Research Office News

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University of Sydney- The Sydnovate Fund

Introduction: The University of Sydney’s Sydnovate Fund provides immediate critical financial support for research projects with high commercial potential.

These funds will be used to:

Ø Strengthen new University patent applications, in particular by reducing inventions to practice during the 12 month period between provisional patent application filing and PCT filing.

Ø Develop ‘unripe’ patented technologies into licensable opportunities by reaching critical milestones and demonstrating feasibility.

Opportunities should have high commercial potential and be of a practical nature that cannot be funded by regular scientific research grants.

Eligibility: All University of Sydney staff & students may apply, for further conditions see the website.
Amount awarded: Grants are generally limited to a maximum of AUD$50,000 for up to 12 months.
Indirect cost recovery: This scheme is exempt from University of Sydney indirect costs recovery fee.

Sydnovate contact: Nick Keilar on 9036 6501 or email

Email:

Internet Link: http://www.usyd.edu.au/sydnovate/staff-sydnovate-fund.html

Closing date: Perpetual; the fund is ongoing and applications can be made at any time.

ARC Discovery seminar

Are you intending to apply for a grant and/or fellowship via the University of Sydney in the ARC Discovery round closing in March 2009? If so you are invited to attend a seminar explaining the application process at USyd and providing advice on strategies to improve your chance of success. Speakers will include current and former ARC College of Expert members sharing their insights into the assessment process. We will announce at the seminar details of small discussion and feedback groups to provide further support and advice to applicants.

Two seminars are offered on different days & locations:

9 October, 1-2pm

Old Geology Lecture Theatre
Speakers:
Robert Dixon (ARC College of Expert member for Humanities and Creative Arts),
Warwick Dawson (Director, Research Office),
Merrilee Robb (Director of Research Development),
Margaret Harris (Director of Research, Faculty of Arts),

10 October 1-2pm

Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd (next to Wentworth)
Speakers:
Tony Weiss (ARC College of Expert member for Biological Sciences and Biotechnology),
Warwick Dawson (Director, Research Office),
Merrilee Robb (Director of Research Development),
Margaret Harris (Director of Research, Faculty of Arts)

RSVP to Reema Rattan-

Group of Eight (Go8) – European Fellowships

Applications for Go8 European Fellowships are now open; each fellowship is worth up to $20,000 for eligible researchers from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic to work in a Go8 University for up to 6 months. Eligible fellows must have a completed a PhD less than 5 years prior to the application date and be under 40 years of age.

Ø Please submit all applications to Julia Bouwens in the Research Office no later than 23rd October 2008. or phone 9351 4471

Please refer to the website link below for more information:
http://www.go8.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174&Itemid=236

Harvard Club of Australia Foundation- Australia-Harvard Fellowships

Australia-Harvard Fellowships are tenable at Australian research institutions. Scientists and technologists who are normally based at Harvard University or one of its closely affiliated institutions and who were awarded a PhD before 2005 are eligible to apply. The Fellowship covers travel, living expenses in Australia and perhaps purchases of research-specific materials, instruments or equipment.

Please refer to the website link below for more information:
Australia-Harvard Fellowships

Closing date: 13th October 2008

Parliament of Australia- Australian Parliamentary Fellowship

The Australian Parliamentary Fellowship supports an ECR with a PhD awarded in the last three years. The research must relate to the way Parliament functions, the way members operate, or examine a broad issue in national politics. The Fellowship is for 12 months, fixed-term.

Please refer to the website link below for more information:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/apf.htm

Closing date: 10th October 2008

Canada Research Grants

Humanities and Social Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences Presentation from Seminar 6 August 2008

Science, Engineering and Health
Science, Engineering and Health Presentation from Seminar 6 August 2008

University of Sydney: Learning Solutions- Financial, resource and risk management – 30th October 2008

Research projects must operate with the funding and resource constraints agreed at start-up. The researcher must therefore carefully manage the resources to ensure they support the full research life cycle. This module explores some useful principles and practices for managing the financial processes, assets and risks attached to research. The module will help you to:
Ø Understand, read and interpret financial information and reports in respect of research projects
Ø Fully and accurately cost research proposals and understand how costs can be controlled
Ø Prepare and monitor project budgets
Ø Proactively analyse and manage the risks and resources associated with research projects
Ø Prepare required financial reports and understand audit requirements

The module includes:

Ø Pre workshop reading (about 6-8 hours)
Ø A conversation with an experienced researcher
Ø A one-day workshop on 30 October where you will hear from experts in the field including staff from Sydnovate and from ATP Innovations (specialists in commercialising research). During the workshop you will meet both Business Development Managers and other key staff from Sydnovate.

For more information and to enroll please click on the following link:
Module 5: Financial, resource and risk management

USyd Learning Solutions: IP and Commercialisation – Your questions answered – 13th October 2008

If you have ever wondered about the best way of protecting the IP that results from your research, or had questions about how your research could be commercialised, then this module is for you. Learning Solutions has been working with Sydnovate to customise this module developed by the Go8. The module will:
Ø Provide detailed information about protection of IP
Ø Help you assess the commercial potential of your research
Ø Answer your questions about the different options for commercialisation

The module includes a one-day workshop where you will hear from experts in the field including staff from Sydnovate and from ATP Innovations (specialists in commercialising research). You will meet both Business Development Managers and other key staff from Sydnovate.

For more information and to enroll please click on the following link:
Module 4: Intellectual Property Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation

University of Sydney: Sydney Learning- Development modules for new and emerging Chief Investigators

During semester 2 Learning Solutions and the Research Office is collaborating to present an exciting new development program designed specifically for researchers who are new Chief Investigators or for whom being a Chief Investigator is the next step. Places are filling for these programs so nominate soon if you want to attend.

The first two modules of the eight module program being offered this semester are:
Module 2: Commencement and Collaboration (workshop on September 3) to be facilitated by Prof. Ben Eggleton. This module looks primarily at managing the start of a research project, establishing the identity and profile of your project, recruiting, building and managing the project team and Knowledge, information and data management.
Module 3: Governance and Compliance – Protecting yourself, your research and your university (workshop on September 10) to be facilitated by Prof David Cook. This module looks primarily at leading ethical research communities, grant holder responsibilities, research integrity, knowledge capture and preservation and other governance and compliance issues.

Each module is in three parts:
Ø On line material and activities to be read and completed
ØA guided conversation with an experienced researcher
ØAttendance at a ½ day workshop (Workshops held at the Darlington Centre – Camperdown Campus)

Because of the pre-work involved in each module (4-6 hours) it is strongly advised to register for one of these modules only as there may not be sufficient time to complete the pre-work for both. All modules will be delivered again in the future. For more information on the program and on all the modules and to enroll in Modules 2 and 3 please click on the link below:

Future Research Leaders Program

Australian Researchers Mobility Portal: supported by DEST and FEAST

The mobility of researchers to and from Australia is important for the vitality of Australia as a knowledge-driven economy within the global community. The Portal gives an overview of professional matters such as employment, fellowships, funding, research strengths, universities and other institutions. Also covered is logistical information, including immigration, visas, taxation, intellectual property, driving licenses and legal issues.

Please refer to website link below for more information:
http://www.mobility.org.au/

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding

Applicants interested in applying for NIH Grants should subscribe to the NIH Funding Bulletin.

To subscribe please click on the following link: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm - and follow the instructions. If you are planning on submitting an application to an eligible funding scheme please contact Yamini Sandiran in the Research Office on 02 9351 3877 to assist you with the application process.