ECR Mentorship Program - helping early career researchers achieve success

Dr Aimee Dordevic and Dr Xin Du
with their mentors

In 2013, the School of Clinical Sciences established the Early Career Researcher Mentorship Program to provide a support framework for ECR's as they progress in their research and teaching careers. The program, which is currently taking applications for 2019-20, pairs mentees with senior academics, providing them with confidential advice and guidance with career planning.

Call for applications - 2019 Faculty Travel Grant - for eligible SCS Early Career Researchers

Under the Faculty Travel Grant Scheme 2019, the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) is offering 11 travel grants, each valued at $1000.  These grants are to support early to mid-career researchers (Levels A-C) for their international conference travel, and allocation is contingent upon abstract acceptance.  We now invite applications from eligible SCS staff.  

Collaborative grants awarded after speed-networking

Story courtesy of Hudson Communications.

Two grants of $10,000 each were awarded to Dr Jemma Evans and Dr Nicole Kellow (SCS; Nutrition, Dietetics and Food); and Dr Courtney McDonald and Dr Shu Wen Wen (SCS; Centre for Inflammatory Diseases).

2019 Vice-Chancellors Video Pitch Competition... entries close 24 January 2019

University research has the power to enhance our economy, improve our societies and better the world. But how do you get the world on board with your research and the potential benefits it could deliver? You need to Pitch it Clever!

Less than two weeks until Abstract Submissions close - VIIN 2018 Young Investigator Symposium

Abstract submissions for the 2018 VIIN Young Investigator Symposium close on Friday 3 August.

Don't miss out on your chance to present your research at this premier forum for students, research assistants and post-docs working in infection and immunity.

To submit an abstract: download a pro forma and follow the instructions here: http://www.viin.org.au/event/viin-young-investigator-symposium-2018

SCS ECR Mentoring Program Application Open

The SCS ECR Mentoring Program is open to applications. 

We have many senior researchers who are happy to participate as potential mentors. If you have a specific researcher in mind that you would like to have as your mentor we can arrange the pairing.

Otherwise, please provide in the application any specific areas you wish to have advice on and we will do our best to assign the most appropriate mentor.

Early Career Researcher Program Getting Started in your Research Career, 31 July

Tuesday 31 July, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Location:  Clayton

This workshop will offer you important guidance on setting yourself up for success as a new researcher. It will assist you in negotiating your role and career strategy, and identifying suitable strategies to build a platform for your ongoing success. The workshop will offer you opportunities to explore particular challenges and to identify learning goals to be pursued in the coming months.

Registrations for ECR events will be managed through myDevelopment. You can find activities specific to ECR's by searching using the prefix 'ECR' when browsing for activities.
At the conclusion of each session, please stay and enjoy refreshments whilst you network with each other, the facilitators and presenters.

SCS Early Career Research Practitioner Fellowship scheme - applications due 29 March

Applications are now open for the SCS Early-Career Clinical Practitioner Fellowship scheme.   The successful candidate will be appointed up to 0.5 FTE, Academic Level B.  

Recognising the difficult transition from PhD student to independent clinician scientist, in 2015 the School established the Early-Career Clinical Practitioner Fellowship scheme to further the aims of the School in training tomorrow’s clinical academic workforce and of consolidating Monash Health as leading academic health service. 

The Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis, to clinician scientists who have recently been awarded a PhD or MD to provide protected research time to allow them to further develop their clinical or basic science research portfolio while also undertaking clinical duties at Monash Health. 

It is envisaged that successful applicants will apply for external funding, such as through NHMRC schemes (e.g. Project Grants, Early-Career Fellowships, Career Development Fellowships, or Translational Research Fellowships) during the period of the Fellowship, such that the Fellowship acts as a bridge to independent, sustainable research funding.

The Position Description (HERE) and Application form (HERE) can also be found on the SCS intranet: https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/school-of-clinical-sciences-intranet/early-career-researchers

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Thursday 29^th March 2018

Slides from the NHMRC ECF and Project Grant Eligibility and Compliance Seminars

For anyone interested in the ppt slides presented yesterday at the NHMRC ECF and Project Grant eligibility and compliance seminars, please find them attached HERE and HERE.

