Research News & Funding Opportunities

  1. Joint FoE/FBE AI workshop (final one) on 30 July 10-11.30am
  2. The ATLAS test harness: Evaluating AI systems for humanities research on 31 July 10.30-11.30am
  3. Faculty of Education graduate research supervision eligibility criteria for academic staff (2025)
  4. Now Open: 2025 Melbourne-Manchester Call for Jointly Awarded PhD Projects – 10 October 5pm
  5. Upcoming NHMRC 2027 Synergy Grant Information Session
  6. Freemasons Foundation Victoria Community Grants – 31 August
  7. Research Conference – Abstracts NOW OPEN

1. Joint FoE/FBE AI workshop (final one)

Date: 30 July Room

Time: 10-11:30am

Venue: 915, Level 9, 100 Leicester Street

In our fifth AI in Research Workshop for Faculty of Business and Economics and Faculty of Education academics, Dr Mel Mistica will dive into the use of  generative large language models (GenLLMs) for research applications, including demonstrations of their capabilities in writing, literature reviews, data analytics, numerical analysis, image processing and more. This session will also introduce some of the ethical and legal aspects of gen AI including: hallucinations, bias, copyright and existing and proposed regulations in the EU, US and Australia.

2. The ATLAS test harness: Evaluating AI systems for humanities research

Date: Thursday 31 July

Time: 10.30-11.30am

Venue: Discursive Space (Room 553), Level 5, Arts West (or via Zoom)

Register now!

James presents ATLAS, an open source ‘test harness’ to evaluate AI in historical research, helping researchers ‘look under the hood’ of LLM-based tools and services – revealing the many design choices and configurations that shape their output.

Ideal for those interested in learning more about AI and large language models, how they work, and how they can be used for historical and humanities-based research.

James Smithies was previously Professor of Digital Humanities, Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London and founding director of King’s Digital Lab.

3. Faculty of Education graduate research supervision eligibility criteria for academic staff (2025)

The below FoE criteria complement and specify the eligibility criteria formulated in the University’s Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321): https://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/447220/Schedule-2-Graduate-Research-Training-Policy-MPF1321-Approved-12-September-2024.pdf

Academic LevelPrimary supervision eligibilityCo-supervision eligibility
ANo– Needs approval from Associate Dean Graduate Research
– Needs clear scholarly rationale
– There need to be two additional supervisors (one primary, one co-supervisor who is Level B or above).
– Capped at two GR supervisions per Level A academic.
BYes, if prior GR completion at the same level (Masters or Doctorate) as the intended primary supervision.
If no prior completion, the following two eligibility conditions apply:
– At least two years of documented experience as co-supervisor (pro rata for FT or PT candidate, at UoM or another university).
– Mentoring arrangement where at least one of the co-supervisors is an experienced supervisor[1].		Yes
C, D, EYes, if prior completion at the same GR level (Masters or Doctorate) as the intended primary supervision.
If no prior completion, the following eligibility conditions apply:
Mentoring arrangement where at least one of the co-supervisors is an experienced supervisor1.		Yes

Process guidelines:

[1] An experienced supervisor has at least two GR completions at UoM or another university.

4. Now Open: 2025 Melbourne-Manchester Call for Jointly Awarded PhD Projects

The 2025 Melbourne-Manchester Call for Jointly Awarded PhD Projects is now open and receiving applications through SmartyGrants. Project proposals are open to all research areas at Melbourne and all three faculties at Manchester. Applications close on October 10.

Brief information is below:

  • 2025 University of Melbourne – University of Manchester Call for joint PhD project proposals: In 2025, up to six teams of PIs will be funded for proposals that include two joint/dual PhD projects. The PhD candidates, that are subsequently recruited to the twelve successful projects, will become Cookson Scholars and together with their supervisors join an established network of researchers. Funding for each candidate will include tuition fees, a full living stipend allowance, research training support, health insurance and travel allowance.

More information: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/oz6e

Application:  https://ricunimelb.smartygrants.com.au/Man-Melb-PhD-2025

If you are applying contact foe-research@unimelb.edu.au

5. Upcoming NHMRC 2027 Synergy Grant Information Session

Upcoming information session for researchers who may be considering applying for the NHMRC 2027 Synergy Grant round.

The session will provide:

  • An overview of the NHMRC Synergy Grant scheme, which supports outstanding multidisciplinary teams of investigators to work together to address complex questions through innovative and collaborative approaches.
  • An introduction to the University’s internal strategic review and development process for the 2027 round, coordinated by Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC).

Session details:

  • Date: Thursday 28 August
  • Time: 3.00pm–4.00pm
  • Location: Zoom webinar (will be recorded and will include time for Q&A)

Registration link: https://unimelb.zoom.us/j/89009077297?pwd=BBTrPbU55LssfmY5XgQSTAmkaXaV1C.1

6. Freemasons Foundation Victoria Community Grants – close 31 August

In 2025, the focus of our Community Grants program will be:

1. Community Development
– Programs and projects that address social inequity for community groups experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

2. Education
– Programs that improve educational outcomes or meaningful post-school pathways for students experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. This may include improving school engagement, improved educational outcomes or accessibility, improved well-being, skills development or personal development.

For more information please see website

If you are applying contact foe-research@unimelb.edu.au

7. Research Conference – Abstracts NOW OPEN

Abstract Submission & Conference Registration for the 2025 Faculty of Education Research Conference

The Changing World of Education: Opportunities and Challenges

Date: Wednesday 29th October 2025

Location: Arts West

Conference Registration

Please register to attend the faculty conference by 5pm, Thursday 16th October here:

https://go.unimelb.edu.au/sr4p

Abstracts should be submitted by 5pm, Thursday 14th August here:

https://go.unimelb.edu.au/8r4p

Information about abstract submissions

All academics across all career stages and GRs (who are confirmed in their candidature) are invited to submit a 200 word (max) abstract for a presentation (15 + 5mins) to be considered for the conference program.

Due to the high number of submissions for the faculty conference each year, the following criteria are used to assist in selecting presentations for the conference.

  • Presentations will be chosen to ensure that there is appropriate representation of GRs and academics from across groups and centres and across all career stages.
  • Priority will be given to Graduate Researchers in their final 12 months prior to submission.
  • Graduate Researchers need to have been successfully confirmed in order to be considered for a presentation.
  • Any individual can only be lead presenter on one paper. Where one person is listed on multiple papers they may be asked to prioritise or consider a group presentation. This is to ensure we have a good representation of people from across the faculty.
  • Presentations from those that have received faculty seed funding or external funding are encouraged.
  • Abstracts will be judged by a panel on:
    • Focus and relevance
    • Context and contribution
    • Design and methods
    • Results and finding
    • Clarity and composition