New fellowships prepare talented researchers for future role
The Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) fellowships recognise and develop the University’s most talented researchers by providing two years of additional research funding and support.
The fellowships aim to:
· significantly enhance participants’ current research programs, building momentum and increasing the scale and impact of their research
· acknowledge, celebrate and nurture high-performing researchers, providing additional support for promising academic careers.
“I am really excited by this program that will help us support our promising early-career and mid-career researchers,” said Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence.
“It’s an important first step towards our strategic goal of providing enhanced development opportunities for our researchers at all stages of their careers.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison said, “The 2016-20 Strategic Plan outlines how we’ll achieve a culture of research excellence by creating new programs and mechanisms to attract, inspire and retain talented academics.
“The SOAR program is our flagship researcher development scheme in this area, to be accompanied by programs to attract and invest in the best PhD students.”
Each fellowship recipient will participate in a structured mentoring program and create an individual development plan that captures their goals for the fellowship period, as well as opportunities for professional and personal development.
The program includes separate streams for teaching and research staff, and research-only staff. In line with the University’s equity and diversity targets for female advancement, at least 50 percent of SOAR participants across all cohorts will be female.
In this first round of fellowships 10 early-career and 10 mid-career fellowships will be awarded. The University will increase the number of fellowships in subsequent rounds.
The University’s 2016-20 Strategic Plan proposes multiple initiatives as part of three key research strategies:
· Invest in and drive research excellence across the University.
· Attract and develop outstanding researchers.
· Develop partnerships that enable research to make a difference, locally and globally.
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