Our SOAR Fellows' research progress, six months on
SOAR documentary - Episode two
Find out what some of the first cohort of recipients have been doing with the support from the University’s flagship researcher development program.
The SOAR Fellowships are one of the major initiatives under the 2016–20 Strategic Plan to support the University of Sydney's goal of attracting and developing outstanding researchers and enabling them to reach their full potential.
"We want to be the leading research university in Australia and among the top 50 in the world, and the SOAR Fellowships are giving new opportunities to our researchers to excel at all stages of their career," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison.
"It's really exciting to see the progress our first SOAR cohort have made, both in terms of advancing our research aspirations, but also in terms of how high-quality research is enhanced by a supportive culture."
"We want to be a University that embodies courage and creativity, respect and integrity, diversity and inclusion, and openness and engagement. You can see all of those values in this video – from Amanda preparing to release her controversial findings on obesity, to Adam working to improve the flow of global health information, to the struggle many of us face in striking the fine balance between work and family."
There has been an overwhelming level of interest in the program since it first launched in 2016, and Professor Ivison is confident that the 2019 SOAR Fellows will continue its success.
Notable achievements by existing SOAR Fellows
- 11 of 20 fellows being successful in their grants application (Cat 1, Cat 2, internal and international funding)
- Four promotions (3 to level E and one to level D)
- A number of high-profile publications, including a 3-parts Lancet series co-authored by Paulo Ferreira
- Prestigious awards, such as Xiaoke Yi being named one of the most innovative engineers in Australia
- Notable personal achievements, such as Tara Murphy leading the group that was first in the world to confirm radio-wave emissions from a gravitational wave event.
SOAR funding
- Open to University of Sydney academic staff at levels B, C and D (but you must not have applied for level E) the SOAR Fellowship scheme supports early-career researchers with research funding of up to $50,000 per year for two years.
- In addition, up to $25,000 per year will be available for relief of teaching and/or administrative activity.
- Up to 20 fellowships are expected to be awarded in the next round.
