at La Trobe. The scheme is not prescriptive about whether the activities take place across schools, departments, physical locations or disciplines. It is about developing your research community and contributing positively to the research environment at La Trobe. Researchers may organise academic activities such as conferences and symposia, visual exhibitions, seminars, masterclasses and visiting speakers. This scheme will be particularly beneficial to researchers located at smaller campuses in the La Trobe network.
The RCF scheme cannot be used for activities that are the usual responsibility of Schools or departments (e.g. research strategy planning) and should not replicate/duplicate programs already delivered by central support areas.
Proposals that secure additional financial support for the activity from departments, schools, RFAs or external bodies will be well regarded.
Benefits
By participating in this scheme, researchers will gain valuable experience in event organisation, grant application writing, developing institutional networks, communication, and project management. Mentorship and support in promoting initiatives will be available to successful applicants from the RED team in the GRS on request.
Eligibility information
Applicants must be research active academic staff at La Trobe University. Activities must be produced primarily BY and FOR researchers, and held by 31 December 2020.
Enquiries about the scheme can be sent to red.grs@latrobe.edu.au.
2020 applications opening soon
If you are keen to apply in this round, get together with other researchers in your community and come up with an idea and plan. Consult widely, be creative and think about what would make a difference to your research culture and community!
Complete all sections of the application form and submit it to red.grs@latrobe.edu.au. Applications will be assessed on:
- The strength of the proposal
- Anticipated impact on research culture
- The sustainability of this impact on research culture
- Whether additional funding was sought
Important Dates:
- RCF scheme opens – 6 April 2020
- RCF scheme closes – 4 May 2020, 12:00 PM
- Successful applications announced – 1 June 2020
NOTE: The application requires the approval of your Director of Research so we would strongly encourage you to discuss your project with them.
Conditions
- Grants are available for projects that are run for the community of La Trobe researchers, and not to pursue individual development opportunities.
- Applicants must be current La Trobe academic staff members.
- Graduate research candidates are not eligible for this scheme.
- All projects must take place before the end of 2020.
- A written report must be sent to red.grs@latrobe.edu.au at the conclusion of the activity. A report pro forma can be found here [Word Document 75KB].
- Past awardees who have not provided an activity report are not eligible for this round of funding.
FAQ
If we don't use the funding before the end of the year, can we roll the funds over to the next year?
No, as stated in the scheme guidelines, the funding MUST BE SPENT BY 31 Dec OF THAT YEAR.
Can initiatives involve academic staff and graduate researchers or Hons students?
We strongly encourage cross-cohort initiatives that are inclusive of researchers at all stages of their career. Note, however, that similar initiatives cannot be submitted in both the Research Culture Fund (RCF) and Intellectual Climate Fund (ICF) schemes. For example, for the one kind of initiative, you cannot submit an academic staff-led application in the RCF scheme AND a graduate researcher-led application in the ICF scheme.
I have heaps of ideas - can I submit more than one application in the round?
No. You can only submit one application in each round.
If the initiative changes from what's proposed in the successful application, what do we do?
If your initiative changes, you will need to confirm that it still aligns with the scheme's guidelines by submitting a modified project plan to red.grs@latrobe.edu.au. Please note that if the amended plan is not acceptable for the scheme, the funding will have to be returned to the Office of the DVC-Research.
What if we can't carry out the initiative after all?
If the initiative will not be happening, the RED team must be notified and the funding returned to the Office of the DVC-Research.
I was successful in applying for a grant in a previous year, am I able to apply again this year?
If you submitted a report from your previous event and there were no issues with unspent funding then, yes, you may apply in the current year's scheme.
I received funding in a previous year but wasn't able to carry out the initiative after all, am I able to re-apply this year?
You may re apply if the circumstances that prevented you from carrying out the initiative in a previous year were beyond your control, the funding was returned, and you notified the RED team.
If the initiative was not carried out and you did not contact the RED team then it would be unlikely that you would be successful in an application for more funding.
For examples of initiatives funded in previous years, please see below
2019 funding results
Congratulations to all successful applications for the 2019 round. The table below details each project that was funded and we thank all applicants for their participation in this scheme.
