Research News: Updates from the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research

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UNSW Researchers: Transforming Our World
Professor Emma Johnston, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research

Research at UNSW is doing more than driving impact- it is changing our world. In our February edition of Research News, I invite you to view the first of a series of short videos showcasing the work UNSW researchers are doing right now to transform the lives of people in Australia and around the globe. In this video, Professor David Sanderson discusses the two fundamental requirements for aid work going forward, and what urban resilience means for making a difference to our society and future.

With the recent Ministerial announcement of the last four NHMRC schemes, the university achieved an exceptional result in the 2016 grant application round, securing $60.5M in NHMRC funds and capping off an outstanding year in grant funding overall. Related, ARC Linkage grants are now open year-round, and it is vital that we maintain our lead and momentum in this scheme. I am concerned about the small number of Linkage proposals submitted in the second half of 2016, and strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact James Walsh for strategic assistance.

Also in Research News this month, we take a look at some of the high-end scientific instrumentation available at UNSW, the new Researcher Recognition Office, strategic advice for ARC and NHMRC grant funding, More Than Low Risk Research, and invite researchers to submit expressions of interest for membership on the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee.

Architect of change - David Sanderson
Disasters, poverty and marginalisation- Professor David Sanderson discusses the number one thing needed in aid right now, and what urban resilience means for our future.

The new UNSW Researcher Recognition Office
The role of the newly created Researcher Recognition Office is to enhance the individual research profile of academic staff members and researchers (at all levels from postdoctoral Research Associate onward) via a wide range of esteem measures based upon both research achievements and research-enabled leadership.

Academic writing takes many forms, and whilst accomplished researchers are invariably talented at writing for a peer audience, writing for an informed but non-expert audience takes practice. This is where the Researcher Recognition Office can help. By providing editorial, administrative, and logistical support, the Researcher Recognition Office can assist with a wide range of esteem measures- in particular prizes and awards.

The mission of the Researcher Recognition Office is to enable those who have achieved excellence in research to receive the recognition they deserve. Importantly, whilst the majority of esteem measures tend to be offered in STEM disciplines, the Researcher Recognition Office assists academic staff members and researchers across all faculties at the University, both in Sydney and Canberra.

To find out how the Researcher Recognition Office can help you, please contact Paul Ashworth (Director).

Human Research Ethics Committee Membership Call for Expressions of Interest
The UNSW HREC is currently seeking expressions of interests from people with current research experience to fill vacancies in the ‘researcher’ membership category.

- Appointments are for an initial period of three years with the possibility for renewal
- UNSW currently has two Human Ethics Research Ethics Committees
- Each HREC meets on a monthly basis (either the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of the month)
- Meetings commence at 1:00pm and generally finish around 5:00pm
- Members are provided with an electronic device to assist with the review of ethics applications

Submissions of EOIs:
Applications should be sent by email to humanethics@unsw.edu.au and include:
1. a cover letter detailing what you believe you can bring to the ethics committee
2. a short resume or summary of education and relevant work experience
3. a letter or email of support from your Head of School/Centre

For further information, please contact Leonne Thompson- call (02) 9385 6222.

You Won’t Find this at Home
UNSWTV has released a series of short videos showcasing some of the high-end scientific instrumentation available at UNSW. The equipment featured ranges from an electron microscope to a composites manufacturing robot. Watch the full collection of You Won’t Find this at Home videos on the UNSWTV YouTube channel. This is one of the ways UNSW is making world class research infrastructure more visible to our researchers and the general community.

Strategic Advice for Grant Funding
With the grant season well underway, the UNSW Research Strategy and Partnerships Office (RSPO) is here to provide strategic advice to UNSW researchers. Current schemes the RSPO can assist with include:

ARC and NHMRC Grants
The RSPO works with individual researchers and research teams to assist them in developing a polished and competitive application. The team at RSPO can provide strategic advice on all aspects of your application, including project descriptions and track record statements. The RSPO also provides one-on-one tailored advice to help you determine when and what funding you should be applying for.

It is important to note that all RSPO services are opt-in services, and submitting your application to the Grants Management Office (GMO) for a compliance and eligibility review does not include a strategic review. To ensure that you receive a comprehensive strategic review from the RSPO team, send a word document of your application to:
- ARC Discovery Projects: dp.rso@unsw.edu.au
- ARC DECRA: decra.rso@unsw.edu.au
- NHMRC: nhmrc@unsw.edu.au

More than Low Risk Research
Human Ethics Committee submissions for more than low risk research applications now close on a fortnightly basis. A list of the submission closing dates for the HREC can be found on the More than Low Risk webpage.

ARC Continuous Linkage
On 1 January 2017 the selection criteria for ARC Linkage projects changed significantly. There is now less emphasis on innovation and much more focus on benefit to the partner and the feasibility of the collaboration. If you are considering applying for an ARC Linkage grant please contact the RSPO to discuss strategy, especially in light of these changes to the selection criteria.

In addition to reviewing the application for strategy, the RSPO can also assist with partner engagement. The RSPO has a variety of materials to help your partner sign up to the proposal, and can advise on practically any issue you might be confronted with in developing your application.

For strategic advice regarding ARC Linkage grants contact James Walsh, RSPO Senior Strategic Development Manager (Industry).

Forward

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