RDS-Early Career Researcher Grant-2026-March

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This is a preview of the Early Career Researcher Grant commencing in 2027 form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

Early Career Researcher Grant Application

* indicates a required field.

Information Before Completing the Grant Application

The Early Career Researcher Grant aims to support early career researchers demonstrating clear evidence of high research potential to progress their research careers and enhance competitiveness in applying for external research funding.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

  • Please ensure you have read and understood the Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme Guidelines and FAQ/Instructions to Applicants. 
  • Use the Authority to Submit Form template available on the scheme website to secure support of the School, Department, affiliated research institute or Medical Research Institute (MRI) you are applying to. 
  • For applicants based at eligible affiliated MRIs, the Authority to Submit Form must be signed by the appropriate affiliated Director or delegate. If awarded, the affiliated research institute or MRI is required to provide a 50% co-contribution to the ECR grant.
  • You will be required to upload the signed certification into this application before submitting.
  • Eligibility exemption requests must be made as part of this Application. Exemption requests made outside the Application form will not be considered.
  • Incomplete applications or declined eligibility exemptions will not be progressed for further assessment.

  • Applications must comply with the formatting, page and word limit requirements stated in the Application Form. All documents must be uploaded as PDFs (.docx will not be accepted). Failure to meet the specified formatting and application requirements will mean the application is deemed ineligible and will not be passed on to the committee.

Save as you go: Manually save your work as you progress through the application.  

Part A . Administrative Summary

https://sso.unimelb.edu.au/enduser/settings
This question is read only. 
If selecting an eligible affiliated research institute, please note the affiliated medical research institute (MRI) employing the ECR grant holder will be responsible for covering the portion of grant funding that is normally contributed by the Faculty. Please refer to Scheme Guidelines for eligible affiliated research institutes
Are you currently employed by the University of Melbourne? Pick the option that best describes your circumstances * * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for Are you currently employed by the University of Melbourne? Pick the option that best describes your circumstances *
Eligibility requires a salaried academic appointment that provides a minimum of 0.4 FTE (2 days per week) for research for the full duration of the ECR Grant project.
Applicant Gender * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for Applicant Gender
No more than 1 choice may be selected. There is an optional field to add self entered response.
Response required.
With regards to Australia, Indigenous refers to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) peoples.

A1. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

 

The University of Melbourne is interested in supporting research and researchers equitably and inclusively. The following questions will assist the various ECR Grant selection committees to understand how well your proposal aligns with institutional strategic aims to support equity, diversity and inclusion.

 

Please select any/all of the below researcher background options that you personally identify as:Please select the strategic considerations as appropriate for your research.
You may select more than one
You may select more than one.
 * RequiredResponse required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Please select any/all of the below researcher background options that you personally identify as:
 * RequiredResponse required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Please select the strategic considerations as appropriate for your research.

Must be at least 1 rows

A2. Fields of Research Codes (FoR)

You may include up to five FoR codes that best describe your area(s) of research, as relevant to the nominated publication(s). Please include code and percentage (totaling 100% for all FoR codes), e.g.:

  • 123456 - Atlantean Spearfishing (excl. mammals) - 51%;
  • 654321 - Atlantean Poetry - 49%

If unsure, please consult your faculty research office.

FoR Code

FoR Code Percentage

Must be a number and between 1 and 100. 

Must be between 1 and 5 rows

This number/amount is calculated. Total must be 100.

Socio-Economic Objective Codes (SEO)

You may include up to five SEO codes that best describe your area(s) of research, as relevant to the proposed research project. Please include code and percentage (totaling 100% for all SEO codes).

If unsure, please consult your faculty research office.

SEO Code

SEO Code Percentage

Must be a number and between 1 and 100. 

Must be between 1 and 5 rows

This number/amount is calculated. Total must equal 100.

A3. Appointment Details

Where applicable, please create additional rows for multiple appointments. Please select the 'Maximise' button to ensure you can view and complete all columns.

Current supervisor/lab headStart of current appointmentEnd of current appointment (if not continuing)Current appointment typeAppointment dutiesAppointment levelCurrent FTE
 * Required
 * Required
Response required.  * Required
Response required.  * Required
 * Required
 * Required
For multiple appointments, please use the start date of the first appointment
Must be a date. Applicants must be employed for the full duration of their ECR project.
Level A, B, C, etc.
e.g. 1.00 FTE, 0.4FTE, etc

Must be between 1 and 2 rows

Do you have confirmation of a salaried academic appointment that provides a minimum of 0.4 FTE (2 days per week) for research for the full duration of the proposed ECR Grant project? * Required
Response required.
This includes current appointments or pre-confirmed extensions contingent on the outcome of this scheme. Confirmation must be provided via the Authority to Submit Form.
Has your Head of Department/School certified this research capacity on the Authority to Submit form? * Required

Joyce Lambert ECR Grant for Antarctic Research; the Carlo and Rita Giugni ECR Grant for Aged Care Research and The Judy Yeung ECR Grant for Voluntary Assisted Dying and Euthanasia Research are only open to current University of Melbourne staff in any discipline who will maintain a salaried position for the duration of the respective award period (1 January 2027 - 31 December 2027 for both Giugni and Yeung grants).

To be eligible for the Joyce Lambert ECR Grant for Antarctic Research, the proposal must be for Antarctic research (including research related to the physical world; socio-economic concerns and contexts; legal and cultural (including historical) environs of the Antarctic; or activities/issues impacting these areas with relevance to Antarctica).

To be eligible for the Giugni ECR grant, the proposal must have potential to improve aged care or lead to a positive impact on how society supports aged people in their final years.

To be eligible for the Yeung ECR grant, the proposal must be for research that advances Voluntary Assisted Dying or euthanasia policy, practice or research.

Please ensure you meet the additional eligibility requirements for the selected Special ECR Grant, including employment requirements.

Please note: Staff who are honorary at the University of Melbourne are not eligible.

Are you seeking consideration for a Special Early Career Researcher Grant in addition to the standard ECR Grant? * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for Are you seeking consideration for a Special Early Career Researcher Grant in addition to the standard ECR Grant?
Applicants may indicate their eligibility for one Special ECR Grant only. An applicant may be awarded either a standard ECR Grant or a Special ECR Grant, but not both. Special ECR Grants are subject to additional eligibility requirements as outlined in the Scheme Guidelines.

Authority to Submit

Please attach a fully signed declaration form using the Authority to Submit Form template on the scheme web-page (form available for download here).

Applicants should submit a PDF copy of their application along with the Authority to Submit Form to your Head of School/Department for authorisation.

Before forwarding the form, ensure you have completed the Applicant Details section. If you are on a Research-Only appointment (as at A3), have your supervisor sign the form where indicated in addition to the Head of School/Department's signature on the remaining sections.

Authority to Submit Form (PDF only) * Required
Attach a file: Select stored file