Member Support Grants
Aim
The aim of the Member Support Grants (MSG) is to stimulate increased research capacity by enhancing the Centre's research outcomes and outputs.
Funding Categories
Member Support Grants have three distinct funding categories:
1. Member teaching support – for CSU staff to buy out teaching time, allowing them more time to conduct research activities.
2. Pilot project funding – to undertake a pilot project collecting preliminary data in support of the submission of one or more external grant applications.
3. Training – to undertake individual or group training activities related to their research outcomes.
Important Dates
Applications close 15 January.
Application Form
Member Support Grant Application Form
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Eligibility
Both Full and Associate Members of the Graham Centre who are academic staff of CSU OR employed in a research capacity with NSW DPI are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applications from Full Members.
Application Guidelines
a) Members are entitled to submit ONE application per calendar year. Support from one or more of the three funding categories may be requested on a single application form.
b) Applications will be assessed by funding category. This means that the application in its entirety may not necessarily be funded.
c) Applications will be assessed on:
- alignment with the Centre's Research Pathways
- demonstration of a clear strategy for developing and improving the applicant’s research capacity and/or capability
- promotion of the development of functional research teams.
- value for money.
d) A detailed budget using the template provided above must be completed for each funding category and submitted with your application. Clear justification for the proposed expenditure must also be included in the application. Applicants will be expected to reconcile expenditure against this budget at the end of the funding year.
e) All expenditure must be incurred by 30 November in the funding year to allow finalisation within CSU’s financial year. No extensions of time or carry-over of funding into the following calendar year will be permitted.
f) Applications must be submitted in the prescribed format and must include additional supporting documentation, where applicable.
g) Successful applicants are required to submit a detailed report to the Graham Centre by 22 January following the funding year. (sample Report Form here)
h) Member Support provided by the Graham Centre must be acknowledged on all projects and research outputs assisted by these Grants.
i) Member Support Grants cannot be used for:
- Conference attendance (see Conference Support Scheme);
- Publishing fees; (see Publication Costs Support – coming soon)
- Capital works;
- Assets and equipment >$3,000;
- Rental accommodation (other than hotel charges);
- Entertainment (other than catering for training events);
- Gifts;
- Costs directly associated with existing external projects;
- Leveraging of external project applications;
- Student stipends.
j) Amounts requested should not exceed the applicable limits:
- Category 1, Member teaching support – no upper limit – see (k), below.
- Category 2, Pilot project funding - $20,000 – see (l), below
- Category 3, Training - $5,000 – see (m), below
k) Applications for Category 1, Member teaching support, should demonstrate how the support will deliver against the Centre’s strategic priority of building areas of research strength. This may include the appointment of casual academic staff for relief periods to undertake activities such as marking, demonstrating, etc. In such cases, casual staff appointments must be made directly through the Graham Centre (with appropriate line manager endorsement). The application must show: the number of hours; the hourly rate; tasks to be undertaken by the casual; and the research activities to be undertaken by the applicant.
l) Applications for Category 2, Pilot project funding, must clearly describe how the proposed activities differ from what is currently being done or has been done previously by the applicant and/or their team. The proposed external project must also clearly align with at least one of the Research Pathways.
m) Applications for Category 3, Training, must demonstrate how the support will deliver outputs against the Centre’s strategic priority to build capacity in areas of research strength.
Enquiries
Associate Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover, T: 02 6933 2086
Maree Crowley, T: 02 6933 4399
Research Pathway Leaders
Plant Systems – Professor Jim Pratley T: (02) 6933 2862 E: jpratley@csu.edu.au
Livestock Systems –Professor Bruce Allworth T: (02) 6933 2608 E: ballworth@csu.edu.au
Grain and Meat Quality – Professor Chris Blanchard T: (02) 6933 2364 E:cblanchard@csu.edu.au