Section 8 - Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Federation Fellowships - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 - Roles and eligibility for Federation Fellows | Zoe
Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Federation Fellowships - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008
8Roles and eligibility for Federation Fellows
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8.1.1 A Proposal must nominate one researcher for a Federation Fellowship (the Federation Fellowship candidate). A Federation Fellow must satisfy the eligibility criteria for that role as specified in Section 8 of these Funding Rules.
8.1.2 A researcher nominated in a Proposal as Federation Fellow must take significant intellectual responsibility for the proposed project, its conception, and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The researcher must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role.
8.1.3 If the ARC considers that a Federation Fellowship candidate nominated in a Proposal does not meet the eligibility criteria in this Section, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
8.1.4 Federation Fellowship candidates must be distinguished researchers who are at the forefront of international research. They must have leadership skills and experience in building research capacity, and should propose ground-breaking research programs likely to deliver significant economic, environmental, social or cultural benefits to Australia.
8.1.5 Proposals may be submitted for Federation Fellowship candidates who are qualified researchers currently working in Australia or overseas. Proposals are particularly encouraged from researchers currently working overseas.
8.1.6 At the time of the submission of a Proposal all obligations regarding previously funded projects involving the Federation Fellowship candidate on the Proposal must have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the ARC. Such obligations include the provision of satisfactory progress and final reports.
8.1.7 Federation Fellows must reside predominantly in Australia for the full duration of the Federation Fellowship. If a Federation Fellowship candidate does not have permanent resident status he/she must obtain temporary resident status from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship before the Federation Fellowship commences.
8.1.8 Federation Fellows are expected to pursue research that is at the international leading edge in their field. To facilitate this aim, Federation Fellows may, with the approval of the ARC, undertake research overseas for periods of up to 2 years in total, providing that the Administering Organisation clearly demonstrates this is in the best interests of the research and its outcomes, and of national benefit to Australia.
8.1.9 A researcher may be nominated for a Federation Fellowship regardless of whether he/she holds any continuing or non-continuing appointments at the time the Proposal is submitted. Other than with the written approval of the ARC, if the Proposal is approved the Federation Fellowship candidate is expected to relinquish any existing appointments before the Fellowship may commence.
8.1.10 Subject to subsection 8.1.11, if a Federation Fellowship candidate has previously been awarded one or more ARC Federation Fellowships, the person must have completed all previous ARC Federation Fellowships or be in the fourth or fifth year of an existing ARC Federation Fellowship. If there is any salary-related Federation Fellowship funding (including on-costs) in respect of the candidate which is:
a. payable by the ARC on or after 1 January 2009; or
b. unexpended by the relevant Administering Organisation as at 1 January 2009;
the candidate and the relevant Administering Organisation must have agreed, prior to the submission of the Proposal, that such salary-related funding (including on-costs) associated with the existing Federation Fellowship will be relinquished if the Proposal is successful.
8.1.11 The ARC considers Federation Fellowships to be prestigious awards requiring a very high level of commitment by the recipients of the award. Other than with the written approval of the ARC prior to the submission of the Proposal, a Federation Fellowship candidate who had commenced a Federation Fellowship which was terminated early for reasons other than to take up a subsequent Federation Fellowship may not be nominated for a subsequent Federation Fellowship. In determining whether to grant such approval the ARC will take into account whether, in the opinion of the ARC, the termination was due to exceptional circumstances.
8.1.12 If a Federation Fellowship candidate holds or has applied for any other ARC Fellowships, or any fellowships from other funding bodies, the candidate must have agreed, if the Proposal is successful, to relinquish those other Fellowships.
8.1.13 Federation Fellowships are awarded on a full-time basis only. Federation Fellows are expected to work full-time on research and research capacity-building activities. Research capacity-building activities could include research leadership in teams and centres (ARC Centres or other research-related centres) and supervision of postgraduate students, but do not include a major role in administration. While a Federation Fellow’s principal duty is to undertake research, it is also important to specify the role he/she would be expected to play within the Administering Organisation.
8.1.14 The salary support options for Federation Fellowships are:
100 per cent salary plus on-costs. This option is available for the first and second Federation Fellowship awarded to a person; or
50 per cent salary plus pro rata on-costs. This option is available for the second Federation Fellowship awarded to a person. In this case, the ARC will enter into an agreement with the Administering Organisation and the ARC will provide salary support of 50 per cent of the notional Federation Fellowship salary plus pro rata on-costs. This must at least be matched by the Fellow’s Administering Organisation and the Proposal must detail how the Fellow’s research will be supported. Fellows being funded on the 50 per cent salary support option must still work on their research on a full-time basis.