Content
University Research Fellowships Scheme – Procedures
Parent policy: University Research Fellowships Scheme - Academic Policy
Approval authority: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Responsible officer: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Designated officer: Manager, Office of Research
Date of approval: EA/AB 1 December 2011
Effective starting date: 1 December 2011
Related Documents:
1. Call for expressions of interest
Expressions of Interest are called for annually and advertised in accordance with the University’s Recruitment, Selection and Appointment - Managerial Policy.
To initiate the call for expressions of interest each year, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) submits an Authority to Recruit to Human Resources.
Advertising is organised and coordinated by Human Resources.
1.1. Timing of inaugural call in 2011
The first call for applications is to be made in November with a closing date for all applications set in December.
1.2. Timing for subsequent annual calls
A call for applications will be made in early September with a closing date for all applications set in late October.
2. Key steps for applicants
- Read guidelines
- Complete Application Form
- Contact the Faculty to identify possible Academic Mentor
- Applicants must establish contact with a prospective Academic Mentor to discuss research opportunities, priorities and alignment with existing research strengths to facilitate the development of their project plan
- Submit the Application Form along with any other documentation required by the due date.
3. Submission of applications
Applications must reach Human Resources by 5pm on the advertised closing date. Late Expressions of Interest will not be accepted.
Applications are to be submitted as a pdf file by email to jobs@usc.edu.au.
Guidelines are provided and applicants must complete all sections of the application form and any other documentation requested.
Applicants must ensure that their prospective Academic Mentor completes an Academic Mentor Statement and submits this to Human Resources.
Human Resources will acknowledge applications as soon as possible after the application closing date.
3.1. Academic mentor statement
Each applicant must discuss their research plans with a proposed Academic Mentor and gain their support.
Applicants will complete section A of the Academic Mentor Statement and give this to their proposed Academic Mentor. Applicants should notify their proposed Academic Mentor when they have submitted their application so that the Academic Mentor can complete the form.
If the proposed Academic Mentor is willing to supervise the applicant for the term of the Fellowship they will complete section B and seek the required certification from the Head of School or Director of Research Centre and the Faculty Executive Dean. The completed form is to be sent to Human Resources within 1 week of the closing date for applications.
If the proposed Academic Mentor is not willing to act as a supervisor they must inform the applicant during initial discussions and before the closing date for application.
4. Fellowship Selection Panel
A Selection Panel is appointed and chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) to consider all expressions of interest for any one round. Additional panel members may be co-opted at the discretion of the Chair.
The membership will include:
- Faculty Executive Deans or nominees
- Faculty Associate Deans (Research)
- Directors of USC Research Centres or nominees
The Chair is required to ensure that every panel member is aware that all information in relation to the selection process is confidential. Private and personal information provided by applicants is to be kept in strict confidence.
During the selection process for new Fellows the role of the panel is to:
- short list preferred applicants
- interview shortlisted applicants
- rank candidates on the basis of merit and determine which candidates should be recommended by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for appointment.
5. Eligibility
To be appointed as an Early Career Research Fellow (Level B), applicants:
- are within 5 years since the award of their doctoral qualification at the time of the closing date of applications, or
- have submitted a PhD (or equivalent) thesis and expect to be awarded a PhD (or equivalent research doctorate) within 3 months from the closing date of applications. If these conditions are not met, the offer of a Research Fellowship may be revoked
- their proposed project aligns with an identified research priority.
To be appointed as a Senior Research Fellow (Level C), applicants:
- are an established researcher with over 5 years of research experience since the award of their PhD or equivalent research doctorate
- have an excellent research track record in an identified area of strength, with a proven capacity for research leadership, and
- their proposed project aligns with an identified research priority.
6. Short listing
The Fellowship Selection Panel will rank all applications and decide which applicants are placed on a shortlist. Statements from prospective Academic Mentors will be taken into consideration during the short listing process.
Short listing will normally take place within four weeks of the closing date for applications. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) will provide Human Resources with names of the short listed candidates who are to be interviewed.
