Details
The Australian Academy of Science (the Academy) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (the RSE) are working in partnership to deliver the Australia-Scotland Fund (the fund). The fund will provide two grants annually to support bilateral visits between researchers in Australia and Scotland.
The program aims to support Australian and Scottish early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) by providing funding support for joint research projects, providing access to unique infrastructure and knowledge, and creating ongoing collaborative relationships between Australian and Scottish EMCRs.
The country overseeing the call for applications will alternate each year. The Academy will administer the pilot round, selecting two Australian researchers as inaugural grantees who will be offered up to A$9,500 to cover travel expenses for a visit to Scotland, or to host a Scottish researcher at their Australian organisation, for a period of between four and six weeks.
Fields of research
Applications are invited in areas of biological (terrestrial and marine) and chemical/biochemical sciences exploring aspects of natural ecosystems. Eligible areas of research include, but are not limited to:
- ecological studies: from broad ecosystem studies to specific interspecies interactions
- systematic studies: systematic revisions; ecosystem exploration leading to an improved understanding of that ecosystem and/or the discovery of new species
- chemistry/biochemistry: limited to exploring the role of naturally occurring chemicals in mitigating influencing outcomes observed in any of the areas of biological sciences listed above.
Eligibility
At the time of submission, the Australian applicant must:
- be an Australian citizen or hold a valid Australian visa
- be living in Australia at both the time of application and time of travel or hosting
- be employed as a scientist/faculty member at an Australian research organisation located in Australia
- have a PhD awarded no more than 15 years* prior to the application deadline.
At the time of submission, the collaborating Scottish project partner must:
- be working at a research organisation located in Scotland at both the time of application and time of travel or hosting
- be employed as a scientist/faculty member at a research organisation located in Scotland
- have a PhD awarded no more than 15 years* prior to the application deadline.
Eligible projects proposals must:
- directly address one of the eligible fields of research
- be a collaborative research project between an Australian EMCR researcher based in Australia and a Scottish EMCR researcher based in Scotland
- demonstrate the visit’s value to the project activities and clearly articulate why the visit should occur in the requested location.
Applicants may only submit one application per round and grant funding can only support one travelling researcher.
* An extension to this limit may be approved in the case of significant career interruptions.
Terms of award
- Successful applicants will be offered a grant from the Academy of up to A$9,500 (GST exclusive) towards the cost of:
- an international return economy class airfare from the traveller’s location to the airport closest to the hosting organisation, including internal domestic travel (up to a maximum of $3,500)
- a living allowance (for accommodation and living expenses) of $200 per day, capped at a maximum of $6,000 per grant.
- The grant funds will only be paid directly to the awardee’s Australian organisation on receipt of a valid tax invoice and the finalised flight itinerary, showing all associated airfare and taxes.
- Living allowance must be paid to the traveller at the commencement of their travel, and the payment must be facilitated by the awardee’s Australian organisation.
- Awardees are responsible for managing all grant funds and organising the travel and accommodation arrangements in consultation with the host organisation or visitor, depending on the direction of travel.
- The approved visit must commence after 1 July 2025 and be completed by 30 June 2026. Travel should be for a visit of between four and six weeks in duration.
- Dependants of the visitor may accompany them on the travel at their own cost. The grant does not provide funds for bench fees, managerial, visa or insurance costs.
How to apply
Applications are to be submitted online and must include the following attachments as PDF files:
- short CVs for the Australian and Scottish EMCR project leads. Including publication lists, CVs should be no more than six pages
- a copy of the Australian and Scottish EMCRs’ PhD degrees
- letters of support for the proposed visit and project activities from both Australian and Scottish organisations named in the application
- a referee report from a current or previous supervisor for the Australian and Scottish EMCR project leads. Read information for referees.
The application submission deadline is to be confirmed.
Application assessment criteria
Applications are considered carefully against the assessment criteria by a panel of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the panel are based on the assessed competitiveness of each proposal.
Proposals will be assessed on the below criteria, without any weighting:
- The scientific merit of the proposed research project and the value of its expected outcomes to Australian science.
- Examples of how this could be demonstrated:
- A clear hypothesis and methodology.
- Potential for significant scientific discoveries or advancements.
- Contributions to Australia's national science and research priorities.
- The proposed visit’s value to both the project activities and the collaborative relationship between the Australian and Scottish EMCRs involved in the project.
- Examples of how this could be demonstrated:
- How the visit will facilitate unique collaborations not possible otherwise.
- Specific collaborative activities planned during the visit.
- Long-term benefits of the collaboration for both researchers.
- Demonstrated capacity of the proposed host organisation to undertake the project activities with a clearly articulated justification for the requested direction of travel.
- Examples of how this could be demonstrated:
- Evidence of the host organisation’s facilities and resources.
- Previous successful projects or collaborations of the host organisation.
- Justification for why the visit should be to Australia or Scotland and how that contributes to the proposed outcomes.
- The potential for the Australian EMCR to become a leader in the research community.
- Examples of how this could be demonstrated:
- Career achievements (including winning awards, accolades, or competitions).
- Supervision of research students.
- Active participation in mentorship programs, professional organisations or committees.
- How the project will incorporate and make space for contributions from individuals of varied backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in science, to ensure diverse perspectives are included and valued, enhancing the overall quality and impact of the research.
- Examples of how this could be demonstrated:
- Strategies for including underrepresented groups in research activities.
- Specific roles or contributions from diverse team members.
- Efforts to create an inclusive research environment and promote diverse perspectives.
The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons an application is successful or unsuccessful.
Reporting requirements
Awardees are required to submit a report within three months of travel completion. The report template will be provided to awardees prior to the commencement of travel.
Any publication resulting from the project funded by this program must mention the support granted to the project by the Australia-Scotland Fund, an initiative of the Australian Academy of Science.
Contact
For further information, contact:
Program Delivery Unit
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6201 9412
Email: grants@science.org.au
