Research Office Newsletter

06 September 2007

Links

News

Dates

Research Office

-     Office of Sponsored Research

-     Office of Research Integrity

-     Office of Commercialisation

From the Director of the RO

More info >>

 

For more information on upcoming dates see the RO Calendar.

 

 

 

From the Research Office

                                                               More info >>

From the Office of Sponsored Research

                                                                      More info >>

From the Office of Research Integrity

More info>>

From the Office of Research Data and Analysis

                                                                       More info>>  

 

From the Director of the RO

ANU’s preparation for the Research Quality Framework (RQF) is now well under way.  Last week the DVC sent the following email to all academic staff:

Over the next eight months, the ANU will prepare its submissions to the Research Quality Framework (RQF). The Research Quality Framework will be used by DEST to determine research funding currently provided through DEST's Research Block Grants (the Institutional Grants Scheme and part of the Research Training Scheme).

Besides any funding that will be driven by the process, the RQF is important to the reputation of the ANU. It is therefore, imperative that the ANU presents itself in the best possible light; you can be certain that every University will be trying to do the same.

While the process will be as unobtrusive as possible, all staff eligible for assessment in the RQF process will be asked to assist by: ensuring that the ANU has accurate records of their research publications and grants; by identifying the RFCD codes that best describe their research; by identifying their best research publications; by contributing to the descriptive material provided to DEST and by identifying areas of impact. Many staff will also assist by being members of the ANU panels which will identify the groups to be put forward by assessment and develop the context statements for each group. There is more RQF information at The Research Quality Framework at the ANU

As an early step in this process, ANU researchers who are formally eligible for inclusion in the RQF will receive an email within the next few weeks, inviting them to verify the ANU's current records regarding their research fields, publications and grants. The email will include instructions on how to view the records, how to update them, and how to seek assistance.

Some ANU staff members who are technically eligible for inclusion in the RQF may desire not to be included; for example, because their contribution to the university is not made through their research activities. Such staff members are invited to record their desire to be excluded by sending an email to RQF@anu.edu.au. Your indication will be respected, but regarded as provisional at this stage and subject to negotiation as the RQF proceeds.

Given the importance of the RQF to the ANU, both to our reputation and to our funding, I request your assistance in presenting the ANU in the best possible light and demonstrating our position as a world-class research university.

The Research Office is coordinating the RQF process at ANU and we will be seeking the assistance of local area staff in the RQF process.  Some of you will be asked by your College to assist the ANU Panels while the HERDC Publication Officers will be asked to assist academic staff in entering their data onto ARIES.  Given the importance of the RQF to the ANU, I request your assistance with the RQF when requested by the Office of Research Management Data or your College in presenting the ANU in the best possible light.

 

From the Research Office

Notice

New location for the Office of Commercialisation

The Office of Commercialisation has now moved to its new and final office location. You will find the office in the Innovations Building (124) on the ground floor, Room 1.24.

Research Development Forum

September RDF Cancelled

The scheduled September Research Development Forum has been cancelled. Please amend your calendars. The next RDF is scheduled for 17 October 2007 and will focus on feedback from the annual ARMS conference - FUSION (Collaboration with Impact) to be held in Adelaide from 19 Sept-21 Sept.

Next Lunchtime Seminar

How to Start Preparing – ARC

The next Lunchtime Seminar is ‘How to Start Preparing - ARC’ presented by the Office of Sponsored Research. Tuesday, 18 September at 12:30 – 1:30. Ross Hohnen Room. Chancelry Tower Bld 10A.

2007 Research Portfolio Planning Day

The DVC is holding the annual ANU Research Planning Day in October this year.

      Date: Tuesday, 9 October 2007 8.45am - 5.00pm

      Venue: Old Parliament House

The Planning Day aims to improve coordination of research support at ANU, and will include

presentations and discussions in the following areas:

  • RQF
  • Research Management and Support at ANU

We would encourage all research support staff, including academic staff with significant research

management responsibility, to attend.

Next ARIES Training Session for Basic Data Entry

Date: Tuesday, 25th September 2007

Time: 9.30am till 12.30pm (morning tea included)

Venue: Chancelry 10A Lower Ground Floor, Finance & Business Training Lab

 

From the Office of Sponsored Research

Grants Outcomes

ANU 2007 Linkage Pilot Project Scheme

The Research Office received 19 applications in response to the first call for applications to the ANU 2007 Linkage Pilot Project Scheme. The selection committee met recently and awarded 14 grants. College Research Offices will be notified of successful/unsuccessful candidates by the end of this week. At this stage it is likely that the Linkage Pilot Project scheme will run again in 6 months time.