7. Interviews
Short listed applicants will be invited to attend an interview. Applicants must be given reasonable notice of their requirement to attend an interview and/or participate in other forms of assessment.
8. Selection
Each application is assessed by the Fellowship Selection Panel. Applicants will be considered and ranked according to quality and trajectory of their track record, relative to opportunity. Project proposals will also be ranked according to quality and degree of alignment with existing research priorities.
The Fellowship Selection Panel will use the same process for all applications; however, when necessary additional measures may be used to distinguish between closely matched candidates.
8.1. Quality and trajectory of the applicant’s track record relative to opportunity
Applicants are expected to demonstrate their personal achievement in relation to:
- refereed publications (over the last 5 years) and other acknowledged research outputs that are discipline specific. Applicants must clearly identify their contribution as distinct from other contributors and provide evidence of the quality of the output (impact factor, citations etc)
- external funding awarded over the last 5 years. Applicants must clearly identify their contribution as distinct from other contributors
- esteem measures (key note addresses or invitations to present, prizes and awards, committee/board membership etc)
- technology transfer activities
- outreach activities (including engagement with external partners)
- supervision of research students. In the case of all applicants, supervision of higher degree research students and number of completions will also be taken into consideration.
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate their experience with, and capacity to:
- provide research leadership
- establish new linkages with local, domestic and international research groups and manage existing collaborations
- manage and mentor other research staff, and
- contribute to the research agenda of the host Faculty and University more broadly
8.2. Referee Checks
Applicants will provide the names and contact details for three referees.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) will carry out the reference checks or may delegate this to another member of the Fellowship Selection Panel.
Referees may be contacted at any stage during the selection process to assist with the short listing process or to obtain further information and verification following interview.
Reference checks are confidential and must be completed before an appointment offer is made.
9. Category and Number of Fellowships recommended for appointment
All Fellowships are offered at the discretion of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) based on recommendations from the Fellowship Selection Panel.
The following considerations are used to determine the number offered, the category of Fellow/ level of appointment and appointment destination:
- Total amount of funding available for the Fellowship scheme each year
- Quality of applicants
- Alignment of applicant research projects to existing University research priorities
10. Notification of appointment
Once appointments are approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) can notify the successful candidates by telephone. This will be followed up with a letter of offer.
Successful candidates should not make any decisions regarding the offer of employment until the written letter of offer is received, read, signed off and a contract of employment is established.
11. Appointment duration
The Fellowships are funded for a five year period with a three year probationary period.
If a Fellow is awarded an externally funded Fellowship, the University Research Fellowship will be suspended for the duration of the externally funded Fellowship, and can be reinstated after the cessation of the externally funded Fellowship for a period equivalent to the remainder of the term of the original University Fellowship.
12. Remuneration
Early Career Research Fellows are remunerated on the Level B salary scale, commencing on the first step of the scale. Senior Research Fellows are remunerated at Level C, commencing on the first step of the scale.
Annual increments are awarded subject to satisfactory performance.
Base salaries for Fellows appointed under this University Research Fellowship Scheme will be met by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Salaries above these will not be supported by the Fellowship. However, subject to successful negotiation with the appropriate Faculty Executive Dean, supplementation within the Level by the host Faculty may be negotiated at the time of appointment where a Fellow is currently occupying a position above the proposed level, or where their track record is such that a higher level of remuneration is deemed appropriate.
13. Work Allocation
During the first two years the Fellow will have a limited teaching commitment to facilitate the establishment of a productive research program.
Fellows are progressively integrated into a quality research and teaching role within a Faculty. This progression is negotiated through formal Performance Planning and Review discussions.
The normal progression is outlined in the table below:
| Fellowship Year |
Research |
Teaching |
Engagement |
| 1 |
90% |
10% |
|
| 2 |
90% |
10% |
|
| 3 |
80% |
20% |
|
| 4 |
70% |
20% |
10% |
| 5 |
60% |
30% |
10% |
When allocating teaching responsibilities, Heads of School, Program Leaders and Course Coordinators should comply where possible with the work allocations contained in these procedures.
