Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

University of Technology, Sydney

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

Equity & Diversity Unit

UTS Research Equity Fellowship

Guidelines and Application Form

for funding commencing 2017

A UTS Research Equity Initiative

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UTS Research Equity Fellowship – Guidelines

1. Key dates

Closing date for applicants to submit to Associate Dean (Research) / Check with Faculty Associate Deans (Research)
Closing date for submission to Equity & Diversity Unit / 31 July 2016
Period of appointment / 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017
Final report / Within 3 months from completion

2. Contacts

Information about the program
Information about the application process, funding arrangements and administration / Joanna Leonard, Equity & Diversity Unit
T: 9514 1274
E:

3. Objectives

The UTS Research Equity Fellowship aims to assist academic researchers whose careers have been significantly affected by periods of sustained caring responsibilities. It is a competitive fellowship which provides funding for academics to focus intensively on their research, to re-establish or enhance their research careers.

The fellowship is directed towards staff who have demonstrated a strong research track record but who have been significantly hindered in their research by career interruption or delay caused by carer responsibilities.

While caring responsibilities are most often associated with women, there are also men who carry significant and sustained caring responsibilities. Both men and women who have had periods of significant interruption to their research careers due to caring responsibilities are strongly encouraged to consider applying.

4. Funding options

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) will provide funding for each Fellowship for one of the following options (pro-rata for part-time fellows):

i)  Funding of up to $50,000 for one year for academic staff (undertaking teaching/research and administration) for teaching relief and replacement of administrative duties (the exact amount of funding will depend on the extent of teaching/administrative load being relieved), plus up to $10,000 as a contribution toward costs directly related to a research project or activities, details of which are to be specified in the application; or

ii)  funding of up to $50,000 for one year for research only staff towards the costs of technical assistance/ research support under the specific project outlined in the application ; or

iii)  one UTS PhD stipend, over 3 years, which is equivalent to over $75,000 of funding. To be eligible for this option the applicant must be registered as ‘Category 1’ HDR supervisor with the UTS Graduate Research School (GRS) and the UTS Doctoral Scholarship conditions must be adhered to.

The Fellowship is not intended to support applicants pursuing additional higher degrees by research.

5. Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must satisfy all of the following criteria:

·  be an academic or research only staff member currently employed by UTS

·  have either a continuing appointment or a fixed-term appointment with a termination date after the end of the proposed fellowship[1], and have been in UTS employment at least 12 months

·  have completed a PhD or an equivalent qualification or have relevant research experience in their field of between 5 years and 15 years prior to application

·  be able to demonstrate clearly in their application that their research career has been significantly interrupted by child rearing or other carer responsibilities [such as major responsibility for the sustained care of a child, partner or dependent family member who may, for example, be elderly, sick or a person with disability] that commenced within the last ten years

·  have evidence of significant research achievement (relative to opportunity) and/or demonstrated research leadership potential, prior to the career interruption.

Applicants who have begun the process of enhancing or re-establishing their academic research careers through a UTS Research Re-establishment Grant, a fellowship or similar mechanism, are not eligible for this program.

In addition, applicants who are awarded and accept an external fellowship or similar after submitting an application to this program will no longer be eligible to hold a UTS Research Equity Fellowship.

6. Selection process

A committee appointed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or nominee will assess eligible applications on a competitive basis against the selection criteria outlined in Section 7.

The Committee may request further relevant information relevant from applicants or relevant members of the University [e.g. Dean, Associate Dean (Research)].

DVC (Research) or nominee will make the final decision on the selection of successful application/s.

7. Selection criteria

The committee will consider transformational potential, that is the capacity of the fellowship to significantly change the circumstances of the applicant to develop their careers substantively, and enable them to achieve in a way that could not otherwise be so.

The following selection criteria will apply:

·  the demonstrated nature and extent of the career interruption, in the context of the objectives of this fellowship program. Please note these details will be confidential and seen only by the selection committee and the Equity & Diversity Unit program coordinator

·  the research track record of the applicant, relative to opportunity [2]

·  the likelihood that the Fellowship will enable the applicant to re-establish or enhance their career and significantly improve their research track record

·  the specific statements of endorsement for the application from the Faculty/Head of School and from the applicant’s nominated Research Advisor

·  for research only staff whose application involves a research project proposal, the feasibility, quality and scholarly significance of the proposal and its alignment to UTS and faculty research strategies will also be taken into consideration.

8. Application process and timeframe

Applications will be made on the attached Application Form and must include all information necessary for assessment. Applicants must complete the application form; ensure all relevant documents are attached and that their supervisor, their research advisor and their Associate Dean (Research) have signed.

Applicants should also ensure that they have completed an OPeN project request before submitting their application.

Applicants will be required to nominate a suitable Research Advisor to provide them with independent support and advice on the research being undertaken during the Fellowship. The Research Advisor will be required to indicate that they endorse the application on the application form.

This is an internal grant. Applicants are responsible for checking eligibility and completeness before final lodgement.

Application closing date: see 1. Key dates

Completed applications should be submitted electronically before the closing date to , Equity & Diversity Unit who will forward them to the Selection Committee.

Results of the selection process will normally be announced within two months of the Application Closing Date.

9. Conditions of award

Successful applicants are expected to commence their research project/activity by 30 June of the following year. Funding received under this Fellowship will normally be expended and acquitted within 12 months of the date of commencement.

Fellows will provide a final report within 3 months of completing their project/activity, which will include:

·  key activities undertaken

·  key outcomes such as

o  publications and other outputs, grant applications, new techniques developed, research students attracted

o  information on how the Fellowship has assisted applicants to meet their research goals and enhanced their research career trajectory including challenges, problems or limitations encountered

·  any further research opportunities, collaborations or research benefits for UTS, arising from the research funded through the Fellowship.

