NOTE: As of July 1st 2009, HCSNet's funding programs are now all closed to further submissions. These pages remains here for historical interest.

Providing Opportunities for High-level Research Collaboration

Background and Description

The Annual HCSNet Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network Awards are designed to provide opportunities for new researchers to build professional networks and high-level research collaborations. Each year, the competitive scheme provides financial support for an Australasian-based ECR in each of our five priority areas to spend a block of time (two weeks or longer) at Australian research labs, university departments or facilities with an interest in human communication. The proposed visit should be designed to develop knowledge or a skills base, build professional networks, and provide an opportunity to collaborate with experts in the field. Longer-term goals to be encouraged are joint publications involving the ECR and the host institution, and/or presentation of a joint paper at an international conference and publication in the corresponding conference proceedings.

For the purposes of these awards, an Australian-based ECR is defined as a researcher who is (a) located within Australia and (b) within five years of the start of their research careers when they submit their applications. This normally means that you have been awarded a PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the last five years.

In applying for an award, the ECR, in consultation with their Head of School/Centre and a researcher at the host institution, should outline a plan and program of activities to be undertaken at the host institution. Activities might include the conduct of an experiment or data collection, training in specialist skills or methods, presenting seminars on their research, working in a discipline other than their own, and meeting with research experts. Applications will need to identify clear outcomes, demonstrate interdisciplinarity and relevance to Human Communication Science, and include a proposed budget.

As the spirit of the scheme is to promote excellence in research, the process will be competitive and awarded on merit. There will be a call for applications in mid-May 2009, the closing date for applications is 26 June 2009 and recipients of the awards will be announced in mid-July 2009. Financial support from HCSNet is up to $2,500 to the ECR plus $500 to the host lab, centre, group or department to assist with local expenses. The winners and host institutions will receive a certificate and winners may be invited to present a report at SummerFest.

Please click here to view a list of research laboratories, centres and groups represented in HCSNet. This list is not definitive. If you are from an Australian lab, university department or facility with an interest in human communication and would like to be added to this list, please contact Rosemary Eliott (r.eliott@uws.edu.au).

Closing date for applications: 26 June 2009

2008/2009 Winners!

Dr Anna Brooks from Southern Cross University, and Dr Michael Haugh from Griffith University, were awarded the HCSNet ECR Placement Awards in 2008/2009. Read about their respective visits in the reports below.

• Dr Anna Brooks
• Dr Michael Haugh