Supervision of HDR and Honours students should be considered as part of a teaching load.
The allocation and distribution of annual teaching hours is subject to negotiation with the Head of School and will be linked to appropriate program offerings which may be based on semester or session delivery.
14. Probation
Probationary periods are determined in accordance with the Probation - Managerial Policy.
Supervisors and Fellows should note the requirements for a Probation Plan in section 5 of the Probation - Managerial Policy.
15. Performance, Planning and Review
Fellows and supervisors should familiarise themselves with the Staff Development - Managerial Policy.
Fellows must participate in annual formal Performance, Planning and Review discussions, conducted in accordance with the University’s Performance Planning and Review (PPR) - Managerial Policy and the Performance, Planning and Review (PPR) Procedures.
Fellows and supervisors should note the requirements for each stage of the PPR cycle set out in the Performance, Planning and Review (PPR) Procedures.
16. Research Support
Fellows may apply for a research support grant to cover research costs associated with the proposed project. Full justification is required. Two basic principles are used in determining award of research support grants. These are (i) accurate estimates of costs and (ii) a clear explanation of the reasons for all proposed expenditure in relation to the research plan.
Up to $50,000 may be awarded over three years subject to funding available and at the discretion of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research). The award of funds in years two and three of the Fellowship to support project related costs are conditional upon the approval of the annual progress reports.
Newly appointed Fellows seeking research support must provide the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) with a research management plan which includes a fully justified budget. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) will determine the amount of support provided.
If the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) approves research support, the Office of Research prepares a statement of conditions of support and forwards this to the Fellow.
The Fellow signs the statement of grant conditions and returns it to the Office of Research.
The Faculty will open an account for the project, and request the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) to the transfer the grant funds into the account, notify the Fellow of the account number, and enter details onto the file and database.
Project funding for years two and three will be determined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) on receipt of the annual progress report and budget statements. Funding carry over at the end of the third year will be at the discretion of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).
16.1. Acquittal and file closure
At the conclusion of the Fellowship the Faculty will close the project account, notify the Fellow of the project closure, and enter the relevant details onto the file and the database.
17. Annual Progress Reporting
Fellows are required to submit an annual progress report that includes a budget acquittal of any research support funding received. This report is to be submitted to the Office of Research by the 15th of December each year.
The Office of Research will provide a Report Template to Fellows six weeks in advance.
Fellows will report on both their research and teaching commitments to enable the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) to determine the extent to which conditions of the Fellowship are being met.
ypical information that is required:
- Teaching and HDR supervision activities
- Progress against Research Management Plan
- Research Highlights
- Research outputs
- External linkages
- Budget acquittal
- Plan for next 12 months
- Budget for the next 12 months and justification.
The Fellow will submit to the Office of Research copies of publications, conference papers or any other published outputs of the research project.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) will review the report.
Annual progress reports will contribute towards the Fellow’s professional portfolio which will be used for the three year review and any promotion submission.
18. Third Year Probationary Review
A formal Fellowship review is conducted by the Probationary Review Panel at the end of the third year to determine if the Fellow qualifies for further employment.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) will be provided with a copy of the probation review by the relevant Head of School via the relevant Executive Dean.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor will consider the probation review and seek further advice from the Executive Dean and the Head of School if necessary.
19. Application for ongoing appointment
Six months prior to the completion of the Fellowship period the Fellow may apply for an ongoing appointment within the relevant Faculty. The Fellow will provide an evidence based portfolio to the relevant Executive Dean. The Executive Dean will consider the evidence based portfolio with the assistance of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the relevant Head of School.
After that consideration, should the Executive Dean consider that the Fellow is suitable for ongoing appointment such an appointment will be offered for commencement on the expiration of the Fellowship period.
20. Review of Scheme
The Fellowship Scheme will be reviewed after the first three years of operation. This review will be conducted in accordance with sections 6.11 and 6.12 of the Quality - Governing Policy.
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