University of Technology, Sydney

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

EquityDiversity Unit

UTS Research Re-establishment Grant

Guidelines and Application Form for funding commencing 2016

A UTS Research Equity Initiative

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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant –Guidelines for Grants Commencing 2016

1. Key dates

Closing date for full application to Associate Dean (Research) / Check with Faculty Associate Deans (Research)
Closing date for submission to Equity & Diversity Unit / 31July 2015
Period of grant / 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016
Final report / Within 3 months from completion of project

2. Contacts

Information about the Grant
Information about the application process, funding arrangements and administration / Joanna Leonard, Equity & Diversity Unit
T: 95141274
E:

3. Objectives

UTS recognises that academic careers can be significantly affected by periods of parental leave and by sustained caring responsibilitiesfor children, partners or dependent family members.

Periods of parental leave and sustained caring responsibilities can cause some academics to experience disruption to, and difficulty in re-establishing, their research.

The UTS Research Re-establishment Grants are intended tosupport academic staff to maintain or to re-establish their research profile by enabling them to spend concentrated time on a research project.

They aim to reduce the impact on an academic’s research productivity and career progression of either:

  • a recent career break caused by an extended period of parental leave

or

  • past periods of sustained and significant caring responsibilities

4. Grant details

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Research) is funding grants of up to $15,000to support eligible academic staffto undertakespecific research projects.

Grants will not be used to assist the completion of a higher degree by research.

The grants will be awarded following a competitive selection process (refer to Sections6 and 7).

5. Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

  • befull-time, part-time or sessional academic staffemployed at UTS on a continuing or fixed-term basis for three years or more (on one or more fixed-term appointments)
  • either:

i)be applying within a two-year period after returning to work from approved leave associated with the birth or adoption of a child, in which they

have taken a minimum of 20 weeks parental leave, and

have not received funding under the UTSFunding for Research during Parental Leave guidelinesfor this period of leave;

or

ii)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 a disability) that commenced within the past 15 years.

For the purposes of these guidelines parental leave refers to paid maternity or adoption leave and any unpaid parental leave but excludes partners leave.

Applicants who have been in the process of enhancing or re-establishing their research careers through a UTS Research Equity Fellowship, the UTS Funding for Research during Parental Leave guidelines or a similar mechanism are not eligible for this program.

6. Selection process

Eligible applications will be assessed on a competitive basis against the selection criteria (refer to Section7) by a committee appointed by Deputy Vice Chancellor(Research).

The Assessment Committee mayrequest further information relevant to an application from applicants or relevant members of the University(e.g.Dean, Associate Dean (Research).

7. Selection criteria

The following criteria will be used by the Committee to assess applications:

  • impact of the recent period of parental leave, or alternatively impact of past career interruption caused by carer responsibilities, on their research productivity
  • the likelihood that the proposed research project and award of a grant will enhance the applicant’s research track record
  • evidence of research achievement (relative to opportunity) or of research potential, prior to the period of parental leave or alternatively prior to the period of significant career interruption caused by carer responsibilities
  • feasibility, quality and scholarly significance of the proposed research project
  • alignmentof research project to the UTS and faculty research strategies
  • facultysupport for the application.

8. Obligations of award recipients

Funding received under this grant willnormally be expended within the following calendar year.

Each grant recipient will provide a final report within 3 months of completing their project, which will include information about:

  • how the grant funds were spent (a statement of financial acquittal)
  • key activities, andresearch outcomes
  • anyfurther work, research opportunities or career benefits for the applicant and for UTS arising from the research project.

9.Applications

Applications will be made on the attached Application Form.

The application will set out how grant funds will be used to support the proposed research project. The following are examples of activities[1] which could be funded by a grant:

  • project-specific travel,excluding conferences and conventions
  • employment of casual staff to provide relief from teaching and/or other duties (eg, subject coordination) to enable time to concentrate on the research project, with relief rates expected to be paid at cost, on a reimbursement basis
  • employment of research assistance
  • expenditure for consumables, maintenance or equipment
  • professional development (eg, participation in relevant training courses) to facilitate the research project

Applicants will also nominate a suitable research adviser to provide them with independent support and advice on the research project for the duration of the grant. The adviser will indicate that they endorse the application on the application form.

10. Application process and timeframe

Application closing date: see 1. Key dates

Applicants will complete the application form and ensure that it is signed by their supervisor, their research project adviser and the Associate Dean (Research).

Completed applicationswill be submitted electronically before the closing dateto ,Equity & Diversity Unit who will forward them to the Assessment Committee.

Results of the selection processwill normally be announced by early October.

11. Conditions of award

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

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

Period of the Grant. Project should be completed within 12 months of commencement. See 1. Key dates

12. Financial provisions : management of funds

Research activity codes for successful projects 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.

Expenditure must be as approved in the project budget.

Any significant changes to budget items during the course of the project must be requested in writing to the Equity & Diversity Unit, and approved by the DVC(R)’s delegate.

If the grant recipient is in breach of contract, or abandons the project, or leaves the University, a strong business case for the continuation of the project must be provided to RIO in writing. In most circumstances early termination of a project will require the relinquishment of unpaid funds.

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

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

13. Final reports

Grant recipient and research project adviser must advise RIO when the research project is completed. The recipient must submit a Final Report, including a statement of the financial acquittal of the project.