Workshop

ANU Major Equipment Workshop - Please note the changes in issues to be discussed

14 Sept at 2-4pm, McDonald Room, Menzies Library

The Research Office in collaboration with the Major Equipment Committee (MEC) will hold a Major Equipment Workshop. An expert Panel including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Cram, and the Chair of the Major Equipment Committee, Professor Rob Elliman, will be available to answer questions and offer advice and information on ANU infrastructure-related policies, funding rules and strategies for intending applicants. This year the Committee will also consider proposals for the 2008 NHMRC Equipment Grants to support competitively funded medical research. The Workshop will also discuss MEC’s support for the 2009 LIEF round.

The closing date for applications with the Major Equipment Grants and NHMRC Equipment grants is 30 November.  Outcomes will be known at the end of March. 

For further information about the Workshop or to RSVP please contact the Secretary, MEC, Laura Dan, on x 52015, or Laura Dan

Reminder - 14 September – Research Office Deadline for NHMRC Development Grants Application

Funding Opportunities

ARC Linkage Projects Round 2, 2007 (for funding commencing July 2008)

** NB: College Research Offices will have their own closing dates - applicants should check with their College RO**

 

LP Rd 2

OSR Dates

ARC Dates

Eligibility Exemption Request

8th October

12th October

Linkage Rd 2 Applications

16th November

23rd November

 

Requests must be submitted on the ARC Eligibility Exemption/Ruling Request Form along with the required documentation. The form can be downloaded from http://www.arc.gov.au/rtf/LP08_EligibilityRuling.rtf. Completed forms should be submitted to the OSR via College/Local Area. Please refer to LP Funding Rules commencing 2008 for ARC information on Clause 7.1 Eligibility Exemption and Eligibility Ruling Processhttp://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/lp/lp_fundingrules.htm. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact your OSR College Contact http://www.anu.edu.au/ro/info/contact_college.php

Fieldwork Funding Supplements

The Vice-Chancellor has allocated a budget of $200K for 2007 to assist with the cost of fieldwork for graduate research students. Detailed advice has been sent to colleges via deans and executive officers. Colleges should determine their own processes for accepting proposals, and send the final rankings to the OSR by 28th September, 2007.

Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) -Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund and the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund

The fund opened on Monday 6 August 2007 and closes at 5pm (AEST) on Friday 28 September 2007.  The AISRF provides funding support for Australian researchers to participate in strategically focused, leading edge, scientific research and technology collaborations with Indian counterparts. Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis against specific criteria.  Applicants should refer to the AISRF Guidelines – August 2007.  For further information, please visit Australia-India Strategic Research Fund or contact the International Science Branch at DEST via email: AISRF or by phone: (02) 6240 9387

Research Centres/Consortia Fund – The National Centre for Vocational Education Research invites research services on vocational education and training topics.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is seeking the services of research centres or consortia to provide a three year program of research aligned with one or more of the five national research priority areas governing the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector.

This is a nationally competitive grants scheme. For further information, please visit NCVER

Application Deadline: 19 October, 2007

Flagship Collaboration Fund – postgraduate scholarships 2008

The National Research Flagships program is an initiative of CSIRO, designed to bring together large multidisciplinary teams to focus on Australia’s major challenges and opportunities. The Flagship areas include energy transformed, food futures, light metals, preventative health, water for a healthy country, wealth from oceans, climate adaptation, minerals down under, and niche manufacturing (nanotechnology). The Fund supports postgraduate (PhD) scholarships for students co-supervised by researchers in an Australian university and CSIRO, and working on a project relevant to one of the Flagships. Applications will open in mid-September and close at the end of October. For further information, please go to CSIRO.  Applications close late October. 

Fellowship Opportunities

2008 ARC Federation Fellowships Scheme

The ARC has released Funding Rules and Instructions to Applicants for the 2008 round of Federation Fellowship applications. These documents are available at ARC Federation Fellowship Scheme.

The draft University policy on ARC Federation Fellowships was distributed to Deans/Directors and College General Managers yesterday. Whilst this policy has yet to be officially ratified, it should be used to guide areas in negotiation with potential applicants for the 2008 round of Federation Fellowships - the funding rules for which have recently been released by the ARC.

