ARC Discovery Project Grants

2013 Funding Round Information Seminar

Program

• • • • • • • Documents and support tools Funding Rules basics – Objectives and project eligibility – – Roles and eligibility of investigators Budgets Preparation and submission of proposals The assessment process Statistics Results OR Research Development Unit

Documents and support tools

• • • • • http://www.research.qut.edu.au/developmen t/find/external/arc/index.jsp#Discovery http://www.arc.gov.au/ Funding Rules Instructions to Applicants RMS on-line application system

Funding Rules basics

Objectives and Project Eligibility

• Research definition: – The creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative (4.1.3)

• Objectives (4.2) – Support excellent basic and applied research by individuals and teams – Enhance the scale and focus of research in the National Research Priorities – Expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability – Encourage research and research training in high quality research environments – Enhance international collaboration in research; and – Foster the international competitiveness of Australian research

• Project eligibility – See 5.4 for Research/Activities not supported including changed definition of medical and dental research: “The DP scheme does not support medical and dental research, defined as research and/or training primarily and substantially aimed at understanding or treating a human disease or human health condition. This includes, but is not limited to, Projects that involve any of the following: (a) late pre-clinical or early human trials of a human therapeutic agent, material or diagnostic test or device; or other interventional research involving humans; (b) using material collected from human subjects for the primary purpose of studying the underlying causes, prevalence, epidemiology or mode of inheritance of a disease or human condition; or (c) using established animal models or established cell lines for the purpose of studying the underlying causes, prevalence, epidemiology or mode of inheritance of a human disease or human health condition”

Selection Criteria (4.3)

• Investigator(s) [40%] – Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) – Capacity to undertake the proposed research

• [changed] [25%] Project Quality and Innovation – Does the research address a significant problem?

– Is the conceptual/theoretical framework innovative and original?

– Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance knowledge?

• [changed] Feasibility and Benefit [20%] – Do the Project’s design, participants and requested budget create confidence in the timely and successful completion of the Project?

– Will the completed Project produce innovative economic, environmental, social and/or cultural benefit to the Australian and international community?

• [percentage changed] Research Environment [15%] – Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high quality research environment for this project?

– Are the necessary facilities to complete the project available?

– Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation (if appropriate) and promotion of research outcomes?

Roles and Eligibility of Investigators

Roles & General eligibility

• • Chief Investigator (CI) Partner Investigator (PI)  A proposal must have at least one CI. The 1 st named CI will be the Project Leader  Eligibility for CIs and PIs is mutually exclusive  All obligations regarding previous ARC funded projects must have been fulfilled (i.e. No overdue progress or final reports)

Chief Investigator eligibility (7.2)

• For the full term of the project: – Be an employee for at least .5FTE at one Eligible Organisation (def’n Australian university); or – Hold an Emeritus, Adjunct or equivalent appointment at an Eligible Organisation and not be employed more than half-time by another organisation that is outside the higher education sector and engages in research funded predominantly from state/territory or commonwealth funding sources; or – Be a Federation Fellow or an Australian Laureate Fellow

• Must take significant intellectual responsibility for the conduct of the Project and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. Must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to carrying out the Project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others

• • Must reside predominantly in Australia for the life of the Project. Can seek approval from Admin Organisation to undertake fieldwork or study leave directly related to the project not exceeding 18 months over the life of the project.

Researchers cannot be eligible to be a CI if they are undertaking undergraduate studies or a higher degree by research.

Partner Investigator eligibility (7.3)

• [as per CIs] Must take significant intellectual responsibility for the conduct of the Project and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. Must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to carrying out the Project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others

• Must not meet the eligibility criteria for CI and  i.e. If you are maxed out as a CI you cannot become a PI.

• Must secure cash, or in-kind contribution or other resources from their own organisation for the Project (having regard to the total cost of the project and the relative contribution of other investigators)  i.e. You cannot seek research project funding for PIs other than some restricted travel budget (see Budget)

• • • • •

So how many CIs and PIs should I have???

What is appropriate for the project?

Make sure the team has capacity: no gaps in expertise The ARC treats the first-named CI as the project leader for administrative purposes Look at data for grants awarded recently in your area (note sole CI grants are relatively uncommon and when granted are usually modest).

Dangerous to include someone to “boost” ROPE assessment:- unless they have a significant role.

Numbers of proposals

• • • • A CI or Fellow receiving funding under Discovery Projects, Discovery Indigenous RD or Laureate Fellowships, or Centre Personnel receiving funding under the ARC Research Centres Program may only be funded concurrently for a maximum of two Projects under these schemes and Program combined.

– If both projects are funded under Discovery Projects only one can be as sole CI.

[new] A DECRA recipient may only hold one ARC DP (and none if they are Centre Personnel receiving funding under the ARC Research Centres Program Researchers are not permitted to relinquish a role to circumvent these limits.

