University of Technology, Sydney
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Equity & Diversity Unit
UTS Research Re-establishment Grant
Guidelines and Application Form for funding
commencing 2016
A UTS Research Equity Initiative
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant – Guidelines for Grants Commencing 2016
1. Key dates
Closing date for full application to Associate
Dean (Research)
Check with Faculty Associate Deans (Research)
Closing date for submission to Equity &
Diversity Unit
31 July 2015
Period of grant
1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016
Final report
Within 3 months from completion of project
2. Contacts
Information about the Grant
Joanna Leonard, Equity & Diversity Unit
Information about the application process,
funding arrangements and administration
T: 95141274
E: Joanna.leonard@uts.edu.au
3. Objectives
UTS recognises that academic careers can be significantly affected by periods of parental leave and by
sustained caring responsibilities for children, partners or dependent family members.
Periods of parental leave and sustained caring responsibilities can cause some academics to experience
disruption to, and difficulty in re-establishing, their research.
The UTS Research Re-establishment Grants are intended to support academic staff to maintain or to reestablish their research profile by enabling them to spend concentrated time on a research project.
They aim to reduce the impact on an academic’s research productivity and career progression of either:

a recent career break caused by an extended period of parental leave

past periods of sustained and significant caring responsibilities
or
4. Grant details
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) is funding grants of up to $15,000 to support eligible academic
staff to undertake specific research projects.
Grants will not be used to assist the completion of a higher degree by research.
The grants will be awarded following a competitive selection process (refer to Sections 6 and 7).
5. Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

be full-time, part-time or sessional academic staff employed at UTS on a continuing or fixed-term
basis for three years or more (on one or more fixed-term appointments)

either:
i) be applying within a two-year period after returning to work from approved leave associated
with the birth or adoption of a child, in which they

have taken a minimum of 20 weeks parental leave, and

have not received funding under the UTS Funding for Research during Parental Leave
guidelines for this period of leave;
or
ii) be able to demonstrate clearly in their application that their research career has been
significantly interrupted by child rearing or other carer responsibilities (such as major
responsibility for the sustained care of a child, partner or dependent family member, who may,
for example be elderly, sick or a person with a disability) that commenced within the past 15
years.
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant – Guidelines for Grants Commencing 2016
For the purposes of these guidelines parental leave refers to paid maternity or adoption leave and any
unpaid parental leave but excludes partners leave.
Applicants who have been in the process of enhancing or re-establishing their research careers through a
UTS Research Equity Fellowship, the UTS Funding for Research during Parental Leave guidelines or a
similar mechanism are not eligible for this program.
6. Selection process
Eligible applications will be assessed on a competitive basis against the selection criteria (refer to Section
7) by a committee appointed by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research).
The Assessment Committee may request further information relevant to an application from applicants or
relevant members of the University (e.g. Dean, Associate Dean (Research).
7. Selection criteria
The following criteria will be used by the Committee to assess applications:

impact of the recent period of parental leave, or alternatively impact of past career interruption
caused by carer responsibilities, on their research productivity

the likelihood that the proposed research project and award of a grant will enhance the applicant’s
research track record

evidence of research achievement (relative to opportunity) or of research potential, prior to the
period of parental leave or alternatively prior to the period of significant career interruption caused
by carer responsibilities

feasibility, quality and scholarly significance of the proposed research project

alignment of research project to the UTS and faculty research strategies

faculty support for the application.
8. Obligations of award recipients
Funding received under this grant will normally be expended within the following calendar year.
Each grant recipient will provide a final report within 3 months of completing their project, which will include
information about:



how the grant funds were spent (a statement of financial acquittal)
key activities, and research outcomes
any further work, research opportunities or career benefits for the applicant and for UTS arising
from the research project.
9. Applications
Applications will be made on the attached Application Form.
The application will set out how grant funds will be used to support the proposed research project. The
following are examples of activities1 which could be funded by a grant:





