BHP Billiton Distinguished Research Awards
Guidelines
Overview
The BHP Billiton Distinguished Research Awards provides support for research projects of one year
duration. At least Four awards will be made each year over five years (2014-2018). These prestigious
awards will facilitate quality research projects led by early and mid-career researchers at the Business
School and will provide a platform for successful recipients to showcase their research at faculty and
industry events.
A particular focus of these awards will be to support research initiatives that will expand and develop
Business School researchers’ research collaborations both nationally and internationally. These
competitive awards will support quality collaborative projects which have considerable potential to lead to
increased cross-institutional linkages with enhanced opportunities for research outputs. These awards will
also recognise cross-disciplinary collaborations including those with other UWA disciplines and faculties.
These awards have been made possible via a commitment by BHP Billiton to The University of Western
Australia's New Century Campaign, reinforcing the company's longstanding relationship with the University.
The BHP Billiton investment includes $5 million to support the UWA Business School, with funds dedicated
to the provision of scholarships, a research fellowship, engagement opportunities with scholarship
recipients and alumni, and a high-profile visiting professors' program.
Conditions

These awards are aimed at early and mid-career academics. Those employed at levels B through
to D (inclusive) are eligible to apply. Level E, Winthrop Professors cannot receive an award as first
named investigator on a proposal but can be named as a subsequent investigator. (it would
normally be expected that Level E academics would be competitive in applying for National
competitive research funding)

Awards will be made to researchers who are 0.5FTE or above and will not be made to:
o
adjunct staff members;
o
staff employed on casual, one-semester or teaching-only contracts;
o
higher degree students
o
staff whose contract expires within one year from award of funds
o
staff on leave without pay at time of application or during period of award

A minimum of four awards will be made each year, with a spread across discipline areas a
consideration. A total of $100,000 is available for each round.

Each award will comprise up to $25,000 to be available for a one year project. The BHP Billiton
Distinguished Research Award is a prestigious award aimed at facilitating quality research projects,
applications should be for projects of one year’s duration and for funding greater than $10,000.

Funds will be awarded to the first-named investigator who will hold responsibility for managing
expenditure.

Awards will be made in October 2015 and recipients will be required to submit a half-page progress
report in July 2016. A final report, on a report template to be supplied, will be due in June 2017. All
final reports will be compiled and forwarded to BHP Billiton.

Evidence of collaborative approaches with researchers across Australia and internationally will be
rated highly in the assessment process but funds cannot be transferred outside of the Business
School.

Applicants may use funds to bring external collaborators to visit the Business School or to fund
Business School researchers’ travel to visit collaborators. In addition to travel, funding may also be
used for research assistants, data acquisition, as well as other direct research costs such as
transcription, questionnaire and focus group costs.

Teaching relief will not be funded under this scheme.

Applicants should the aware that funds remaining at the conclusion of the award will not remain
available for use. Deferments will only be considered in extreme circumstances. Variations to
broad expenditure classifications outlined in the application budget will require Associate Dean
Research approval.

Expenditure must be in line with Business School policy:
http://www.business.uwa.edu.au/staff/policies
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be assessed and merit ranked using the following selection criteria:
a. Investigator(s)
(20%)
- research opportunity and performance evidence
- time and capacity to undertake and manage the proposed research.
c. Strength of collaborative partnership
(30%)
- Is there evidence that each of the Partner Organisation(s) is genuinely committed to, and prepared
to collaborate in, the research Project?
- Will the proposed research encourage and develop strategic research alliances between the
external researchers(s)/institution(s) and the business school?
b. Proposed Project
Comprising:
i. Significance and Innovation (30%)
- Does the research address an important problem?
(50%)
- Are the project aims and concepts novel and innovative?
ii. Approach (20%)
- Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well
integrated and appropriate to the aims of the Project?
- How appropriate is the proposed budget?
Application process
Applications are to be via the application form available on the Business School website.
Applications will be assessed by a subcommittee of the Business School Research Committee.
A total of five copies of the Application Form and attachments must be submitted to Melina Wood,
Research Development Adviser (M251, office #107, 1st fl. Economics)
The deadline for applications is Friday 25 September 2015. Outcomes will be announced in October
2015.
Applicants whose proposals are unsuccessful may have their proposals considered for funding under the
Business School Research Development Awards Scheme. All applicants wishing to exercise this option
should indicate this by ticking the box on the application form. No further action on the part of applicants is
required to enable this process.