A researcher cannot apply for a DORA (see DORAs) and a Future Fellowship proposal during the same calendar year

• • [new] The ARC will not accept applications for Fellowships or Awards where the candidate has applied, or intends to apply, for another Commonwealth-funded fellowship within the six months before or after the ARC closing date for proposals [new] A CI on a Program or Project Grant or Centre of Research Excellence receiving funding from the NHMRC in 2013 may only apply for a maximum of one DP for funding commencing in 2013

Budgets

• Up to 3 years • Minimum of $30kpa, maximum of $500kpa  Average Year 1 allocation was $109.6k in the last round (average Y1 request was $203.1k)  Look at awarded grant summaries in your area (e.g. How much was awarded to small and large teams and to sole CIs etc)  Important to ask for what you need. You can add a little more of what would add value to outcomes. You will be cut more than the average if you add items that can’t be justified.

• You can request: – Personnel: research associates, research assistants, technicians etc. Use QUT rates + salary on-costs of 28%.

– PhD stipends at a minimum of $23,728 p.a

– Equipment (should not be equipment eligible for LIEF requests) – Access to national and international research and infrastructure facilities – Access to workshop services

– Travel: • Including economy travel costs for domestic and/or international travel • Not exceeding $50k over the life of the project • Permitted for CIs, PIs and research support personnel – Publication and dissemination of project outputs and outreach activity costs: restricted to up to 2% of total ARC grant. No prior approval is required and this item does not need to be separately itemised at time of application.

– Teaching Relief up to a total value of $40kpa.

– International Collaboration Awards (ICAs) • For up to 2 researchers (CIs or PIs) per proposal. Preference given for funding overseas PIs • • For up to 6 months per award over the life of the project.

For a CI to work overseas on the project with an overseas based PI and/or a PI based overseas to work in Australia on the Project.

• Maximum of $20k for 6 months per CI or PI, or pro-rata for a lesser period. If awarded will be a Special Condition • To fund these items: travel on 1 international return economy, reasonable local travel, living allowance and consumables.

 ARC awarded 54 ICAs in the last round (566 requested): 9.5% success rate  Alternative is just seek travel and associated costs

– DORAs (Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award) • Eligibility: – – – Must satisfy CI eligibility criteria Only one DORAs per proposal may be requested CIs currently holding an ARC Fellowship can only apply for a DORA in the final year of funding for that fellowship • Level and period of funding – – – – A CI cannot apply for DORA funding only Must be for the same duration as the Discovery Project A CI awarded a DORA will not be awarded Teaching Relief A DORA cannot apply for another fellowship until they are in the final year of the Discovery Grant and DORA.

– DORA can be requested at one of three salary levels either equivalent to or higher than the salary level of the CI at the closing date

 The ARC awarded 26 DORAs in the last round (463 requested): 5.6% success rate

• • • •

Preparation and submission of proposals

Applications prepared and submitted in RMS – All named investigators need an RMS UserID and Password (do this now, don’t wait until next year!) – Instructions to Applicants give advice on how to use RMS (very user friendly) Check with your Faculty/Institute for closing date for 1 st drafts (usually late year) 2 nd draft (RMS generated complete PDF) due TBA (likely end of first week of Feb) for OR and Consultant review Final submission online must be completed TBA. Online coversheet must be submitted and approved by this date.

Assessment

• • • ARC College: http://www.arc.gov.au/about_arc/college.htm

Assessors: – Discipline groups (each proposal assigned to 2 members of a group). May refer to another discipline group if proposal crosses groups – Assessors: international experts (may be Australian) and Oz Readers [up to 6-8 per proposal sought: typically around 3 received] Assessor reports and Rejoinders: in RMS approx late June/early July

• • • • •  Tips: Part A Summary, FOR Codes and Keywords of prime importance for placement of your proposal with Discipline Group and assessors Assessors and College readers will most likely not be experts in your area: write accordingly!

Your proposal needs to tell an interesting story and draw in the reader quickly (summary, 1 st page of project description) Your proposal needs to be easy on the eye Aim for perfection in content and presentation (sloppy proposal may give the impression of a sloppy researcher)

Statistics

• • See outcomes reports and summaries of previous successful grants at http://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/dp/dp_outcomes .htm

Last round: – 21.95% success rate (15.3% for QUT): varies slightly by panel – Average Y1 request of $203k, average Y1 allocation of $109k

Results

• • Announcements approx 2 nd half of October.

Feedback for unsuccessful’s – Assessor Reports – Percentile rankings overall: • Within top 10% of unsuccessfuls, within top 25% of unsuccessfuls, not in top 25% of unsuccessfuls

Research Development Unit Office of Research

• • • • • Belinda Richardson x84418 Head of Research Development Nadyne Webb x84877 Research Development Officer, CIF, BEE, Educ David Wiseman x82092 Research Development Officer, Health, Law, Business Katie York, x82199 Research Development Officer, FaST Sonia DeAraugo Research Development Assistant x82197 RMS Enquiries, General technical enquiries