Research Impetus Grants

Overview

The University of Melbourne recognises that significant interruptions to research and career opportunity, or disruptive life experiences, may detrimentally affect a researcher’s professional capacity and trajectory.

The University of Melbourne’s Research Impetus Grants scheme aims to help early-career and mid-career researchers who have experienced significant career disruption/s regain their research momentum.

It does this by awarding funding for bespoke and targeted grants that have a strong and demonstrable likelihood of supporting the academic staff to regain the promising career trajectory they were on prior to the disruption/s. Research Impetus Grants support recipients to progress their research program, build partnerships and networks, and produce research of high quality and impact.

Funding

Grants awarded under this scheme are equally co-funded by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) strategic funding and Faculties. Applicants can apply for grant components that suit their circumstances and potential to a maximum of $50,000 (i.e. $25,000 DVCR funds and $25,000 Faculty/Department/School funds) per application.

Research Impetus Grants are available to salaried staff of the University of Melbourne who meet the eligibility criteria in the scheme guidelines and are based in any of the University of Melbourne’s academic divisions or in the Melbourne Business School.

Applicants under this scheme are encouraged to discuss their disruption/s, research record and application for funding with the nominated ‘Faculty delegate’ as part of completing the relevant application forms for this scheme.

How to apply

1. Review the Scheme Guidelines

   Read the Scheme Guidelines and supporting information linked below.

2. Complete Faculty Notification Processes

   All applicants must discuss their intention to submit with their faculty. Applicants are encouraged to contact their faculty's Associate Dean (Diversity and Inclusion) or other representative nominated below to discuss and confirm their career interruptions.  
   
   Applicants must also complete the Authority to Submit Form (Faculty Confirmation). Your nominated representative may be able to provide advice relevant to completing this form. However, the form MUST be signed by your Head of Department/School (HOD/S).  Please allow time for the form to be signed and returned to you, as it must be submitted with your SmartyGrants application.

   Faculty	Instructions / Faculty Contact
   Architecture, Building, and Planning	Ash Alam, Assistant Dean, Diversity and Inclusion ash.alam@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact the ABP Research & Industry team: abp-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Arts	Alfredo Martinez-Exposito, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion alfredo.m@unimelb.edu.au Applicants must discuss any requests for teaching relief with their Head of School before submission.
   Business & Economics	Victor Sojo Monzon, Associate Dean, Diversity &  Inclusion vesojo@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact FBE Research: fbe-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Engineering and Information Technology	Renata Borovica-Gajic, Associate Dean, Diversity & Inclusion renata.borovica@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact FEIT Research Services: FEIT-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Education	Lisa McKay-Brown, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion lisamb@unimelb.edu.au Kate Reynolds, Associate Dean Research reynolds.k@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact FoE Research: foe-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Law	John Tobin,  Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion j.tobin@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact Mas Generis at law-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Science	Georgina Such, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion gsuch@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact  Science Internal Funding:  science-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Fine Arts & Music	Sally Treloyn, Associate Dean, Diversity & Inclusion sally.treloyn@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music Research Office: fineartsmusic-research@unimelb.edu.au
   Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences	MDHS applicants are welcome to discuss their applications with Natalie Hannan or their Head of Department/School. Natalie Hannan, Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion nhannan@unimelb.edu.au For general support, please contact: mdhs-diversityinclusion@unimelb.edu.au

3. Prepare and Submit your Application Form

   • Log in to SmartyGrants to begin your application.
   • Ensure you upload the fully completed and signed Authority to Submit Form (Faculty Confirmation) to your SmartyGrants application.
   • Submit your complete application via the SmartyGrants portal by the due date.
   • Once you submit your SmartyGrants application, a PDF of the application will be sent to you.

Supporting documents

Key documents

Resources 

Contacts

Manage Your Grant