ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

StatusClosed
Aim The objectives of the DECRA scheme are to:
  • support outstanding early-career researchers with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research and emerging capability for leadership and supervision;
  • foster collaboration, with national or international researchers;
  • support excellent and innovative research that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge and represents value for money;
  • create new or advanced knowledge resulting from the outcomes of the research with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia; and
  • advance promising early career researchers and promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways in high-quality and supportive environments.
Funding

A DECRA recipient may be awarded ARC funding of up to $162,897 per year of funding. The per annum salary contribution from the ARC is fixed at $112,897 (2023$), including 30% on-costs, and up to a maximum of $50,000 project costs. Salary and/or project costs will not be awarded separately.

Funding for a 2025 DECRA project will commence effective 1 January 2025, unless other arrangements are approved by the ARC.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for the 2025 DECRA scheme:

  • By the grant opportunity closing date (7 December 2023), candidates must have been awarded a PhD.
  • The PhD award date (i.e. the date on the testamur) must be on or after 1 March 2019. If a candidate's PhD was awarded earlier than this, they must complete an Eligibility exemption request form to check their eligibility.
  • Candidates can only apply twice in the period in which they are eligible.
  • An individual must not be nominated for more than one DECRA in a grant opportunity.
  • A previous recipient of a DECRA is not eligible to apply for another DECRA.
  • At least 80% of your time must be dedicated to the DECRA research.
  • You must spend at least 50% of your time during the completion of the DECRA in Australia.
  • Candidates must adhere to the ARC project limits.
  • Your project must be eligible according to the ARC Medical Research Policy.

Eligibility for DVCR Co-Funding

Eligibility for the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme is contingent upon on-time submission of grant applications by the date you select for your compliance and eligibility check in the booking calendar. Many applications for external funding require cash and in-kind contributions from the host institution in order to be considered for funding. In most cases, researchers request cash contributions, such as project support funds, funding for research associates, scholarships and major equipment, from the DVCR via the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme to support their external funding applications. To be eligible to request this DVCR Co-Funding, grant applications must be submitted internally, via Pure, by your compliance and eligibility check date.

  • Applications must be submitted to the Research Services Grant Development Team by your compliance and eligibility check date.
  • View further information on deadlines, processes and FAQs.
  • Applications that do not have a Pure record and/or do not have all the appropriate approvals in Pure (Head of Department [HoD] and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation [DDRI]) will not be submitted to the external funding body.
Key Dates

For funding commencing in 2025:

  • Rejoinders open: Thursday 28 March 2024
  • Optional rejoinder strategic review deadline: submit rejoinder to the Research Office in RMS by 9 am Thursday 4 April 2024
  • Mandatory rejoinder compliance check deadline: submit rejoinder to the Research Office in RMS by 9 am Friday 12 April 2024
  • Rejoinders close: 5 pm Monday 15 April 2024
  • Anticipated announcement: 2 to 13 September 2024

ARC dates are indicative and are subject to change 

Resources

DECRA EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR FUNDING COMMENCING IN 2025

Note: Although the EOI deadline has now passed, if you wish to be considered as a DECRA candidate through Macquarie University in the 2025 round, please discuss your project with your Macquarie academic contact, Faculty contact (see below) or the Grant Development Team (see below) who may be able to advise you on the late EOI submission process.

WEBINARS FOR FUNDING COMMENCING IN 2025

  1. Introduction to the ARC DECRA Funding Scheme
    17 August 2023
    Dr Ross Hill (Research Services) and Dr Emma Burns (DECRA Fellow, Faculty of Arts)
    Slides [PDF]
    Recording [Microsoft Stream]
  2. Developing your Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence for the DECRA Scheme
    16 October 2023
    Dr Ross Hill (Research Services)
    Slides [PDF]
    Recording [Microsoft Stream]
  3. Developing your DECRA Project Description and Letter of Support
    18 October 2023
    Dr Ross Hill (Research Services)
    Slides [PDF]
    Recording [Microsoft Stream]
  4. Building your DECRA Budget
    23 October 2023
    Dr Ross Hill (Research Services) and Prof Ingrid Piller (ARC College of Experts and Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences)
    Slides [PDF]
    Recording [Microsoft Stream]
  5. Crafting an Effective ARC DECRA Rejoinder
    2 April 2024
    Speakers: Dr Ross Hill (Research Services) and Prof Tiffany Jones (ARC College of Experts and Faculty of Arts)
    Slides [PDF]
    Recording [Microsoft Stream]

DECRA INFORMATION FOR FUNDING COMMENCING IN 2025

ARC INFORMATION
GrantConnect
Grant Opportunity Information
Grant Opportunity Documents (e.g. Instructions to Applicants; GrantConnect login required)
RMS Information
Request Not To Assess
ARC Medical Research Policy

MACQUARIE RESOURCES
MQ DE25 Advice Toolkit
MQ DE25 Budget Calculator
MQ DE Budget Calculator Online Demonstration
MQ DE25 Grant Development and Submission Process
MQ DE25 Strategic Review Booking Calendar
MQ DE25 Compliance and Eligibility Booking Calendar
MQ Career Interruption Eligibility Exemption Request Template
MQ ERA 2018 Outcomes
MQ Engagement and Impact 2018 Outcomes
Guide to Determining Journal Impact Factor, Quartile and Publication Percentile
MQ Salary Rates (Academic, Professional, PhD Scholarships)
MQ Guide to Appropriate Salary Levels and Steps
ATO Allowances (Per Diems)
Successful Grants Library
Pure Research Management System
Open Access and Funding Compliance
MQ Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
MQ Conflict of Interest Policy
Application Checklist
Advice on Writing your Rejoinder

If you are an external applicant applying for a DECRA through Macquarie University, please email ross.hill@mq.edu.au for access to any of these resources.

Contacts

Information, Strategic Advice, Compliance and Eligibility:

Grant Development Team
Research Services
grant.development@mq.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 9850 4737

Faculty Contacts:

Faculty of Arts
artsro@mq.edu.au
Ph 9850 9663 (x9663), Faculty Research Manager, Dr Christine Boman

Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences
fmhhs.researchsupport@mq.edu.au
Ph 9850 2788 (x2788), Faculty Research Manager, Dr Kyle Ratinac

Faculty of Science and Engineering
sci.research@mq.edu.au
Ph 9850 8912 (x8912), Faculty Research Manager, Ms Irina Zakoshanski

Macquarie Business School
mqbs-ro@mq.edu.au
Ph 9850 4496 (x4496), Faculty Research Manager, Dr Jan Zwar

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