A detailed information pack pertaining to the next round of Fed Fellow applications will be distributed to College Research Offices (for College distribution) tomorrow.

The information pack will comprise:

  • Funding Rules, Instructions to Applicants, Sample application form
  • draft ANU Federation Fellowship Policy
  • Information Sheet on 2008 Federation Fellowships
  • 2008 Federation Fellowship Application Checklist

Application Closing Dates:

** NB: College Research Offices will have their own closing dates - applicants should check with their College RO**

Research Office Closing Date: Friday, 12 October 2007

ARC Closing Date: Friday, 19 October 2007

 

ANU Federation Fellowship Information Session:

WHEN: 9:15am - 10:15am, Wednesday, 12 September 2007

WHERE: Ross Hohnen Room, Ground Fl, Chancelry Tower, Bldg 10

PRESENTERS: Professor Lawrence Cram, DVC and Karen Burke, Office of Sponsored Research

WHO: Prospective Federation Fellowship nominators, applicants, administrators and mentors are warmly invited to attend.

RSVP: by Monday, 10 September 2007 to karen.burke@anu.edu.au

Group of Eight 2008 European Fellowships

The Fellowships are open to eligible early career researchers from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Applications from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria open on 1 September 2007 and close on 5 October 2007.

Applications from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland will open on 11 September and close on 19 October 2007. For further information, please go to Group of Eight

The Australian Prime Ministers Centre Fellowship

A number of Fellowships are available for established researchers to undertake research into Australia’s prime ministers, their lives, achievements and governments. The Australian Prime Ministers Centre Fellowship program supports research across the dispersed collections of prime ministerial materials. It also encourages innovative research to result in new scholarly communication, including that is targeted to general audiences. For further information and application forms, please go to The Australian Prime Ministers Centre. Application Deadline: 28 September, 2007.

The Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program of United States Institute of Peace

Applications for 2008-9 senior fellowships from the Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program of the United States Institute of Peace, which promotes the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts.  The fellowships will support research projects on the sources and nature of international conflicts.  Priority will be given to projects that focus on problems in the Muslim world, post-war reconstruction and peace, responses to terrorism and political violence, or stability operation in Iraq and elsewhere.  For further information, please go to United States Institute of Peace

Application Deadline: 17 September, 2007

National Museum of Australia Visiting Fellowships    

The National Museum of Australia has established a significant fellowship program for established scholars with a record of achievement in the Museum’s field of interest. The 2008 fellowships include financial assistance to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses. Fellows are expected to undertake a research project that expands knowledge about the Museum’s fields of interest or its collections, or museology and museum practice. Fellowships are tenable at the National Museum in Canberra. For further information, please go to National Museum of Australia.

Applications Deadline: 28 September, 2007

Grants Opportunities

Project Grants – Historic Preservation

Tourism Cares’ Worldwide Grant Program distributes grants to tourism-related non-profit organisations worldwide for capital improvements or programs.  The program supports projects designed to conserve, protect, and restore sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance, and to promote public awareness of and participation in those conservation activities.  For further information on the grant, please go to Tourism Cares Grant

Application Deadline: 1 October, 2007

Travel Grants - The Council of the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation invites applications for 4 travel grants for 2008.

·         The Catherine Southwell-Keely Travel Grant is to assist a recent graduate of an Australian or New Zealand University, currently enrolled in postgraduate studies, requiring extensive travel, to pursue research in the archaeology of Egypt, Cyprus or Western Asia. The Grant Value is $3500.

·         The Leone Crawford Travel Grant is for researchers to undertake overseas archaeological site research in the geographical areas in which the Foundation from time to time conducts research. Value: $5000

·         The Sam Eames Grant-in-Aid is to assist recent graduates of an Australian or New Zealand University, currently enrolled in postgraduate studies, to pursue research in the archaeology of EgyCyprus or Western Asia. Maximum value of the grant is $1500.

·         General Grants-in-Aid is to assist recent graduates of an Australian or New Zealand University, currently enrolled in postgraduate studies, to pursue research in the archaeology of Egypt, Cyprus or Western Asia. The value of the grant is up to $5000.

