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Future Fellowships
Selection Report for Funding Commencing in 2009
Overview
Objectives
Selection Process
Selection Criteria
Funding Levels and Duration
Summary of Outcomes
Attracting and Retaining Outstanding Researchers
International Collaboration
Administering Organisation
National Research Priorities
ARC Discipline Clusters
Age and Gender
Indigenous Health and Wellbeing
Overview
The Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowships scheme reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to promoting research in areas of critical national importance by giving outstanding researchers incentives to conduct their research in Australia. The aim of the ARC Future Fellowships scheme is to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers.
The selection round for the ARC Future Fellowships scheme for funding commencing in 2009 consisted of 975 proposals.
Objectives
The objectives of the ARC Future Fellowships scheme are to:
- attract and retain outstanding mid-career researchers;
- build collaboration across industry and/or research institutions and/or disciplines;
- support research in national priorities across all disciplines that will result in economic, environmental, social, health or cultural benefits for Australia; and
- strengthen Australia’s research capacity by supporting innovative, internationally competitive research.
Selection Process
The closing date for ARC Future Fellowships was 26 November 2008. Assessment of proposals was undertaken by the ARC and its selection advisory committees, which:
- assigned independent readers/assessors to review proposals;
- identified ineligible proposals;
- ranked each proposal relative to the others on the basis of the proposal and the assessors' reports;
- assessed and recommended budgets; and
- prepared funding recommendations.
Selection Criteria
The assessment of proposals was based on the following criteria and weighting:
- Investigator (50%)
- Project Quality (10%)
- Strategic Alignment (15%)
- Collaboration (15%)
- National Research Priority (10%).
Funding Levels and Duration
Over a five-year period (2009 -2013), ARC Future Fellowships will offer four-year fellowships ranging over three salary levels (of up to $135,000 a year) to 1,000 outstanding Australian and international researchers in the middle of their career.
In addition, each researcher’s Administering Organisation will receive funding of up to $50,000 per year to support related infrastructure, equipment, travel and relocation costs.
While funding is awarded for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for four years, the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the ARC Act) applies limits in relation to the amount and years for which the Minister may approve funding. At the time of award, funding is approved only up to and including the 2011-2012 financial year. Subsequent years and associated funding limits are added by amendment to the ARC Act, following which funding for the additional years may be made available. Accordingly, the term "indicative funding" is used throughout this report to denote the total level of funding which it is proposed to be made available, once all years to which funding proposals relate have been legislated.
Table 1: Indicative funds for approved ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009
Funding Item |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary Level 1 @ $95,000 | $13,011,200 | $13,011,200 | $13,011,200 | $13,011,200 | $52,044,800 |
| Salary Level 2 @ $115,000 | $9,568,000 | $9,568,000 | $9,568,000 | $9,568,000 | $38,272,000 |
| Salary Level 3 @ $135,000 | $4,838,400 | $4,838,400 | $4,838,400 | $4,838,400 | $19,353,600 |
| Infrastructure Funding | $9,543,618 | $9,499,642 | $9,417,907 | $9,290,901 | $37,752,068 |
| Total | $36,961,218 | $36,917,242 | $36,835,507 | $36,708,501 | $147,422,468 |
Summary of Outcomes
A total of 976 proposals were submitted to the ARC. One of the submitted proposals was subsequently withdrawn by the Administering Organisation. Consequently 975 proposals were considered for funding. Of the 975 proposals considered, 200 proposals are approved for funding, 752 are not approved for funding and 23 are considered ineligible. Overall this gives a success rate of 20.5%.
The following table reflects the salary level breakdown of the approved ARC Future Fellowships candidates in 2009.
