Postdoctoral Urban Research Translation Scheme
This year, the Trust is particularly interested in proposals which address themes of climate change in relation to the built environment, Indigenous land, management, or planning; or socially just cities and regions.
The postdoctoral candidate will provide a well-formed proposal in accordance with the guidelines demonstrating where their research is relevant/ applicable to urban policy and a strategy for communicating or developing findings through structured engagement with the practice community.
The candidate will identify an academic supervisor/collaborator within the University of Sydney who is willing to provide a degree of supervision and support for the program of wider engagement. This engagement might include a program of targeted presentations, seminars, consultation, media and or training materials as well as a Research and Policy Brief to be published by the Trust. In addition, each “graduating” candidate will deliver a public lecture on their findings.
Their proposal will offer a vision of the anticipated research impact, outlining the specific policy gaps or practice challenges that the research has potential to inform. Ideally the candidate will identify a willing mentor and/or end user organisation within the government, industry or non profit sectors who would be in a position to provide advice and or act as a reference group.
Consistent with the Trust’s mission to promote collaborative scholarship, innovation and research in town planning, urban development and land management, the intention is to enable the candidate’s recent research to inform urban and regional policy, planning innovation and development practice.
Candidates from any discipline are encouraged to apply. For instance, scholars with a background in economics, public policy, health, law, geography, engineering, environmental science, and so on are encouraged to consider the potential implications of their research for city or regional planning, urban governance, infrastructure and public finance, housing, environmental policy, Indigenous land and land management, or transportation. Accordingly, the candidate may find their academic sponsor and mentor in a wide variety of disciplines and agencies.
This is designed to be a short term project – a two to three month period where the candidate develops and implements a strategy for communicating and sharing their doctoral research with the policy and practice community. Opportunities for extending this work through new research collaborations with end-user groups should also be pursued during this period.
The candidate will be supervised by an academic supervisor/collaborator. Usually this will be the applicant’s Phd supervisor or colleague from this academic unit, but this is not mandatory. They will also be expected to provide brief progress/milestone reports during the course of their work.
If required, candidates will be provided with:
A desk
Library access
The application will detail the anticipated research translation strategy and specific outputs as proposed by the candidate.
One output must include a Research and Policy Brief, explaining the research problem; policy implications of the person’s doctoral research and potential for implementation; existing evidence base and any gaps; the research approach; key findings; broader implications for policy and practice; and priorities for further research.
An honorarium of $10,000
- Relevance of candidate’s area of research to the Trust’s mission, and or the identified themes of climate change in relation to the built environment, Indigenous land, management, or planning; or socially just cities and regions;
- A well-formed research translation proposal that can be delivered in 2-3 months
- A clear vision of the research relevance in policy terms, identification of policy gaps and prior research/ policy traction
- Identification of an academic supervisor/collaborator and end-user collaborator/s. Note that support of the academic supervisor must be obtained prior to submitting the application, and evidence of this support included in the application.
The Henry Halloran Research Trust Advisory Board will determine awards under this scheme. The Trust will make up to two awards under this scheme per year.
- 8th December midnight (for consideration at the Board’s December meeting)
- 30th May (for consideration at the Board’s June meeting)
The Trust reserves the right not to offer an award if it considers that applications are not of sufficient merit.
Questions should be submitted via email to:
Professor Nicole Gurran, Director, Henry Halloran Research Trust
Email: Nicole.gurran@sydney.edu.au
Applications should be submitted via email to:
Jacqueline Tyrrell, PhD Candidate
Senior Research Administration Officer, Henry Halloran Research Trust
Email: jacqueline.tyrrell@sydney.edu.au
(1000 words not including CVs)
- Introduction and project objective
Provides a clear statement in a few sentences the area of research, its potential to inform urban policy or practice, and the anticipated research translation approach.
- Target end-user group
Provides a brief statement of the policy, industry, community or practice group/s most likely to benefit from engagement and access to research outcomes. For example, for use in training or education materials; or in policy development and change; or industry innovation.
- Summary of existing practice
A summary of the existing policy and practice and identification of challenges, likely to be addressed by the Research Translation Strategy and interpreted in relation to potential relevance to urban research or policy.
- Proposed research translation approach
This section will explain and justify the proposed approach to research translation, ensuring that outputs are evidence based and authoritative.
The PRTS aims to translate contemporary research to advance innovative and relevant urban policy, and to further engagement between research and practice communities. In the Expression of Interest, briefly explain, in a few paragraphs, how your candidature meets these goals.
It should be noted that given the brevity of the candidature and the recent completion of a PhD, it is not expected that the candidate undertake additional research beyond that needed to extend findings to policy or practice.
- CV
Attach candidate CV and a brief bio statement of up to 500 words of the academic supervisor and primary end-user/collaborator.
Current Postdoctoral Research Translation Scheme recipients
Social vulnerability index that measures a wide range of social factors affecting human health that are caused by climate change and extreme weather.
Dr Ang Li, University of Melbourne
The project creates a Social Vulnerability Index to describe the nature of the social vulnerability that communities face in preparing for and coping with the health impact of climate change in Australia. Based on a large scoping review of social vulnerability indicators linked to the health impact of climate change and extreme weather events like heatwaves, heavy rains, storms and bushfires, we collated a series of Australian datasets and constructed social vulnerability scores across 16 domains, including demographics, household composition, language, income/employment, education/social development, built environment, communication/transport, emergency service, health service, government service, health condition, care needs, social connection, housing security, dwelling condition, and livelihood. This project identifies which Australian communities are more at risk to the health impact of climate change in different domains and helps communities identify strategies that best support their health and wellbeing before, during and after climate and weather disaster events.
Dr Niranjika Wijesooriya-Gunarathne, University of Sydney
Proposal to develop Biophilic Living Cities guide