Further information, please go to Grants for 2008.  Application Deadline: 30 September 2007

Prizes - computer and Video Games Prizes on Health Care Topics

Ashoka and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are inviting entries for the competition ‘Why Games Matter: a Prescription for Improving Health and Health Care.’ Winners will receive $5,000 for creating computer and video games that aim to improve health and health care. For further information, please go to: Changemakers

From the Office of Research Integrity

ARIES Human Research Ethics System Launch 10 September

ANU’s intended introduction of a new human research ethics on-line application form in the ANU Research Enterprise System (ARIES) was outlined in the first edition of the Research Office newsletter and an analysis of its three tiered classification of ethical risk was presented at that time.  The intent is to simplify the preparation of protocols, to streamline the ethical review of low-risk protocols, and at the same time, to improve the efficiency of administration.  The system will be launched on Monday 10 September.

The three levels of ethical review occur via the following:

a.       Low-risk protocols (Level E1) will be reviewed and approved by the Chair of the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee.  A low-risk protocol will normally entail no request for amendment.  If no amendment is requested, a low-risk protocol normally will be approved within 5 working days of submission.

b.       Low-risk protocols (Level E2) will be considered and approved by a Delegated Ethics Review Committee (DERC)

c.       High-risk protocols (Full review) will be considered and approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee.

There will be two Delegated Ethics Review Committees.  One DERC will review research in the humanities and social sciences (i.e. researchers within CASS, CAP, CBE and ACoL) and the other will review research in science, medicine, and engineering (i.e. researchers within COS, CMHS and CECS).  In respect of membership, committee procedures, ethical review, and ethical clearance, the DERCs will be essentially identical to current LESCs.  However, the business processes supporting the DERCs will be revised to capture the efficiencies of on-line processing - for example, administrative services for DERCs will be provided by the Ethics Office rather than the Colleges.  It is expected that each DERC will meet every two weeks with the first meetings to occur in the last week in September.

From the Office of Research Data and Analysis

From the Business Solutions Group

Next ARIES Training Session for Grants Basic Data Entry, 9:30AM-12:30PM, Tuesday 25 September, Chancelry 10A Lower Ground Floor, Finance & Business Training Lab 

This course is for administrative staff in College, Faculty, Research School and Centre business offices who deal with research grant administration. The course will cover all aspects of data entry and enquiry for Aries. People attending the training are assumed to have a working knowledge of the business processes. The Basic data entry course is a pre-requisite for the ReportWriter course.

 

To register: go to http://training.anu.edu.au/staffcoursecatalogue.asp

 

Go to the "FILTER BY PROVIDER box, select RESEARCH OFFICE and click on the GO button.

On the next screen click on ARIES GRANTS BASIC DATA ENTRY At the bottom of the page click on "Proceed HERE to register for this course."

 

What to do when the funds provider does not exist in Aries - Aries Grants Module Tip

(1) In the SCHEMES tab search for “Provider not in Aries”, select, then add the “Grant” scheme.

(2) Add the amounts requested for each year as you normally would

(3) go to the NOTES tab and add the following information:

  • Name of provider: the organisation providing the money
  • Postal and/or street Address, including the country (in case someone needs to send things via a courier)
  • Main contact name: this is the individual at the funds provider. Information available varies from organisation to organisation. For big organisations such as the ARC, there is a contact person for each scheme. Other organisations have a single contact person for all research funding. For consultancies, the researcher may have been talking to the Funds Provider for some time and will have a personal contact.
  • Phone: number of contact person if that's appropriate. Also give us general email for org. Aries can store both.
  • Fax: number of contact person if that's appropriate. Also give us general email for org. Aries can store both.
  • Email: email of contact person if that's appropriate. Give us a generic email if there is no appropriate personal email - basically the best available information
  • Web address for organisation: top level page
  • We also need to know the scheme name. If it is simply grant or consultancy then that will suffice, but if it has a proper name we need to know it. 

The researcher is often the best source of information on the appropriate contact name, phone and email

 All the above info is displayed within the Grant record in the SCHEMES tab when you click on the 'magnifying glass' image https://aries.anu.edu.au/content/ASP/buildPageContractSchemes.asp

So, researcher, local business offices, college administrators can all look it up quickly for snail mail, sending reports, phone calls etc..

 

 

PLEASE CONTACT JENNY TAYLOR IN THE OFFICE OF SPONSORED RESEARCH
 (ext 51455 or
jenny.taylor@anu.edu.au) FOR ANYTHING FURTHER