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project-specific travel, excluding conferences and conventions
employment of casual staff to provide relief from teaching and/or other duties (eg, subject
coordination) to enable time to concentrate on the research project, with relief rates expected to be
paid at cost, on a reimbursement basis
employment of research assistance
expenditure for consumables, maintenance or equipment
professional development (eg, participation in relevant training courses) to facilitate the research
project
Please note that proposed activities must comply with relevant UTS research policies and RIO guidelines
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant – Guidelines for Grants Commencing 2016
Applicants will also nominate a suitable research adviser to provide them with independent support and
advice on the research project for the duration of the grant. The adviser will indicate that they endorse the
application on the application form.
10. Application process and timeframe
Application closing date: see 1. Key dates
Applicants will complete the application form and ensure that it is signed by their supervisor, their research
project adviser and the Associate Dean (Research).
Completed applications will be submitted electronically before the closing date to
Joanna.leonard@uts.edu.au, Equity & Diversity Unit who will forward them to the Assessment Committee.
Results of the selection process will normally be announced by early October.
11. Conditions of award
The grant shall be used for the approved research project for which it is awarded and shall not be used for
any other purpose, and may only be used for purposes approved under the grant guidelines.
Successful applicants may be required to submit a revised budget where requested by the Committee.
Period of the Grant. Project should be completed within 12 months of commencement. See 1. Key dates
12. Financial provisions : management of funds
Research activity codes for successful projects will be established with FSU by the Research & Innovation
Office (RIO).
Carry forward of unspent money beyond one year from the commencement of the project is not permitted.
Expenditure must be as approved in the project budget.
Any significant changes to budget items during the course of the project must be requested in writing to the
Equity & Diversity Unit, and approved by the DVC(R)’s delegate.
If the grant recipient is in breach of contract, or abandons the project, or leaves the University, a strong
business case for the continuation of the project must be provided to RIO in writing. In most circumstances
early termination of a project will require the relinquishment of unpaid funds.
Any funding which is used for a purpose or purposes not approved must be repaid to the university.
Any equipment purchased with funding from the project shall remain the property of UTS.
13. Final reports
Grant recipient and research project adviser must advise RIO when the research project is completed. The
recipient must submit a Final Report, including a statement of the financial acquittal of the project.
The Final Report must be submitted to RIO, with a copy to the Equity & Diversity Unit, no later than 3
months after completion of the project.
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
Instructions
Please refer to preceding information on grant terms and conditions. Applications are to be discussed with
your supervisor and research project adviser. Completed applications should be sent to your Faculty
Research Office/ADR for sign off, and then sent to Joanna Leonard (Equity & Diversity Unit)
See 1. key dates for closing date for applications
Section 1: Applicant details
1.1
Name
1.2 Current appointment (full-time, parttime/sessional; continuing/ fixed term)
1.3 Department/School/or equivalent
1.4 Faculty
1.5 Research Strength alignment
1.6 If you are applying within two years
of returning to work from approved
leave associated with the birth or
adoption of a child , please provide:
 Details of the most recent parental
leave taken
 Leave commencement and return
dates
 Return to work arrangements
1.7 If you are applying on the basis of
career interruption caused by
significant carer responsibilities
please provide information on the
nature and timing of the interruptions.
1.8 Have you previously accessed any
funding through the Funding for
Research during Parental Leave
Guidelines or Research Equity
Fellowship? Please provide details.
1.9 Are you currently on a competitively
funded grant? (if relevant, please
specify if any parental or carer leave
arrangements have been made)
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
Section 2: Project title
Section 3: Applicant research background
3.1 Please indicate percentage breakdown of the research, teaching and administrative component of your
current position.
3.2 Describe the research opportunities you have had, with reference to your employment conditions, over
the past 5 years, eg, part-time status; non-research employment; research mentoring received; research
facilities available. (750 characters max)
3.3 Research track record
Describe your key areas of research
List your top 10 publications over past 5 years
List research grants awarded over the past 5 years
Describe your most significant contributions to your field of research to date (750 characters max)
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
Section 4: Impact of parental leave/ carer responsibilities (please answer either 4.1 or 4.2)
4.1 If you are applying for a grant on the basis of recent return to work after parental leave, please
describe the impact of the recent period of parental leave on your research productivity/career (750 characters
max)
Please also list other career interruptions you may have had, eg for previous child, carer’s responsibility,
misadventure, illness or disability. (750 characters max)
4.2 If you are applying for a grant on the basis of career interruption caused by significant carer
responsibilities, please describe the nature and timing of the carer responsibilities and their impact on your
research career
Please provide evidence of how the career interruption(s) affected your research potential. If the career
interruption occurred for more than one consecutive period, please provide information regarding each
period (interruptions for other factors such as child bearing, illness, misadventure or disability may be
included where relevant) (1,500 characters max)
Section 5: Project proposal
5.1 Describe your research project aims and objectives/ alignment with the UTS Research Strategy (1000
character max)
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
5.2 Provide a summary of work to be undertaken with research plan and timeline, including approach and
methodology.
5.3 Outline how this grant will help develop your capability as a researcher and assist in the reestablishment or maintenance of your research track record (750 characters max)
5.4 Outline anticipated research outcomes, impact and likely benefit to UTS (750 characters max)
5.5 Fields of Research (FOR); Socio-economic Objective (SEO) codes
5.6 Funding requested
Budget item
categories
Budget item details & justification (please explain both the
amount and the need for each budget item requested
Personnel (eg research
assistant)
Eg, type and level of appointment, pay rate, on-costs and period of employment
Support to relieve
researcher of teaching
and other duties
Specify periods, key duties etc
Amount
requested
$
Equipment/facilities
Project-specific travel
Other
Total (max $15,000)
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
5.7 Project timeframe – projects will normally be completed within 12 months of commencement
Anticipated commencement date
Anticipated completion date
Section 6: Research Project Adviser
6.1 Name, position and contact details of your Research Project Adviser
6.2 Relevant expertise/skills/research experience of Research Project Adviser
6.3 Role of Research Project Adviser in supporting completion of project
I have discussed this proposal with …………………………………………………………(the applicant) and I
support the project proposal and agree to undertake the role of Research Project Adviser for the period of
this project. I will provide a short report on key research achievements at the completion of the project.
Signature:
Date:
Section 7: Faculty support
7.1 Supervisor/HOS/Head of Department/Unit Director (as appropriate)
I have discussed this Proposal with……….………………………………………………..(the applicant) and I
support this application.
Name:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
What is your relationship to applicant ? (eg supervisor/HOS )……………………………………………………
7.2 Associate Dean Research
 I support this proposal and this project being undertaken in my faculty
 I have noted the amount of time being allocated to the project and I certify that this is appropriate and
believe that the outcomes are achievable within the time and manner outlined
 I certify that this project can be accommodated within the general facilities of the faculty
 I certify that this project is consistent with the aims and direction of faculty’s research plan and the
UTS Research Strategy
 I certify that I have reviewed the EHS Risk Management Plan for this project and am satisfied to the
best of my knowledge that the EHS risks and appropriate management responses have been
identified
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UTS Research Re-establishment Grant -Application Form for Funding Commencing 2016
 I believe this project will have a positive impact on the applicant’s research profile and research
career.
Name:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
Section 8: Project report
 I understand I will be required to submit a report on the completion of this project which will include:
o
a detailed account of expenditure (financial acquittal),
o
a summary of key activities and research outcomes
o
information on any future work, research opportunities or career benefits for the applicant and
for UTS arising from the research project
 My Research Project Adviser’s report will also be attached.
Applicant’s name:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
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