Research leaders accelerator program
The Research Leaders Accelerator Program is a key pillar of the Research & Innovation 2030 Strategy and aims to support our research leaders to play a significant role in delivering our research & innovation goals.
About the Research Leader Accelerator Program
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Industry Engagement’s Research Leaders Accelerator Program is a two year program. It is designed to equip accomplished researchers with the advanced skills and knowledge required to spearhead significant funding programs. The program is dedicated to fostering strategic acumen, refining leadership capabilities and mastering the complexities of securing substantial research or industry funding.
As part of the program, participants will hone skills in:
- strategic planning and decision-making
- enhance leadership capabilities
- develop collaborations with fellow research leaders
- develop sector knowledge and enhance their leadership network.
2025 RLAP fellows
Prof. Garrie Arumugam
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment / La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science
Area: Healthy Brain Ageing & Dementia research
Prof. Nick Bond
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
Area: Freshwater ecosystems
Prof. Adam Bourne
School: Psychology and Public Health, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
Area: Sexuality, gender, health and human relationships
Prof. Bianca Brijnath
School: Humanities and Social Sciences
Area: Dementia and ethnic diversity
Prof. Roman Buckow
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment / La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Area: Food science and technology
Assoc. Prof. Marisa Collins
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment / La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Area: Agronomy and crop physiology
Prof. Amanda Cooklin
School: Nursing and Midwifery, Judith Lumley Centre
Area: Work and family research
Assoc. Prof. Adam Culvenor
School: Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
Area: Knee injury and osteoarthritis recovery and rehabilitation
Assoc. Prof. Monika Doblin
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment / La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Area: Plant biology and biotechnology
Assoc. Prof. Kristina Edvardsson
School: Nursing and Midwifery / Judith Lumley Centre
Area: Sexual and reproductive health
Prof. David Fleming-Muñoz
School: La Trobe Business School / La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Area: Agricultural, resource and regional economics
Assoc. Prof. Piers Gooding
School: La Trobe Law School
Area: Disability and health law and policy
Prof. Begona Heras
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment / La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science
Area: Biochemistry and infectious diseases
Assoc. Prof. Annie Hill
School: Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
Area: Aphasia recovery and rehabilitation, Telerehabilitation
Prof. Yuning Hong
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science
Area: Chemical biology
Assoc. Prof. Tim Jones
School: Humanities and Social Sciences
Area: History, equality and wellbeing
Prof. Therese Keane
School: Education
Area: Education, Robotics, VR, AI, Gender, Digital Technologies and STEM
Assoc. Prof. Joanne Kemp
School: Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
Area: Sport and exercise medicine
Assoc. Prof. Ing Kong
School: Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science
Area: Materials and Manufacturing Engineering
Prof. Alison Lane
School: Psychology and Public Health, The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
Area: Autism, sensory processing, occupational therapy
Prof. Kylie Lee
School: Psychology and Public Health, The Centre for Alcohol Policy Research
Area: Substance use, priority populations
Dr Dugald Reid
School: Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Area: Plant science
Prof. Lauren Rickards
School: Humanities and Social Sciences, The Climate Change Adaptation Lab
Area: Climate change science
Prof. Kate Seear
School: Psychology and Public Health, The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
Area: Alcohol and other drug law and policy, Family and sexual violence
Prof. Adam Semciw
School: Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
Area: Physiotherapy, virtual models of care
Prof. Nora Shields
School: Psychology and Public Health, The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
Area: Exercise, Disability, Community participation, Physiotherapy
Prof. Bec Strating
School: Humanities and Social Sciences / La Trobe Asia
Area: International relations
Assoc. Prof. Donna Whelan
School: La Trobe Rural Health School / La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science
Area: Biomedical sciences
Assoc. Prof. Rachel Winterton
School: La Trobe Rural Health School / John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research
Area: Rural gerontology