The Fellowship shall be used for the approved research proposal for which it is awarded and shall not be used for any other purpose, and may only be used for purposes approved under the Fellowship guidelines.

Successful applicants may be required to submit a revised budget where requested by the Committee.

The research project/activities must be carried out in accordance with appropriate ethics and safety approval.

Fellows are expected to conduct research diligently, and to the best of their ability, in the field outlined in their application and approved by the committee. Fellows may be requested to participate in a future evaluation of this program and in promotional activities for the Fellowship.

10. Financial provisions

Management of Funds

Research activity codes for successful projects/activities will be established with FSU by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Carry forward of unspent money beyond one year from the commencement of the project is not permitted.

If the Fellowship recipient is in breach of contract, or relinquishes the Fellowship, any continuation of funding would be at the discretion of the DVC Research or nominee. In most circumstances early termination of a Fellowship will require the return of unpaid funds.

Any funding which is used for a purpose or purposes not approved must be repaid to the University.

Any funds not acquitted will be returned.

Any equipment purchased with funding from the project shall remain the property of UTS.

11. Final reports

The final report is an important component of the Fellowship. It allows UTS to judge whether the Fellowship has been used effectively and whether there were tangible outcomes.

Within 3 months from completion of the Fellowship, the following is required:

·  a final report on activities, research outcomes and achievements, as outlined in Section 9

·  a report from the Research Advisor on the research outcomes, challenges and achievements of the fellowship

·  a financial statement from the Faculty verifying that the funding was used for the purposes outlined in the Fellowship and a brief evaluative comment on the Fellow’s final report

The Fellow should send these reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or nominee, with a copy to the Equity & Diversity Unit.

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UTS Research Equity Fellowship - Application Form

Instructions

Please refer to Fellowship terms and conditions. Applications are to be discussed with your supervisor and chosen Research Advisor. Completed applications should be sent to your Faculty Research Office/ADR for sign off, and then sent to Joanna Leonard (Equity & Diversity Unit)

Closing date for applications: 31/07/2016

Section 1: Applicant details

1.1 Name
1.2 Email
1.3 Current appointment (full-time or part-time/sessional; continuing or fixed term)
1.4 Department/School/or equivalent
1.5 Faculty
1.6 UTS strategic fit (alignment with areas of strategic research importance)
1.7 Percentage breakdown of research, teaching, and administration in your current position
1.8 Name and year of highest research qualification

Section 2: Curriculum Vitae

Please attach short curriculum vitae covering the following areas (max three A4 pages excluding publications.)

2.1  Full name, telephone and email contact

2.2  Details of education, relevant postgraduate training

2.3 Details of major awards or prizes and grants/fellowships received over past 10 years (include name of participants and your role; year of award/grant/fellowship; name of funding body, scheme and round; and amount awarded)

2.4  Details of any postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and supervision

2.5  Publications/research outputs: list 10 most significant works you have published over the past 10 years (these can include: refereed journal articles [the date of acceptance should be provided for papers not yet published]; reviews; books; chapters; conference papers; patents; and/or other significant research outputs)

Section 3: Research Background

Please attach a summary of your research background covering the following areas (max two A4 pages)

3.1  A profile of your research areas, key activities and experience

3.2  A description of the most significant contribution you have made to your field of research to date

3.3  A description of the research opportunities you have had with reference to your employment conditions over the past 10 years, including: the periods of career interruption, unemployment or part-time employment you have had; the research and non-research components of your positions; research mentoring you have received and research facilities which have been available to you.

3.4  Name and details of any grants/awards/fellowships currently held.

Section 4: Career Interruptions

Please attach statement describing the nature and impact of the career interruptions[3] due to your caring responsibilities. (max one A4 page)

Include the following:

4.1 Details of the interruption against the trajectory of your research from the time you completed your PhD or commenced academic employment. Provide evidence of how the career interruption affected your research potential.

4.2  If career interruption has occurred for more than one consecutive period, provide information regarding each period and the reasons for the interruption. (While the Fellowship is principally for interruptions due to caring responsibilities, additional career interruptions for other factors, eg child bearing, illness, misadventure or disability, may be taken into consideration if relevant)

Section 5: Proposed use of Fellowship

5.1 Proposed research project/use of fellowship and budget justification (max two A4 page)

Teaching/research staff, please provide:

·  summary of key research activity/project you will be undertaking

·  summary of teaching and administrative duties from which you seek relief (please include an estimate of the total hours per semester)

Research only staff, please provide:

·  summary of key activities of the specific research project you will be undertaking

·  summary of the technical assistance/ research support

Budget justification

Show all budget items that need to be funded for the proposed research activity/project: teaching support[4], research assistance, equipment, project specific travel, etc. Please explain why each item listed is important in terms of the proposed Fellowship use.

5.2 Please provide a brief statement of your career plans and research goals for the next 3–5 years (max half A4 page)

5.3 Outline how this Fellowship will help develop your capability as a researcher, and assist in the re-establishment or maintenance of your research track record and career trajectory (max half A4 page)

5.4 Outline anticipated research impact and likely benefits to UTS (max half A4 page)

5.5 Fellowship timeframe – Fellowships will normally be completed within 12 months of commencement

Anticipated commencement date
Anticipated completion date

Section 6: Nominated Research Advisor

Please ensure your Research Advisor has a copy of the Fellowship Guidelines and your application.

6.1 Nominated Research Advisor details

Name
Position / Institution
Telephone / Email

6.2 Research Advisor support statement (Please attach).