This opportunity is being posted by the academics in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland (Australia), in hopes of attracting excellent postdoctoral candidates interested in working with the staff at UQ. However, these grants are not UQ specific (or ecology specific) and the information about the grant funding program is applicable for any University in Australia. UQ, however, has one of the best ecology and evolutionary biology programs in Australia (see details below) and I encourage interested persons to take a look at our staff to see if there is anyone in the School/Centre who you would be interested in working with. These fellowships, if awarded, allow for three years of research freedom, and UQ (see below) provides an excellent environment in which to be a postdoctoral fellow. Importantly, international applicants are eligible for this grant scheme.
If you are interested in submitting an application to work with an academic at UQ please contact them directly as you will need a sponsor for your application, or contact Dr. Margie Mayfield for more information ([email protected]). You can find a list of academic staff with research interests at the following websites: http://www.biology.uq.edu.au/academic-staff http://www.ecology.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=20497 DETAILS ABOUT THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ARC funded DECRA Postdoctoral Fellowships/Grants The opportunity: The School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland would like to advise you of an excellent Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme that is attractive to PhD graduates (must have a PhD by May 2011) of up to 5 years postdoctoral experience. The Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) is a separate element of the Discovery Program (Australia's equivalent to NSF research grants). The DECRA scheme will provide more focused support and more opportunities for early-career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions. It is anticipated that up to 200, three year Awards of up to $125,000 per annum, may be awarded for funding commencing in 2012, making this a very attractive scheme. Moreover, the salary is attractive at $85,000 per annum, including 28 percent on costs. The Fellows will also be supported with up to $40,000 project costs. Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis according to criteria associated with the following components: Candidate track record 30%, Project Quality 50%, and Institutional Support 20%. For more information about the granting scheme please see the ARC website: http://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/decra/fundingrules.htm UQ site for DECRA support and submission help see: http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/?page=151880 Important Dates Allocation of Grant Writing Support at School of Biological Sciences: Now and Ongoing UQ internal deadline: 28 April 2011 (for review and compliance checking of your application) ARC Closing date; 18 May 2011 (PhD must be awarded by this date) Organisational Environment The University of Queensland was recently rated by Readers of The Scientist magazine as among the top five best places in the world for post-doctoral work in life sciences, outside the USA. UQ was the only institution in Australia to make it into the Top 10 International Institutions list when the results of the survey, now in its ninth year, were released this month. This ranking reflects factors such as salary, relocation expenses and health benefits. Safety is a priority at UQ, as is equal opportunity and hence attractive conditions such as six months maternity leave at full pay are provided. The School of Biological Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science and includes the traditional disciplines of Botany, Zoology and Entomology. The School provides unique opportunities for study or research in plant and animal biology with international research programs spanning ecology, molecular plant sciences and biotechnology, plant and animal physiology, marine biology, insects and parasite interactions, and genetics & evolution. The school is one of the most research intensive schools at The University of Queensland, which is itself one of Australias leading research intensive Universities. The information provided above is not intended to be relied upon over and above the official ARC grant information site referred to above. Please make sure information you rely upon is sought from official ARC and University of Queensland sources.
