Researcher Development Initiative Grants

The Researcher Development Unit (‘RDU’) empowers researchers to thrive at all the different stages of their diverse careers by illuminating opportunities and supporting them to negotiate challenges. Connectedness is a guiding principle of the RDU and this scheme aims to facilitate the development of enriching cohort experiences across and within disciplines that foster collaborative opportunity and a sense of place.

Applications are sought for initiatives that achieve this through shared activities that stimulate researcher development and simultaneously promote safe connections between members of the research community.

Eligibility

Graduate and Early Career Researchers are well positioned to identify opportunities for enhancing connectedness across and within their own academic divisions. Therefore, applications are strongly encouraged from teams that are initiated by current graduate researchers and early career researchers, with funding of between $1,000 and $10,000 available.

Priority will be given to projects that support connectedness and wellbeing within the research community and advance researcher development in ways that align with or complement the principles of the RDU such as:

  • Regular networking or reading group offerings that speak to a theme, way of knowing or methodology;
  • Single events such as seminars / mini-conferences, potentially with follow-up meeting/s;
  • Workshops with external or internal experts;
  • Offerings that encourage inter- and cross-discipline collaboration;
  • Offerings that are directed to Graduate Researchers on themes specifically related to connectedness and wellbeing; or
  • Offerings that are directed to ECRs on individual career pathways and advancement.

Funded projects under $3,000 must be delivered by 28th April 2023 and projects between $3,000 and $10,000 must be delivered by 27th October 2023. However, within those parameters the length of individual projects is not fixed, to allow flexibility to suit the proposed project. Please include and justify the proposed timing of the project in the application.

How to Apply

Applications for the Researcher Development Initiative Grants 2022-23 are now open.

Please send a completed version of the below application form, accompanied by Head of Department or Supervisor approval and any questions, to researcher-development@unimelb.edu.au.

RDU Initiative Grant Application Form (MS Word Document 51.9 KB)

Applications are due 23 September 2022.