Eradicate Cancer 2018 – conference travel support opportunity (Entries Close 31st January)

To support Australian and New Zealand research in the fight against cancer, In Vitro Technologies is inviting Australian and New Zealand researchers to participate in a travel rewards programs. 

To assist Eradicate Cancer 2018 delegates, In Vitro Technologies & ASN Events are offering 5 travel grants and Registrations

Enter your details on the form on this page for the chance to receive one of these generous travel grants and accelerate your research internationally! 

The grants will include:  5 grants for travel expenses up to $500 AUD for Australian and New Zealand researchers including FREE conference registrations.

Details HERE.

Universities Australia 'Pitch it Clever' Competition

Universities Australia are pleased to announce that the annual Pitch it Clever competition has been launched.  This competition challenges early to mid-career researchers to talk up their research in a 1-2 minute video.  The video should aim to persuade leaders from across the country to become champions for the research.

An information pack and associated media have been prepared to assist with this (attached HERE).

Three prizes are up for grabs:

- The Vice-Chancellors’ Award

- The Delegates’ Choice Award

- The People’s Choice Award

Videos will be shortlisted by a panel of Vice-Chancellors and then shown at Universities Australia’s annual Higher Education Conference, where conference delegates will vote for the Delegates’ Choice Award. The winner of the shortlisting process will receive the Vice-Chancellors’ Award, and members of the Thinkable community will vote to decide the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

If you require any further information please contact the organiser, John Nicholls, using the details provided in the information pack.

Monash Accelerator Showcase, 20 November

Monday 20 November, 6-8pm, Level 7, Monash University, 271 Collins Street, Melbourne

We're super excited to showcase the incredible founders of our 2017 Accelerator program. Ten startups were selected from 162 applications, and each awarded $10,000, office space, intensive mentoring and professional services. Over the past three months the founders have worked tirelessly to progress their startups in diverse industries, from social enterprise to VR technology platforms and everything in between.

The Showcase is designed to present our founders to the broader startup ecosystem, with an audience of mentors, investors, founders, industry experts and aspiring entrepreneurs. If you have ever wondered about entrepreneurship as a career path, or know a friend or family member who would benefit from immersion in the startup ecosystem, this is the perfect way to see what it's all about and meet key members of the community.

Entry is free however seating is strictly limited so make sure to REGISTER NOW to secure your spot. 

More information HERE.

Faculty Guidelines for PURE Researcher Profiles

Activities in PURE can be used to capture a range of engagements and achievements, and have them appear on your external profile and CV. Activities include editorial and peer review roles related to publishing, participation in conferences, and other distinctions. Prize and Press/Media are included as separate category types, allowing researchers to showcase prestigious prizes and awards, and the public dissemination of their work. For each of these types of activities there are defined sub-types to help you be as specific as possible when selecting the most appropriate activity.

It is important to give as much information as possible to ensure that the information which appears on your researcher profile/CV is meaningful.  As such, the Faculty Research Office (FRO) has prepared the attached guidelines to assist researchers with populating the Activities, Prize and Press/Media category types and sub-types in PURE. These guidelines provide examples of common engagements and achievements that researchers should consider promoting via their external profile and CV.

There is a myResearch Quick Reference Guide (QRG) that provides instructions​ on how to add details of your engagements and achievements to PURE.​

If you have any questions about the information​ in the faculty guidelines, please contact the FRO by email to medicine.research@monash.edu or phone 990 55035.

Pitching a Startup: Preparation, Not Perspiration, 4 December

Mon. 4 December, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm 

RMIT University, Melbourne City Campus

Building 80, Level 09, Room 12

445 Swanston Street

Want to learn how to pitch like a pro?