Table 2: Salary levels for approved ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009
Salary Levels
|
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of proposals considered |
Number of proposals approved |
% of approved proposals (by salary level) |
% of total approved proposals |
|
| Salary Level 1 @ $95,000 | 392 | 107 | 27.3% | 53.5% |
| Salary Level 2 @ $115,000 | 374 | 65 | 17.4% | 32.5% |
| Salary Level 3 @ $135,000 | 209 | 28 | 13.4% | 14.0% |
| Total | 975 | 200 | 20.5% | 100% |
Attracting and Retaining Outstanding Researchers
Proposals were open to Eligible Organisations to nominate candidates who are outstanding researchers of international repute, resident either within Australia or overseas. The ARC Future Fellowships scheme encourages proposals involving Australian or non-Australian researchers.
Of the 975 proposals considered, 80 were for Australians intending to return to Australia – of these, 19 are approved for funding. Of the 134 proposals for foreign nationals, 22 are approved for funding. Of the 761 proposals for resident Australians, 159 are approved for funding.
Table 3: Citizenship/residency status of ARC Future Fellowships candidates and approved Fellows for funding commencing in 2009
Citizenship/residency status |
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of proposals considered |
% of proposals considered |
Number of proposals approved |
% of proposals approved |
|
| Foreign Nationals | 134 | 13.74% | 22 | 11.00% |
| Resident Australians | 761 | 78.05% | 159 | 79.50% |
| Returning Australians | 80 | 8.21% | 19 | 9.50% |
| Total | 975 | 100.00% | 200 | 100.00% |
International Collaboration
Participants on ARC Future Fellowships proposals are asked to indicate who will be involved in the proposed collaborations. There were 2244 instances of international collaboration reported within the 975 proposals considered. For funding commencing in 2009, the highest incidence of international collaboration was with the United States of America followed by United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and France. Table 4 provides an overview of all instances of international collaboration.
Table 4: Instances of international collaboration on ARC Future Fellowships proposals for 2009
Country |
Number of instances of collaboration |
% of proposals considered |
Number of instances of collaboration in proposals approved |
% of proposals approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Argentina | 6 | 0.27% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Austria | 23 | 1.02% | 3 | 0.62% |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Belgium | 18 | 0.80% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Belize | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Brazil | 7 | 0.31% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Bulgaria | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Cambodia | 5 | 0.22% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Canada | 124 | 5.53% | 28 | 5.79% |
| Central African Republic | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Chile | 6 | 0.27% | 2 | 0.41% |
| China, People's Republic | 108 | 4.81% | 18 | 3.72% |
| Colombia | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Cyprus | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Czech Republic, The | 5 | 0.22% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Denmark | 25 | 1.11% | 2 | 0.41% |
| East Timor | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Ecuador | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Egypt | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Fiji | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Finland | 18 | 0.80% | 3 | 0.62% |
| France | 126 | 5.61% | 27 | 5.58% |
| Germany | 177 | 7.89% | 40 | 8.26% |
| Greece | 6 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Greenland | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Hong Kong | 23 | 1.02% | 5 | 1.03% |
| Hungary | 7 | 0.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| India | 31 | 1.38% | 5 | 1.03% |
| Indonesia | 19 | 0.85% | 6 | 1.24% |
| Iran | 4 | 0.18% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Ireland, Republic of | 13 | 0.58% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Israel | 9 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.62% |
| Italy | 62 | 2.76% | 12 | 2.48% |
| Japan | 102 | 4.55% | 16 | 3.31% |
| Kenya | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Kiribati | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Korea, Republic of | 15 | 0.67% | 6 | 1.24% |
| Lebanon | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Malawi | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Malaysia | 8 | 0.36% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Mauritius | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Mexico | 9 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Micronesia | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Monaco | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Morocco | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Netherlands, The | 71 | 3.16% | 16 | 3.31% |
