From the Deputy Executive Dean

Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences

Faculty of Biological and Chemical SciencesPhD Conference Travel Awards

In 2006 the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences will provide partial support for a number of PhD students to attend international conferences. It is proposed that approximately 10 awards per year(maximum $3000) will be provided with additional awards of up to $500 to attend international conferences held within Australia (funding will not be provided for national society meetings within Australia e.g. Combio, Australian Society for Microbiology).

To be eligible students must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Be confirmed as candidates for a PhD degree
  • Be enrolled in the 2nd or 3rd year of their PhD degree
  • Be first author of a conference presentation that primarily uses data collected as part of their PhD project
  • Conference attended must be

-at least twelve months after date of confirmation

-not more than four years since enrolment (except in special circumstances)

-not more than three months after submission (provided applicant is still at University of Queensland)

Since funding is limited, the student record of achievement during their PhD candidature will be a major criterion for support as well as the explanation as to the importance of the conference to the students’ career development. Another important consideration is whether students have attempted to obtain additional support from, for example, the conference organisers or via an application for a travel scholarship from another source.

The following deadlines for submission of 2006applications will be applied:

February 17

August 18

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR APPLICATION TO:

Kaerin Gardner

Research & Innovation Associate

Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences

Telephone: 3365 8868

BACS PhD CONFERENCE TRAVEL AWARDS

GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS

Applications will be assessed using the following scoring criteria:

A. Research achievement during PhD, as evidenced primarily by publications (on PhD research, not prior research)

Achievement / Points
First or last author on a paper in a recognised scientific journal during PhD / 4
Author other than first or last in a recognised scientific journal during PhD / 2
Paper in Science, Nature or PNAS / above +2
Book chapter or full refereed & published conference paper / 2
Recognised scientific conference presentation / poster as abstract (0.5 if not presenting author) / 1 (0.5)
Patent co-inventor / 2
Other evidence-based measures (e.g. competitive research grants, prizes)? / up to 4
  • Paper accepted /in press (must provide evidence that paper has been accepted)Full points
  • Paper submitted (must provide evidence that paper has been received by the

Journal)Half points

B. Importance & likely benefit to applicant's scientific / career development

Indicator / Points
Student's explanation and conference relevance / 2
Supervisor's support / 2
Special features (exceptional value to the project, the student or UQ) / 1

C. Applicant's initiative to obtain other support to support attendance (maximum 1 point)

  • A serious attempt through conference organisers or other agencies1 point

Final score = A+B+C

Please provide the following in your application:

  1. Name and email address
  1. School or Centre
  1. Date of higher degree enrolment (month & year)
  1. Date of confirmation of PhD candidature (month & year)
  1. PhD advisors (supervisors)
  1. Title of PhD
  1. Provide details of all publications, including evidence from the Journal for papers submitted or in press. For conference abstracts, state whether presenting author. Only publications on PhD research will be counted.
  1. Conference details (provide title, location, dates)
  1. Title of abstract and authors (also append abstract)
  1. Briefly explain how the conference can benefit your research (no more than 400 characters.
  1. Attach a letter of support from your supervisor.
  1. Details of other sources of conference support (e.g. does the conference you wish to attend provide support for students? have you applied?)and attempts you have made to obtain other support.
  1. Provide a concise budget for the conference:

Registration

Accommodation/subsistence

Travel

14. Provide details of any conferences attended during the period of your PhD candidature.