THE BARBARA KIDMAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP SCHEME 2016
GUIDELINES
CLOSING DATE: 12 October 2015
Background
The University of Adelaide Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship Scheme is designed to support
female academics to enhance and promote their career.
The Fellowships are named after Dr Barbara Kidman who, at the time, defied society’s expectations of
women in scientific roles. She was the only female studying physics in second year, third year and the
Honours year at the University of Adelaide in the 1940s, and ended up with a First Class Honours
degree. Dr Kidman devoted up to 3 years to full-time research at Oxford University before returning to
Adelaide and being awarded a PhD in 1956 (one of the first two women to achieve this). Following a 9
year interruption Dr Kidman returned to work in 1966 in what was then the very new field of computing,
and completed 20 years of work in this industry before retiring in 1987.
The Scheme is open to female academic staff who are presently at Levels B, C and D. It offers
opportunities to enhance, maintain or re-invigorate research momentum, and assist the Fellowship
recipients in applying for, and assuming, enhanced roles in the near future.
Preference will be given to those staff whose research momentum has been affected by caring
responsibilities, resulting in a break in their career or reduced working hours. Priority will be given to
those staff who are currently at Levels B and C.
The Fellowships may provide academic staff with relief from routine teaching and/or administrative
duties, research support or professional development.
Eligibility
Applicants must:


be female academic staff already employed by the University of Adelaide at Levels B, C or D;
hold a continuing position, or have a reasonable expectation of employment at the University of
Adelaide at a minimum of 0.4 FTE for at least 2 years after the fellowship is taken up;

have been employed by the University of Adelaide for at least 12 months, at a minimum of 0.4
FTE, at the time of the closing date for the current application round;


have completed a PhD or equivalent qualification; and
not have been approved for promotion, or held a Category 1 nationally competitive research
fellowship in their own name, within the 2 year period preceding the closing date for the current
application round.
Previous Kidman Fellowship holders are ineligible to apply for at least 3 years from the end date of their
Fellowship.
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Applicants are required to consult with their Head of School as part of the application process, as the
latter will be asked to indicate their willingness to host the Fellowship, and confirm that arrangements
have been agreed on how to manage the impact on the teaching load of the applicant and other
commitments during the Fellowship period.
Selection Criteria
There are two main selection criteria to be addressed:
1. The nature of any career disruptions resulting from caring responsibilities that you have experienced
in the last 5 years, and their impact on your work.
2. Your short- and long-term career goals; how the fellowship will enhance, maintain and re-invigorate
your research; and an outline of your research potential.
Consideration of the selection criteria may take into account significant administrative obligations.
Applications must be kept to a maximum of 10 pages (not including the application form itself) and
comprise:
 a statement addressing the selection criteria and related points – four pages maximum;
 a summary CV – five pages maximum; and
 a signed acknowledgement form from your Head of School – one page.
Duration and Funding of the Fellowship
The Fellowships are to be expended over a period of 6 to 12 months, and there is an expectation that
funds will be spent within one calendar year. Applicants will be asked to nominate the time period in
their application.
The Fellowship provides up to $30,000 per Fellow for the stated duration of the Fellowship. There is no
requirement for matching funds from the applicant’s School or Faculty.
The applicant will be asked to nominate the activities on which the funding will be spent, e.g. teaching
relief, administrative duties relief, research support, professional development. Where other sources of
funds are available, e.g. University or Faculty conference schemes, they should be utilised.
Up to eight Fellowships for 2016 will be offered in the Scheme.
Responsibilities
Fellows report to their Head of School.
Fellows will continue to participate fully in the academic life of the host School and Faculty. They are
expected to conduct research diligently, and to the best of their ability, in the field proposed and
approved in their application. Teaching, research supervision or other academic duties may be
undertaken with the agreement of the Head of School, but should not significantly detract from the
Fellow’s research focus.
Reporting
Within 1 month of the completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are required to provide a final report (2
page maximum) on activities, research outcomes and achievements to their Head of School.
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Heads of School are subsequently required to provide the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) with a
copy of the final report along with a brief evaluative comment. This should be done within 2 weeks of
receiving the final report.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must use the ‘Fellowship Application Form’.
Applications close 5.00pm, 12 October 2015. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Applicants are required to:

Contact the Head of School to establish support for the application in this round. The Head of
School will be required to sign an acknowledgement form indicating their willingness to host the
Fellowship, and that arrangements have been agreed as to how teaching and other commitments
will be met during the Fellowship period. Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the
applicant to obtain a signed acknowledgement form. (Note: an electronic signature is acceptable).

Complete the ‘Fellowship Application Form’ and attach required supporting documents.
Attachments should be clearly typed on A4 pages with a 2cm margin on all sides in 12 point
font, and be within the maximum length prescribed.
Further information:
For general advice about the Fellowships or the application process, please contact:
Ms Carol Hutchings
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
The University of Adelaide
Phone: 8313 6056 or email: carol.hutchings@adelaide.edu.au
Completed applications, in electronic (preferred) or hard-copy format, should be sent to:
Mr Tim Scroop [On leave 4 September to 1 October 2015]
Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
The University of Adelaide
Email: tim.scroop@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: 8313 4055
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