The Final Report must be submitted to RIO, with a copy to the Equity & Diversity Unit, no later than 3 months after completion of the project.

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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016

Instructions

Please refer to preceding information on grant terms and conditions.Applications are to be discussed with your supervisorand research projectadviser.Completed applications should be sent to your Faculty Research Office/ADR for sign off, and then sent to Joanna Leonard (Equity & Diversity Unit)

See 1. key dates for closing date for applications

Section 1: Applicant details

1.1Name
1.2Current appointment (full-time, part-time/sessional; continuing/fixed term)
1.3Department/School/or equivalent
1.4 Faculty
1.5 Research Strength alignment
1.6 If you are applying within two years of returning to work from approved leave associated with the birth or adoption of a child, please provide:
  • Details of the most recent parental leave taken
  • Leave commencement and return dates
  • Return to work arrangements

1.7 If you are applying on the basis of career interruption caused by significant carer responsibilitiesplease provide information on the nature and timing of the interruptions.
1.8Haveyou previously accessedany funding through the Funding for Research during Parental Leave Guidelines or Research Equity Fellowship? Please provide details.
1.9Are you currently on a competitively funded grant? (if relevant, please specify if anyparental or carer leave arrangements have been made)

Section 2: Project title

Section 3: Applicant research background

3.1Please indicate percentage breakdown of the research, teaching and administrative component of your current position.

3.2Describe the research opportunities you have had, with reference to your employment conditions, over the past 5 years, eg, part-time status; non-research employment; research mentoring received; research facilities available. (750 characters max)

3.3Research track record

Describe your key areas of research
List your top 10 publications over past 5 years
List research grants awarded over the past 5 years
Describe your most significant contributions to your field of research to date (750 characters max)

Section 4: Impact of parental leave/ carer responsibilities(pleaseanswereither 4.1 or 4.2)

4.1 If you are applying for a grant on the basis of recent return to work after parental leave, please describe the impact of the recent period of parental leave on your research productivity/career(750 characters max)

Pleasealso list other career interruptions you may have had, eg for previous child, carer’s responsibility, misadventure, illness or disability. (750 characters max)

4.2 If you are applying for a grant on the basis of career interruption caused by significant carer responsibilities, please describe the nature and timing of the carer responsibilities and their impact on your research career

Please provide evidence of how the career interruption(s) affected your research potential. If the career interruption occurred for more than one consecutive period, please provide information regarding each period (interruptions for other factors such as child bearing, illness, misadventure or disability may be included where relevant)(1,500 characters max)

Section 5: Project proposal

5.1 Describe your research project aims and objectives/ alignment with the UTSResearch Strategy(1000 character max)

5.2 Provide a summary of work to be undertaken with research plan and timeline, includingapproach and methodology.

5.3 Outline how this grant will help develop your capability as a researcher and assist in the re-establishment or maintenance of your research track record(750 characters max)

5.4Outline anticipated research outcomes, impact and likely benefit toUTS (750 characters max)

5.5Fields of Research (FOR); Socio-economic Objective (SEO) codes

5.6Funding requested

Budget item categories / Budget item details & justification (please explain both the amount and the need for each budget item requested / Amount requested $
Personnel (eg research assistant) / Eg,type and level of appointment, pay rate, on-costs and period of employment
Support to relieve researcher of teaching and other duties / Specify periods, key duties etc
Equipment/facilities
Project-specific travel
Other
Total (max $15,000)

5.7 Project timeframe – projects will normally be completed within 12 months of commencement

Anticipated commencement date
Anticipated completion date

Section 6:Research Project Adviser

6.1Name, position and contact details of your Research Project Adviser

6.2 Relevant expertise/skills/research experience of Research Project Adviser

6.3Role of Research Project Adviser in supporting completion of project

Ihave discussed this proposal with …………………………………………………………(the applicant) and I support the project proposal and agree to undertake the role of Research Project Adviser for the period of this project. I will provide a short report on key research achievements at the completion of the project.

Signature:Date:

Section 7: Faculty support

7.1 Supervisor/HOS/Head of Department/Unit Director (as appropriate)

I have discussed this Proposal with……….………………………………………………..(the applicant)and I support this application.

Name: Title:

Signature: Date:

What is your relationship to applicant ?(eg supervisor/HOS )……………………………………………………

7.2 Associate Dean Research

I support this proposal and this project being undertaken in my faculty

I have noted the amount of time being allocated to the project and I certify that this is appropriate and believe that the outcomes are achievable within the time and manner outlined

I certify that this project can be accommodated within the general facilities of the faculty

I certify that this project is consistent with the aims and direction of faculty’s research plan and the UTS Research Strategy

I certify that I have reviewed the EHS Risk Management Plan for this project and am satisfied to the best of my knowledge that the EHS risks and appropriate management responses have been identified

I believe this project will have a positive impact on the applicant’s research profile and research career.

Name: Title:

Signature:Date:

Section 8: Project report

I understand I will be required to submit a report on the completion of this project which will include:

  • a detailed account of expenditure (financial acquittal),
  • a summary of key activities and research outcomes
  • information on any future work, research opportunities or career benefits for the applicant and for UTS arising from the research project

My Research Project Adviser’s report will also be attached.

Applicant’s name:Title:

Signature: Date:

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[1]Please note that proposed activities must comply with relevant UTS research policies and RIO guidelines