RDS-Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund-2026

This is a preview of the 2026 Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund application form form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

Part A: Administrative Details

* indicates a required field.

Information before completing the application

The Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund fosters the development of high-quality research activities that include Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in a significant role.  Applications from all schools and disciplines are encouraged. These should propose innovative and sustainable activities, built around collaborative research, linking researchers from the University of Bonn (Bonn) and the University of Melbourne (Melbourne). The research projects may take place in any country as long as they are undertaken collaboratively. The expectation is that these initial activities will lead to long-term collaborations, institutional and research relations, and when applicable,
generate publications, exhibitions, and/or external funding for ongoing collaboration.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

  • Please ensure you have read and understood the Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund Guidelines and Instructions to Applicants. 
  • All applications must be endorsed by the PI’s Head of Department/School by completing and signing the relevant section of the Authority to Submit Form (formerly Faculty Certification Form).
  • University of Melbourne PIs must attach the PDF of the Authority to Submit Form to this application.
  • To meet the objectives of the project, funding received through the scheme may be used to support mobility costs for collaborating academic staff, and graduate researchers enrolled at Melbourne. Academic staff must meet the same eligibility requirements as the PIs.
  • Proposals should be for new or emerging research collaborations that have not yet received third-party funding. 
  • Incomplete applications or declined eligibility exemptions will not be progressed for further assessment.

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

*Fields with an asterisk are mandatory.

A1.Eligibility Checklist

University of Melbourne Principal Investigator: * Required
Response required.
Bonn University Principal Investigator: * Required
Response required.Response required.

A2. Principal Investigator - University of Melbourne

Internal applicants are required to enter the HR system/legal first name and last name (not preferred name).
Must be an email address. Must be an UoM email address
e.g. Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences
Does this application include UoM researchers from more than one faculty? * Required
I confirm that I do not have outstanding Progress or Final Reports from any other University of Melbourne Researcher Development Scheme. * Required

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 Early Career Research Fellowship selection committees understand how well your proposal aligns with institutional strategic aims to support equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Early Career Research Fellowships aim to foster an inclusive and equitable research community at the University of Melbourne. To this end, we invite applicants to identify relevant aspects of their project and self-identity. Faculty representatives will verify these during shortlisting.

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.Please outline the Indigenous Context of your research
You may select more than one
You may select more than one.

Must be at least 1 rows

A3. Principal Investigator - University of Bonn

Must be an email address. 
e.g. Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences
This question is read only. 

A4.Collaboration

The project proposal is for a new or emerging research collaboration that has not yet received third party funding. * Required

A5. University of Melbourne Research Team

Please list any participants to be listed on the grant other than the UOM lead PI above. 

Must be an email address. Please enter unimelb primary email address. You can check your primary email here - https://sso.unimelb.edu.au/enduser/settings

Must be between 1 and 5 rows

A6. University of Bonn Research Team

Please list any participants to be listed on the grant other than the Bonn lead PI above. 

Must be an email address. 
Career Stage

Must be between 1 and 5 rows

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Faculty & Department/Research Centre (Institute)/Hospital" on page 1