If you are looking to:

• feel more confident and articulate when communicating your ideas, solution or startup
• learn how to refine your pitch

Presented by Amir Zalcenstein, One Ventures

Amir Zalcenstein relocated to Melbourne from Israel in 2014. Prior to joining OneVentures and while in Israel, Amir was Head of Business Development for BiondVax, a publicly traded company developing a Universal Flu Vaccine. Prior, Amir served as CEO of Amorphical (developing the next generation of Calcium-based therapies) and SoluBest, a drug delivery company advancing a proprietary technology for oral delivery of insoluble drugs. 
Amir holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science and an Executive MBA from Technion, Israel. 

Free event.

ECR Prizes & Awards Calendar - October to December 2017

Please refer to the attached Prizes & Awards Calendar HERE for opportunities closing in October to December 2017.  Of particular note is the 2018 Victorian Young Achiever Awards for which nominations close on 18 December.

A comprehensive list of world-wide prestigious prizes and awards eligible to Australian researchers is also available at Research Professional.

If you are a Monash member of staff and intend to apply for any of the listed prizes or awards, please contact Mind Your Way, an academic consultancy engaged on the Monash Prizes & Awards Strategy on behalf of the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice-President. Only Monash staff are eligible to access Mind Your Way services paid by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice-President. Adjuncts and affiliates wishing to engage Mind Your Way will have to enter into a contract and pay directly for services offered by Mind Your Way.

If, as part of the eligibility criteria, there are limits on numbers of applications that can be submitted by Monash, approval must be sought and obtained by the appropriate delegated individual.

"Communicating Science: The joint responsibility of researchers and journal editors", 2 October

2 October, MIMR Level 3 Boardrooms A&B

Presented by Sally Darney PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Health Perspectives, NIEHS, an international expert in Reproductive Toxicology.

1.   "Communicating Science:  The joint responsibility of researchers and journal editors"            11am - 12pm, MIMR Level 3 Boardrooms A&B.  (This seminar is available to all Hudson Institute and SCS staff and students.)  

      2. "Short course for Postgraduate students and ECRs on how to write and review scientific papers for scholarly journals".  (Open to Hudson Institute and SCS students).  1pm - 3pm. MIMR Level 3 Boardrooms A&B.

Please register to attend these seminars, together with a lunch which will be provided in the de Kretser Concourse outside the Boardrooms from 12pm - 1pm, using the following links:

Seminar 1:  Communicating Science: The joint responsibility of researchers and journal editors

​​

https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mmcbs/view/213905/ 

Lunch: Lunch with Postgraduate students and ECRS

https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mmcbs/view/213907/

Seminar 2: 

​

Short course for Postgraduate students and ECRs on how to write and review scientific papers for scholarly journals.  

https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mmcbs/view/213906/

Sparrho Early Career Researcher Prize 2017-2018

Are you, or one of your grad students or postdocs, going to a conference this year?
Sparrho, a London-based science startup, is offering travel grants of $800 AUD* to PhD students and postdocs from any institute who want to share their research at an academic conference in the next 12 months, anywhere in the world.

Since June, we've received applications from over 70 countries, which includes shortlisted entries from researchers at the Universities of Copenhagen, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Munich, Monash, Caltech, MIT, and University of Kelaniya. The platform encourages users from across world to collaborate based on mutual research interests, while developing their science communication skills.
Take a look at the pinboards of our prize recipients from this month for ideas on creating your own:

• Amanda Markovitz, DSci Candidate at Harvard University, presenting at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2017 in Anaheim, California.
• Emeka Ogbuju, PhD Student at Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria, presenting at the International Conference – Data for Policy 2017 in London, UK.

The deadline for the Prizes to be awarded for September is next Thursday, 31st August, 23:59 ACST — there is still time to submit your online application.

To see the application form and some of August's shortlisted applicants, go now to: https://grants.sparrho.com.   

The next deadline is September 30th 2017 for our October 2017 Prizes

 

VIIN Young Investigator Symposium - Registration and Abstract Submission Now Open! 16 October

Registration and abstract submission is now open for the VIIN Young Investigator Symposium.  This symposium is a great opportunity to present your work to the VIIN!

