Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are awarded to early career researchers of exceptional calibre wishing to conduct full-time research at UNSW in any of its areas of research strengths.UNSW has a reputation for international research excellence in the following areas of research strength:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Water, Environment, Sustainability
- Next Generation Materials and Technologies
- Social Policy, Government and Health Policy
- Information and Communications Technology, Robotics and Devices
- Business, Law and Economics
UNSW areas of emerging & underpinning research strengths:
Approximately 90% of all research activity at UNSW is in areas of existing and emerging research strength.
How to Apply
Read the Conditions of Award below to determine your eligibility.
Download the Application Form and Application Pack (see right in ‘Related documents’).
Applicants must contact the Head of School in one of the nine UNSW Faculties of a relevant discipline with an Expression of Interest (please include CV, brief statement of proposed research including alignment with University research strengths in the context of the School research profile for consideration).
The Head of School will advise the applicant if they are likely to be competitive and assist in identifying mentors for competitive applicants.
Full applications to be submitted to the Head of School by 3rd July 2015. Applicants must include a statement of support from their proposed mentor. Only one (1) application may be submitted per applicant.
Applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for consideration by the Faculty by the 24th July 2015.
Conditions of Award for 2016
Applicants must be either: External to UNSW i.e. not currently hold an appointment at UNSW or UNSW affiliated organisations (NeuRA, Garvan, VCCRI, CCIA) OR Internal to UNSW but have not held an appointment at UNSW or UNSW affiliated organisations prior to 1 January 2015;
Applicants must have been awarded a PhD, conferred (dated on testamur) no earlier than 1 January 2011; or for applicants who are expecting to soon be awarded a PhD, it must be conferred (dated on testamur) by 30 November 2015 to accept the Fellowship;
If the applicant was awarded a PhD from UNSW they must have spent at least 2 years employed at another university or research institution and the Fellowship must not be undertaken with the applicant’s UNSW PhD supervisor as a mentor;
Fellows will become full time employees of UNSW and be based at UNSW for the full duration of the Fellowship (except for periods of approved leave or travel);
Fellowships will be offered for a period of 2 years, renewable for a third year subject to research performance in the top 25% of their level of appointment;
The appointment must be accepted within 2 weeks upon receipt of a formal letter of offer and be taken up by no later than 29 February 2016. Deferral of the commencement date beyond 29 February 2016 will only be approved under exceptional circumstances and is subject to the approval of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Training);
UNSW employment conditions apply to the Fellowship, including such entitlements as relocation allowance on appointment;
A salary (taxable) will be provided at Level A or B of the UNSW academic salary scale based on years of experience as determined by UNSW;
A research support grant of A$10,000 per annum for three years will be provided to assist with research costs. This sum is paid per calendar year and must be utilised within the same year;
Appointed Fellows will be expected to seek externally-funded fellowships applicable to their discipline such as from the ARC or NHMRC and to actively seek other external research funding during the course of their Fellowship;
If a successful applicant is awarded a fellowship from another source, the UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship must be relinquished within 2 months of notification and prior to commencement of the other award;
Fellows are required to submit an annual progress report detailing their progress to date, publications, career development and intended program for the following year to the Grants Management Office and be accompanied by a Head of School’s report;
A final report is to be submitted to the Grants Management Office at the completion of the Fellowship or on termination if earlier;
Fellows must comply with all of the UNSW research policies including the UNSW Research Code of Conduct and UNSW Intellectual Property Policy.
The University of New South Wales is committed to the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative action in education and employment. It aims to provide a study and work environment for staff and students that fosters fairness, equity, and respect for social and cultural diversity, and that is free from unlawful discrimination, harassment and vilification as determined by legislation and by University Council.
UNSW also supports the aims of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) and welcomes applications from refugees or others with a refugee background who meet the eligibility criteria of this scheme. For more information on CARA see: http://www.cara1933.org/
Application Round Dates
| 4 May 2015: | Applications Open. |
| 4 May – 3 July 2015: | Applicants to contact Heads of Schools regarding advice re mentors, whether their research is aligned with School research priorities, and an indication of whether they should develop a full application. |
| 3 July 2015: | Closing date for applicants to submit completed application to Heads of School. |
| 24 July 2015: | Applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for further consideration by the Faculty. |
| By end September 2015: | First round offers made to successful applicants via email. |
| 29 February 2016: | Latest date for Fellows to take up position at UNSW. |
| Name | Phone | |
| Nalisa Mam | +61 2 9385 5638 | nalisa.mam@unsw.edu.au |