Travel grants and secondments

The Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in the origins, outcomes and optimal management of polycystic ovary syndrome is offering travel and secondment grants to students and researchers who are working in PCOS addressing the CRE research priority areas of

• PCOS diagnosis
• Biological origins, aetiology and pathology of PCOS
• The natural history of PCOS
• Fertility treatments in PCOS
• Lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions in PCOS
• Emotional wellbeing in women with PCOS
• Transfer of PCOS research into health policy and practice

Key dates

Applications open Monday 19 August 2019

Applications close Friday 20 September 2019

Successful applicant(s) notified by Monday 28 October 2019

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible the applicant must be:

• a PhD or Masters’ (100% research) student or level A-D academic within 10 years of their PhD being awarded
• an Australian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident or a New Zealand citizen, based in Australia. International students/ researchers based in Australia are also eligible to apply.
• supervised by or closely collaborating with a Chief Investigator or Associate Investigator of the CRE
• presenting an oral or a poster at a conference OR conducting research/fieldwork which aligns with a specific research priority of the CRE in any of the following topic areas:
  • PCOS diagnosis
  • Biological origins, aetiology and pathology of PCOS
  • The natural history of PCOS
  • Fertility treatments in PCOS
  • Lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions in PCOS
  • Emotional wellbeing in women with PCOS
  • Transfer of PCOS research into health policy and practice
• The travel or secondment must be completed by 30 November 2020.
• If the travel grant is to present at a conference, the CRE must be acknowledged on the slides or poster. If the travel grant supports a secondment to conduct research, the CRE must be acknowledged on any conference presentation or journal article that arises from that research.
• For conference presentations, the applicant must be the principal author of the work, which must be largely the applicants own work, report recent findings and cover research which is aligned with the research priorities of the Centre for Research Excellence in the Origins, Outcomes and Optimal Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in any of the following topic areas:
  • PCOS diagnosis
  • Biological origins, aetiology and pathology of PCOS
  • The natural history of PCOS
  • Fertility treatments in PCOS
  • Lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions in PCOS
  • Emotional wellbeing in women with PCOS
  • Transfer of PCOS research into health policy and practice

 Ineligible if:

• on intermission from candidature for the period of the proposed travel
• a recipient of an alternative travel grant
• a previous recipient of a travel or secondment grant awarded by the CRE in PCOS (ie applicants can only be awarded one travel grant and one secondment grant over the life of the CRE).
• a chief investigator with the CRE

Selection criteria

All applications will be assessed for alignment with CRE activities, the quality of the abstract and/or the benefit to the CRE of the proposed visits or secondments.

General information

• The CRE travel and secondment grants provide support for students and academic staff to present papers at national and international research conferences and associated visits to prestigious institutions, or to facilitate high quality national or international research interactions.
• The CRE Training Committee will endeavour to ensure the equitable distribution of funds across the eligible applicants. Applications will be considered on merit, with consideration given to the career stage of the applicants and any career interruptions.
• Travel and secondment grants will be awarded for high quality, well-documented proposals without any alternative funding source. Proposals should demonstrate clearly the significance of the conference, visit or research interaction and should outline how these will enhance the national or international research profile of the CRE.
• Only one travel grant and one secondment grant will be made per person over the life of the CRE.
• Applications will be accepted from researchers who have submitted papers for conferences, but have not yet heard if they have been accepted. Such applications will be considered on the same basis as those where papers have been accepted. Any grants awarded will be conditional on the paper(s) being accepted for presentation and evidence of abstract acceptance must be submitted to Linda Downes, email linda.downes@monash.edu before leaving for the conference.
• Funds must be returned to the CRE if unforeseen circumstances prevent an awardee from either attending the approved conference or visiting the approved research sites.

Reporting requirements

Awardees must submit a report to Linda Downes, CRE in PCOS Project Manager, email linda.downes@monash.edu within one month of completion of travel. The report should be approx. 200 words outlining the ways in which the conference attendance, overseas visit or secondment has enhanced your research activities and include at least one photograph.  This may be published in the CRE quarterly newsletter.

International travel bookings/ insurance

If your application is successful, it is your responsibility to comply with your University’s protocol for travel (including overseas travel), which may include submitting a travel plan, providing evidence of insurances, etc.  Applications to travel to countries or regions where the DFAT warnings are “Reconsider your need to travel” or ‘Do not travel’ will not be considered.  Please check travel warnings before applying.

How to apply

Complete the application form and submit with supporting documentation to linda.downes@monash.edu by Friday 20 September 2019.

Application supporting documentation

Travel grants

• Copy of applicant’s accepted abstract (or abstract to be submitted). Note:  evidence of abstract acceptance will be required before funds are released
• If relevant, an itinerary of the applicant’s visits/ meetings being undertaken, including invitations or email confirmations exchanged between the applicant and a third party
• A one page CV
• A brief letter of support (maximum of 300 words) signed by the CRE Chief or Associate Investigator
• Budget summary (e.g. conference attendance, airfares, accommodation costs).

Secondment support

• An itinerary of the visits/ meetings/ secondments being undertaken, including invitations or email confirmations exchanged between the applicant and a third party
• A one page CV
• A brief letter of support (maximum of 300 words) signed by the CRE Chief or Associate Investigator
• A two page outline of the – work to be undertaken, strategic collaborations to be built, relevance to the CRE and long term career benefit and the timelines of the secondment
• Budget summary.

Contact

Any queries concerning travel and secondment grants should be directed to:

Linda Downes – email linda.downes@monash.edu