Keynote speakers:
Professor Kanta Subbarao, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Dr Maria Kaparakis-Liaskos, veski Inspiring Women Fellow and Head, Host-Pathogen Interactions Laboratory, La Trobe University

Post-graduate students, post-docs and RAs are invited to submit abstracts for poster / oral presentations.  Lab heads and senior researchers - please attend too and support your young investigators!

Where: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville

When: Monday 16 October 2017

Registration is free for researchers.  Food and drinks provided.

For more details:
http://www.viin.org.au/event/viin-young-investigator-symposium-2017

Register now

Faculty ECR Symposium 2017 – Registrations NOW OPEN!

The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (FMNHS) is hosting the biennial Early Career Researcher (ECR) Symposium on Monday 30 October 2017 at the Monash Business School (271 Collins Street, Level 7, Melbourne CBD). 

Registrations are now open and will close on Friday 15 September 2017 (or when EVENT FULL). 

Registration cost for the event is $50.  Schools and Departments have been encouraged to support the cost of attendance from their Professional Development budgets.

The 2017 ECR Symposium will be opened by Professor Christina Mitchell (Dean, FMNHS) and will comprise of seminars and workshops encompassing:

·         Plenary Session -  Professor Anton Peleg

Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital, Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Monash University.
Anton is a Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, and is the Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University. His research interests are in hospital-acquired infections, antibiotic resistance, mechanisms of pathogenesis and infections in immunocompromised hosts. He is also an active clinician working in the area of hospital-acquired infections and transplant infectious diseases. Read more

·         Plenary Session -  Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea

Senior Research Officer, Team Leader, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea leads international collaborations to understand disease mechanism and develop novel therapies and biomarkers for repeat-associated neurodegenerative diseases.  The primary focus of her research program is to develop cell and gene therapies and identify therapeutic targets for Friedreich ataxia. She has received Young Investigator Awards from the Friedreich Ataxia Research Alliance, USA and the Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society. Read more.

·         Strategic Career Planning – Balancing Teaching & Research and Developing your Career after Disruptions

·         Engaging with Industry & Government – Presentations by researchers and Raven Consulting

·         Grant Development – Capturing Grant Reviewers with your Front Page

·         Panel Discussion – Transition from Postdoc to Chief Investigator

·         Poster Session – Submission via abstract (Prizes for the best posters)

·         Social Event – Concluding with drinks and nibbles

This event is open to all FMNHS ECRs and FMNHS ECR Adjunct staff.  The event will be capped at 100 participants, on a first-come, first-served basis.  So don’t delay……….

REGISTER NOW: https://my.monash.edu.au/news-and-events/bookings/mnhsroe/view/204287/

POSTER ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: medicine.research@monash.edu 

All abstracts must be received by 15 September 2017 (please refer to the attached Poster Guidelines HERE for full details).

NOTE: The only payment method accepted is providing a Cost Centre and Fund Number.  Please DO NOT use the default payment options (debtors invoice, credit card etc.), as they will not be processed.  Please contact your supervisor for your Cost Centre and Fund Number if you do not have one.

2017 Prizes & Awards Calendar - Opportunities Closing in September

Please refer to the attached Prizes & Awards Calendar HERE for opportunities closing in September 2017. These include the 2017 Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Awards for collaboration between industry and universities.

A comprehensive list of world-wide prestigious prizes and awards eligible to Australian researchers is also available at Research Professional.

If you are a Monash member of staff and intend to apply for any of the listed prizes or awards, please contact Mind Your Way, an academic consultancy engaged on the Monash Prizes & Awards Strategy on behalf of the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice-President. Only Monash staff are eligible to access Mind Your Way services paid by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice-President. Adjuncts and affiliates wishing to engage Mind Your Way will have to enter into a contract and pay directly for services offered by Mind Your Way.

If, as part of the eligibility criteria, there are limits on numbers of applications that can be submitted by Monash, approval must be sought and obtained by the appropriate delegated individual.