Postdoctoral Opportunities Position Yourself for a Career in Research

1
Postdoctoral OpportunitiesPosition Yourself for
a Career in Research
2
Identifying Funding Opportunities

• Office of Research Website ltQUT Office of
  Research Homepagegt
• QUT Research News (updated Monthly)
• Funding Calendar
• Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN)

3
Where to Look

• Government Departments/Agencies
• Research Development Corporations
• Membership Bodies
• Associations
• Philanthropic Organisations
• Other Universities
• Embedded in Grants

4
Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Major Postdoctoral Schemes
• ARC Discovery-Projects APD
• ARC Linkage-Projects APD(I)
• ARC Federation Fellowships
• ARC Linkage APD (CSIRO)
• NHMRC Research Training Fellowships
• Smart State Fellowships
• QUT Awards
• Faculty-based Postdoctoral Fellowships
• QUT Visiting Fellowships

5
Examples Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Alexander Von Humboldt - Humboldt Fellowships
• Open to all disciplines for long-term (6-12 mths)
  research stays in Germany
• Australia Indonesia Institute Merdeka
  Fellowships
• Open to Arts, Law, Science Business disciplines
  for research stays in Indonesia
• ARC Linkage International Fellowships
• A grant for up to one year for early career
  postdoctoral and senior researchers to work in
  Australia. Fellows may come from France, Germany,
  South Korea and the UK.

6
Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications

• Academic Track Record (academic record,
  publications, presentations, awards, prizes,
  etc.) relative to opportunity
• Project (significance, feasibility, outcomes)
• Potential Supervisor (track record and
  commitment)
• Host Institution (facilities fit most Schemes
  prefer movement)
• Normally submit through your Host Institution
• Usually require letters of support from
  Institution Potential Supervisor
• Referee Reports

7
Strategic Points to Note

• Postdoctoral opportunities are extremely
  competitive, so you need to sell yourself in
  your application.
• Plan well in advance and adhere strictly to
  Guidelines.
• In terms of your track record you need to
  demonstrate your capacity and research ability to
  undertake the proposed project.
• It is extremely important to demonstrate the
  significance and innovation of your Project.
• Methodology must be clearly outlined with
  sufficient details to assure reviewers of its
  feasibility.
• Obtain critical feedback from colleagues where
  possible.

8
Position Yourself

• Participate
• Scholarships/Bursarys/Research Assistance on
  Projects that do not detract from completing your
  PhD
• Membership to relevant professional
  bodies/committees
• Publish
• Try to publish in the appropriate journals that
  have the greatest impact factor (refereed
  proceedings)
• Present
• Attend relevant conferences
• Network

9
Other Avenues

• Research Associates embedded in Grants
• Research Institutes Centres

10
GOOD LUCK!