| Successful applicants | Lead applicant's school | Project title | Brief project description |
|---|
| Jessica Biesiekierski | Allied Health, Human Services & Sport | La Trobe & RMIT Joint Early Career Researcher Symposium | This research symposium aims to showcase research on the ‘Future of Food’ by ECRs from La Trobe and RMIT Universities. |
| Martin Boese | Humanities and Social Sciences | Researching with communities: exploring innovative and ethical approaches to community- engaged research and knowledge building | This half-day workshop brings together community members and researchers from different disciplines across the University to advance knowledge on community-based research approaches. |
| Ashley Ng | Allied Health, Human Services & Sport | Dietetics and Human Nutrition Research Strategy Planning and Writing Retreat | This project focuses on a Dietetics and Human Nutrition Research Strategy Planning and Writing Retreat, which will enhance the research culture and capacity of its academic staff. |
| Gerald Roche | Humanities and Social Sciences | Honing the craft of research writing | A workshop series where staff and HDR students discuss effective academic writing. |
| Evelien Spelten | La Trobe Rural Health School | Mildura Campus Collective III; Improving research impact and engagement through digital storytelling | A two-day intensive workshop on digital storytelling tailored for researchers. The workshop will provide the Mildura campus research community with enhanced skills to share our research and improve impact and engagement through the use of smartphones and other affordable technology. |
2018 funding results
Congratulations to all successful applications for the 2018 round. The table below details each project that was funded and we thank all applicants for their participation in this scheme.
| Successful applicants | Department/discipline | Project title | Short description |
|---|
| Martina
Boese | Sociology/Social Inquiry | Workshopping
strategies for incorporating impact into design of social research | A workshop
exploring how to design impact into social research |
| Maria Elander | La Trobe Law
School | International
Legal Studies Research Culture | Seminar
& launch of the International Legal Studies Research Group/writing
retreat |
| Carmel Hobbs | Public Health | Do
you care? Early parenthood and caring responsibilities for early career
researchers | An
Early Career Researcher Network (ECR) networking event |
| Laila Hugrass | Psychology and
Counselling | The
La Trobe University 30-Day Impact Challenge | Focussed
drive to increase research impact through targeted system with support base. |
| Evelien Spelten | Public Health | Mildura
Campus Collective II: research capacity building through writing and
collaborative research | 1 day workshop - campus collective research |
| Gwenda Tavan | Politics and
Philosophy | Publish
your research writing retreat | A
writing retreat to facilitate completion and submission of research
manuscripts and build confidence in journal article writing. |
2017 funding results
6 applications for funding were received, all of which were of a very high standard.
Congratulations to all successful applications for the 2017 round. The table below details each project that was funded and we thank all applicants for their participation in this scheme.
| Successful applicants | Department/discipline | Project title | Short description |
|---|
Sarah Baradell | Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Sport | Developing capacity in the Research of Teaching and Learning | workshop to develop teaching/learning research capability for allied health staff |
Narelle Cox | Occupational Therapy | Healthy writing habits for academic health professionals: write a paper in a ‘weekend’ Master
class. | 'Writing for publication in the health professions- Masterclass. |
Christopher Fisher | ARCSHS | Systems Approach to Sexual Health Literacy | Research cluster and workshop |
Caitlin McDowell | Occupational Therapy | Burke and Mills Grounded Theory Masterclass | A one-day qualitative research masterclass on grounded theory methodology |
Evelien Spelten | Public Health | 'Mildura Campus Collective' - research capacity building through community engagement | A workshop series to develop an interdisciplinary campus-wide research project |
2016 funding results
14 applications for funding were received, all of which were of a very high standard. The Research Culture Fund Selection Committee met on 25 August 2016 and comprised Keith Nugent, Trevor Hogan, Andy Hill and Jeanette Fyffe.
The following applications were funded and we thank all applicants for their participation in this scheme. Five applications were received from regional campuses: Two from Albury-Wodonga and three from Bendigo.
| Successful applicants | Department/discipline | Project title | Short description |
| Julie Rudner, Amanda Kennedy, Terence Mills, Francine Rochford | Social Inquiry, Community Planning & Development | Doing Research: An Interdisciplinary Exploration | Interactive, recorded workshops about how different disciplines do research |
| Graham Brown, Alan Shiell, Sally Fawkes, Chris Roche, Deborah Gleeson,Tessa Keegel | ARCSHS | System and Complexity Methods Cluster | 'Systems thinking and complexity' methods workshop and ongoing research cluster |
| Jennifer Jones | Archaeology and History | Albury -Wodonga HUSS writing group writing retreat | Two- day writing retreat for AW HUSS writing group members |
| Caitlin McDowell, Kate D'Cruz, Lucy Knox, Prue Atkins, Deb Fox, Sue McDonough, Stacey Alexander | Occupational Therapy | Grounded Theory Community of Practice | To establish a Community of Practice for grounded theory researchers |
| Carol McKinstry, Virgina Dickson-Swift, Amanda Kenny,Teresa Iacono | Community & Allied Health | Demonstrating research impact: Developing skills and awareness | A workshop series: promoting the impact of research to stakeholders |
| Karrie Long | John Richards Initiative | Statistics Seminar: Methods, interpretation and presentation. | Seminar: Introduction to Statistical Methods, interpretation and presentation. |
| Arif Siddiquee, Earl Stuart, Daniel Langley | Chemistry and Physics | Joint workshop between La Trobe’s Photonics and AgriBioSciences communities | Joint workshop between La Trobe’s Photonics and AgriBioSciences communities |
