The Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award

Applicants must demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to their research work, address all selection criteria and conduct their research in one or more of the biological sciences relating to one or more of the following disciplines:

1. conservation of Australia’s flora and fauna
2. ecologically sustainable resource use
3. environmental protection
4. ecosystem services (either provisioning services, or habitat and supporting services).

Applicants may use the award in Australia or overseas but must demonstrate that the proposal has direct relevance to Australia in one of more of the four disciplines mentioned above. Successful applications will clearly address all selection criteria.

Download the relevant selection criteria below.

Eligible expenses are all expenses that fall under the following areas of funding:

• course fees
• cost of travel to undertake research or attend relevant conferences/workshops
• Funding may be used towards the costs of fieldwork, equipment, consumables and other research costs not covered from other sources.

Funding may NOT be used to cover bench fees, other overhead costs or as a top-up for stipends, personal expenses, salaries or any non-research related costs. 

Applications must include the following:

• A proposal summarising your chosen area of study/research and why the Max Day Fellowship will be of particular benefit to you. Please refer to the selection criteria section above for information outlining how the proposals are assessed. Maximum of 1,000 words.
• Itemised budget detailing eligible expenses with brief justification for each item, the names and details of funding already received (funding body, amount).
• The applicant must show they have been recognised by one or more research institutions, such as their host institution, by the provision of some level of direct financial contribution towards their project (excluding salaries).
• Brief CV including qualifications, summary of any professional/research experience and publications/presentations. A full publications list is not required. Maximum of three pages using size 12 font.
• PhD students require a letter of reference from their supervisor confirming and commenting on their existing research. Maximum of one page using size 12 font.
• Post-doctoral researchers must attach two referee reports to the application. The reports should be addressed to the Awards Committee and should indicate the referee’s knowledge of the applicant’s proposed Max Day Fellowship activities, and the potential benefits of these activities to the researcher and/or the research field. Maximum of one page using size 12 font per report.

Late applications will not be considered and applicants who fail to adhere to the above requirements will not be considered.

Applications are considered carefully against the selection criteria by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the committee are based on the assessed competitiveness of the proposal. The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.

The successful awardee(s) will be notified of the award by early November for a Fellowship starting up to 12 months from the date of award.

The successful awardee(s) will also be offered travel and accommodation to attend the Science at the Shine Dome event as part of their award.

• Applicants must commence their research within 12 months of being offered the Fellowship, after which the Fellowship offer will automatically lapse.
• The Fellowship may be held concurrently with awards or grants from other institutions.
• Applicants can only receive funding from the same research or travelling research award once in a three calendar year period.
• Applicants may apply for more than one award but can only receive one Academy travelling or research award per calendar year.
• Supporting institutes and awardees are required to ensure that any research they undertake that is funded by the Australian Academy of Science adheres to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of research, severe breach of these codes may result in the withdrawal of current and refusal of future funding support. Research involving Indigenous Australians must  comply with the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies.

An annual report is required on the progress of the research project. The report should detail progress on the research goals outlined in the grant-holder’s proposal, and expected vs. actual expenditure to date.

If the Grant is held for two years, a report is also required at the end of the second year.