The University of Adelaide Future Making Fellowships Scheme

Guidelines 2024

The University of Adelaide Strategic Plan, Future Making , includes the objectives of being a talent-based institution, drawing individuals from across Australia and around the world (‘Magnet for Talent’) and, with a focus on research excellence, supporting a suite of world-leading Research Institutes that operate at the international forefront of their fields (‘Research that Shapes the Future’).

In this context, the University of Adelaide Future Making Fellowships Scheme was established by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in 2021 as a program to attract and support early-career and mid-career researchers of outstanding research calibre and potential. Successful applicants will be supported and required to apply for a nationally competitive fellowship1.

The primary aims of the Fellowship Scheme are to:

• Add capacity in alignment with the University’s core values of Excellence and Discovery;
• Improve the University’s performance in external, competitive fellowship schemes;
• Promote multidisciplinary research and;
• Leverage the brand of the Research Institutes to attract and retain world-class research talent.

Scope and Support

It is expected that 6 Fellowships will be offered in 2024, depending on the final mix of appointment levels. Successful Fellows will be appointed within one of the University’s Schools in one of the three Faculties. They will report to the Director of a University Research Institute (Robinson Research Institute, Waite Research Institute, Environment Institute, Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing, Australian Institute for Machine Learning, South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute or the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources) and be co-supervised by a senior researcher(s) in a School. Details of our Research Institutes: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/research/about-us/research-institutes

Each Fellowship provides a full salary plus on-costs, together with an additional, one-off research establishment grant of $50k, and a contribution of $5k towards relocation costs for interstate applicants and $10k for international applicants.

In 2024, the research to be undertaken by the Future Making Fellow must be aligned with one of the Research Missions in the University of Adelaide’s FAME (Foci and Magnets for Excellence) Healthy Societies Strategy (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/research/about-us/research-strategy).

The aggregate length of the Future Making Fellowship at the time of offer will be 3 years. Future Making Fellows are expected to apply for a nationally competitive fellowship1 during their appointment. This aligns with our University Value of ‘Excellence.’ If a Future Making Fellow is successful in winning a nationally competitive fellowship, their Future Making Fellowship can be paused and then resumed at the end of the external fellowship. Any time (and associated salary) remaining of their Future Making Fellowship may then be used upon completion of the externally-funded fellowship.

Eligibility

Applicants must be early-career researchers who do not hold a continuing appointment (or an offer of a continuing appointment) at the University of Adelaide at the time of application. Holders of a current nationally competitive Australian Fellowship that concludes by 31 December 2024 will be considered eligible to apply for a Future Making Fellowship if they meet other eligibility requirements.

Applicants must have been awarded a PhD, and have at least 2 years and no more than 7 years postdoctoral experience (relative to opportunity) at the time of the closing date for applications. Career interruptions will be considered in determining time since award of the PhD, according to the criteria typically used by the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council.

All applicants must be eligible to apply for independent, externally-funded, nationally competitive fellowships1 during the period of their appointment (e.g. ARC DECRA, ARC Future Fellowships, ARC Industry Fellowships, NHMRC Emerging Leader 1 and 2 Fellowships).

1 Nationally competitive fellowships are those listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR)

Appointment

The Future Making Fellow will be appointed at Level B (Step 1-6), salary range ($111,031-$131,335) plus 17% superannuation may apply. Requests for a Level C appointment or an on-going appointment beyond the tenure of the Fellowship will not be considered.

Applications

Applications must be submitted via the online Human Resources portal that links to the University’s Job Opportunity page. Further information is also available through this portal. The call for applications will open on Tuesday 9th July 2024 and close at 11:55 pm on Monday 19th August 2024. Awards will be announced in September 2024.

Please be advised the University will have a wide audience reviewing the Future Making Fellowship applications, therefore it is imperative that you follow all the instructions provided.

As Future Making Fellows will report to a Research Institute Director but be appointed within one of the University’s Schools, the Human Resources website will request that potential applicants contact both the relevant Research Institute and School to discuss their suitability to apply for the scheme. Applications will only be accepted through the Human Resources on-line portal.

The applicant will be required to submit:

• An application form with details of the proposed research project to be conducted during the Fellowship, its alignment with a FAME Healthy Societies Research Mission, and plans to fund the research. Applicants must upload this document on the Human Resources on-line portal as the response to 'FMF Application Form 2024.' FMF Application Form 2024.docx
• A resume of no more than 5 pages including their ten best research outputs, external funding track record, prizes and awards, HDR completions, any high-quality innovation and commercialisation outcomes, and career interruptions (if relevant). Applicants must use the FMF resume template on the Human Resources website. FMF Resume template 2024.docx

A cover letter is not required. You are not required to address the selection criteria in the Role Statement.

Should you have questions on the FMF application form 2024, please contact Talent Acquisition via email: talentacq@adelaide.edu.au

Selection Process

All applications will be considered by a Future Making Fellowship Selection Committee, chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Excellence). The Committee will include FAME Healthy Society Strategy Research Mission Leads, and 1-2 senior University of Adelaide academics with experience of externally-funded fellowship schemes.

Conditions of Award

The conditions of award include:

• Commencing the Future Making Fellowship full-time by 1 July 2025; as an exception, part-time appointments for up to 2 years may be considered under certain circumstances;
• Applying for independent, externally-funded, nationally competitive fellowships;
• Completing biannual Professional Development Reviews; and
• Providing an annual progress report against the original project objectives, including research outputs and applications for external funding.

PROFESSOR ANTON MIDDELBERG
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research)

The University of Adelaide is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.

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