Aim
The Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) Early and Mid-Career Research Committee and the Executive Leadership Committee recognises the importance of attending in-person scientific conferences and engaging with strategic partners for promoting career development of early-mid career researchers (EMCR), and the current shortfall of EMCR travel schemes. The Emerging Researcher Award support scheme aims to provide travel funding for EMCR researchers to engage and network with the broader brain and mind science community nationally and globally to facilitate their development as an emerging researcher. The scheme will be administered by the BMC EMCR committee.
Objectives
- Recognise and support EMCRs as emerging stars and future leaders in brain and mind sciences
- Promote independent EMCR development
- Promote communication of research excellence in brain and mind sciences conducted at the BMC.
Key Dates
10th February 2025 | Applications open |
7th March 2025 | Applications close |
10th March – 24th March 2025 | Assessment of applications |
28th March 2025 | Notification of outcome |
31st December 2025 | Award end-date / Deadline for award funding expenditure |
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the scheme:
- Be a member of an endorsed Brain and Mind Centre team and/strategically aligned research clinics or groups that support research objectives of each endorsed team: Child Neurodevelopment and Mental Health; Computational Neuroimaging; Mental Wealth Initiative; Technology Addiction; Youth Mental Health and Technology; Neuroimmunology; Translational Psychopharmacology, Neurotherapeutic Innovation, Social Functioning Modelling, Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
- Research must be led by an EMCR working in brain and mind sciences (employed by the University of Sydney or formally affiliated in accordance with the University’s Honorary Titles policy)
- The BMC must be acknowledged as the primary setting through which research activities were conducted, and research outputs and their dissemination is primarily attributed to the BMC
- The applicant must hold a PhD and be less than 10 years post-doctoral (or equivalent opportunity, allowing for career disruptions
Funding
Five awards of $2,500 each will be made available to successful EMCR applicants to support conference attendance. Applicants must provide evidence of conference abstract acceptance for release of awarded funding.
From 2025, due to the University’s financial position, all funds awarded by internal support schemes must be expended by the award end-date. Project extension will not be possible beyond this date and the stipulated duration of the project, except in circumstances leading to career disruption*.
Awardees will access scheme funds on an auto-reimbursement model, meaning the full amount of the funds will not be transferred to the project PC upfront (excluding schemes such as student scholarships where a journal entry is required).
Each month, funds matching the actual expenditure from the previous month will be transferred directly into the applicant’s account by auto-reimbursement. Hence, it is essential applicants provide a detailed budget outline in the application. Monthly funds expenditure will be tracked against this budget. The transfer of funds will cease when the awarded amount is reached or the 31st of December of the year awarded, whichever comes first.
*Career disruption – a prolonged interruption to the ability to work due to pregnancy, illness/injury and/or carer responsibilities.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be competitively assessed by the BMC EMCR Committee according to the following criteria:
- Scientific merit of the presented research and alignment to the BMC research objectives (as per Appendix 1) [50%]
- Impact of funding to support career development and expand independent research capacity [50%]
Recommendations for award will be submitted to the BMC Executive Leadership Committee for approval.
Application Process
Applicants are required to provide a statement on:
- Significance of research findings to brain and mind sciences (max. 200 words)
- How the funds would support your career development (max. 200 words)
- Project budget and resource justification - Outline proposed budget and plan for funds expenditure by award end-date, 31st December 2025. 1-page maximum.
For additional support or questions, please contact brainandmind.info@sydney.edu.au
BMC Emerging Researcher Award
Aim
The Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) Early and Mid-Career Research Committee and the Executive Leadership Committee recognises the importance of attending in-person scientific conferences and engaging with strategic partners for promoting career development of early-mid career researchers (EMCR), and the current shortfall of EMCR travel schemes. The Emerging Researcher Award support scheme aims to provide travel funding for EMCR researchers to engage and network with the broader brain and mind science community nationally and globally to facilitate their development as an emerging researcher. The scheme will be administered by the BMC EMCR committee.
Objectives
- Recognise and support EMCRs as emerging stars and future leaders in brain and mind sciences
- Promote independent EMCR development
- Promote communication of research excellence in brain and mind sciences conducted at the BMC.
Key Dates
10th February 2025 | Applications open |
7th March 2025 | Applications close |
10th March – 24th March 2025 | Assessment of applications |
28th March 2025 | Notification of outcome |
31st December 2025 | Award end-date / Deadline for award funding expenditure |
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the scheme:
- Be a member of an endorsed Brain and Mind Centre team and/strategically aligned research clinics or groups that support research objectives of each endorsed team: Child Neurodevelopment and Mental Health; Computational Neuroimaging; Mental Wealth Initiative; Technology Addiction; Youth Mental Health and Technology; Neuroimmunology; Translational Psychopharmacology, Neurotherapeutic Innovation, Social Functioning Modelling, Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
- Research must be led by an EMCR working in brain and mind sciences (employed by the University of Sydney or formally affiliated in accordance with the University’s Honorary Titles policy)
- The BMC must be acknowledged as the primary setting through which research activities were conducted, and research outputs and their dissemination is primarily attributed to the BMC
- The applicant must hold a PhD and be less than 10 years post-doctoral (or equivalent opportunity, allowing for career disruptions
Funding
Five awards of $2,500 each will be made available to successful EMCR applicants to support conference attendance. Applicants must provide evidence of conference abstract acceptance for release of awarded funding.
From 2025, due to the University’s financial position, all funds awarded by internal support schemes must be expended by the award end-date. Project extension will not be possible beyond this date and the stipulated duration of the project, except in circumstances leading to career disruption*.
Awardees will access scheme funds on an auto-reimbursement model, meaning the full amount of the funds will not be transferred to the project PC upfront (excluding schemes such as student scholarships where a journal entry is required).
Each month, funds matching the actual expenditure from the previous month will be transferred directly into the applicant’s account by auto-reimbursement. Hence, it is essential applicants provide a detailed budget outline in the application. Monthly funds expenditure will be tracked against this budget. The transfer of funds will cease when the awarded amount is reached or the 31st of December of the year awarded, whichever comes first.
*Career disruption – a prolonged interruption to the ability to work due to pregnancy, illness/injury and/or carer responsibilities.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be competitively assessed by the BMC EMCR Committee according to the following criteria:
- Scientific merit of the presented research and alignment to the BMC research objectives (as per Appendix 1) [50%]
- Impact of funding to support career development and expand independent research capacity [50%]
Recommendations for award will be submitted to the BMC Executive Leadership Committee for approval.
Application Process
Applicants are required to provide a statement on:
- Significance of research findings to brain and mind sciences (max. 200 words)
- How the funds would support your career development (max. 200 words)
- Project budget and resource justification - Outline proposed budget and plan for funds expenditure by award end-date, 31st December 2025. 1-page maximum.
For additional support or questions, please contact brainandmind.info@sydney.edu.au