| New Caledonia | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| New Zealand | 64 | 2.85% | 15 | 3.10% |
| Nigeria | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Norway | 14 | 0.62% | 4 | 0.83% |
| Pakistan | 3 | 0.13% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Panama | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Papua New Guinea | 14 | 0.62% | 3 | 0.62% |
| Philippines, The | 7 | 0.31% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Poland | 7 | 0.31% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Portugal | 4 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Russian Federation, The | 17 | 0.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Saudia Arabia | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Sierra Leone | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Singapore | 30 | 1.34% | 9 | 1.86% |
| Slovakia | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Slovenia | 2 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Solomon Islands | 5 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| South Africa | 20 | 0.89% | 3 | 0.62% |
| Spain | 24 | 1.07% | 4 | 0.83% |
| Sudan | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Sweden | 43 | 1.92% | 12 | 2.48% |
| Switzerland | 43 | 1.92% | 7 | 1.45% |
| Syria | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Tahiti | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Taiwan | 6 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Thailand | 12 | 0.53% | 4 | 0.83% |
| Tonga | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Turkey | 4 | 0.18% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Uganda | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Ukraine | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| United Kingdom | 320 | 14.26% | 73 | 15.08% |
| United States of America | 514 | 22.91% | 121 | 25.00% |
| UNSPECIFIED | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Uruguay | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Vanuatu | 5 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Venezuela | 2 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Vietnam | 7 | 0.31% | 2 | 0.41% |
| Western Samoa | 1 | 0.04% | 1 | 0.21% |
| Yugoslavia | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Zambia | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total | 2244 | 100% | 484 | 100% |
Administering Organisation
The following table shows proposal numbers and total ARC funding by Administering Organisation for ARC Future Fellowships for funding commencing in 2009.
Table 5: Number of ARC Future Fellowships proposals and success rates for funding commencing in 2009, by Administering Organisation
Administering Organisation |
Number of proposals considered |
Number of proposals approved |
Success rate % |
Indicative funding over project life (approved proposals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo-Australian Observatory | 2 | 1 | 50.00% | $788,800 |
| Australian Catholic University | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute | 4 | 2 | 50.00% | $1,475,200 |
| Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Centre for Eye Research Australia Ltd | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Charles Darwin University | 3 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Charles Sturt University | 8 | 2 | 25.00% | $1,372,800 |
| Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | 35 | 5 | 14.29% | $3,841,600 |
| Curtin University of Technology | 25 | 1 | 4.00% | $788,800 |
| Deakin University | 17 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Edith Cowan University | 6 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Griffith University | 28 | 8 | 28.57% | $5,295,184 |
| Howard Florey Institute | 5 | 1 | 20.00% | $788,800 |
| James Cook University | 10 | 2 | 20.00% | $1,372,800 |
| La Trobe University | 16 | 7 | 43.75% | $4,871,600 |
| Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Limited | 3 | 1 | 33.33% | $686,400 |
| Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health | 7 | 1 | 14.29% | $788,800 |
| Macquarie University | 32 | 5 | 15.63% | $3,636,800 |
| Mater Medical Research Institute Ltd | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Monash University | 66 | 11 | 16.67% | $7,854,900 |
| Murdoch Childrens Research Institute | 5 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Murdoch University | 12 | 2 | 16.67% | $1,577,600 |
| National ICT Australia Ltd | 5 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| National Stroke Research Institute | 3 | 2 | 66.67% | $1,372,800 |
| Pathology Queensland | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | 2 | 1 | 50.00% | $788,800 |
| Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Queensland Institute of Medical Research | 11 | 5 | 45.45% | $3,636,800 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 21 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| RMIT University | 7 | 3 | 42.86% | $2,244,819 |
| Southern Cross University | 4 | 1 | 25.00% | $686,400 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 19 | 2 | 10.53% | $1,574,600 |
| The Australian National University | 80 | 21 | 26.25% | $15,774,875 |
| The Australian Wine Research Institute | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| The Flinders University of South Australia | 11 | 1 | 9.09% | $686,400 |
| The Garvan Institute of Medical Research | 3 | 1 | 33.33% | $686,400 |
| The University of Adelaide | 35 | 5 | 14.29% | $3,841,600 |
| The University of Melbourne | 97 | 25 | 25.77% | $18,224,290 |
| The University of New England | 5 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| The University of New South Wales | 46 | 15 | 32.61% | $11,279,408 |
| The University of Newcastle | 28 | 4 | 14.29% | $3,155,200 |
| The University of Queensland | 51 | 16 | 31.37% | $12,928,000 |
| The University of Sydney | 72 | 17 | 23.61% | $11,948,392 |
| The University of Western Australia | 62 | 10 | 16.13% | $7,888,000 |
| The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | 9 | 4 | 44.44% | $2,745,600 |
| University of Ballarat | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| University of Canberra | 9 | 1 | 11.11% | $788,800 |
| University of South Australia | 22 | 3 | 13.64% | $2,061,600 |
| University of Southern Queensland | 7 | 1 | 14.29% | $686,400 |
| University of Tasmania | 17 | 4 | 23.53% | $2,798,400 |
| University of Technology, Sydney | 10 | 1 | 10.00% | $686,400 |
| University of Western Sydney | 10 | 1 | 10.00% | $686,400 |
| University of Wollongong | 23 | 7 | 30.43% | $5,112,000 |
| Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Victoria University | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Total | 975 | 200 | 20.51% | $147,422,468 |
National Research Priorities
Of the 975 ARC Future Fellowships proposals considered in this round, 966 (99.08%) were identified by the applicants as addressing a National Research Priority. Of those 966 proposals, 196 are approved for funding, representing 98% of the total 200 proposals approved for funding addressing a National Research Priority.
The overall commitment for approved proposals addressing National Research Priorities is $144,359,994 (97.9 % of the total funding).
Table 6: Numbers and success rates for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009, by National Research Priority
National Research Priority |
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Proposals considered |
Proposals approved |
Success rate % |
Indicative funds approved over project life |
|
| None selected | 9 | 4 | 44.44% | $3,062,474 |
| An Environmentally Sustainable Australia | 200 | 38 | 19.00% | $27,931,762 |
| Promoting and Maintaining Good Health | 292 | 64 | 21.92% | $46,236,277 |
| Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries | 363 | 75 | 20.66% | $56,244,250 |
| Safeguarding Australia | 111 | 19 | 17.12% | $13,947,705 |
| Total proposals | 975 | 200 | 20.51% | $147,422,468 |
| Total priority proposals | 966 | 196 | 20.29% | $144,359,994 |
| % within priority area | 99.08% | 98.00% | 97.92% | |
ARC Discipline Clusters
The following table summarises the distribution of proposals within disciplines.
Table 7: Numbers and success rates for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009, by Disciplines
ARC Discipline Grouping * |
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of proposals considered |
% of proposals considered |
Number of proposals approved |
% of proposals approved |
|
| MHS | 225 | 23.08% | 51 | 25.50% |
| BCE | 225 | 23.08% | 52 | 26.00% |
| HCA/SBE | 234 | 24.00% | 41 | 20.50% |
| PSMITE | 291 | 29.85% | 56 | 28.00% |
| Total | 975 | 100% | 200 | 100% |
* MHS = Medical & Health Sciences; BCE = Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences; HCA/SBE = Humanities and Creative Arts / Social, Behavioural & Economic Sciences; PSMITE = Physical Sciences, Mathematics, IT and Engineering
The inclusion of the Medical & Health Sciences discipline provided an opportunity to modify the existing discipline structure from six panels to four.
Age and Gender
Tables 8 and 9 display the age and gender distribution. The majority of ARC Future Fellowships proposals were in the 35-44 years age cohort (61.3%). The highest success rate was in the 35-39 years age cohort (36.5%).
Table 8: Age distribution of candidates (at time of submission) for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009
Age cohort |
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of proposals considered |
% of proposals considered |
Number of proposals approved |
% of proposals approved |
|
| < 30 years | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% |
| 30-34 years | 105 | 10.8% | 30 | 15.0% |
| 35-39 years | 286 | 29.3% | 73 | 36.5% |
| 40-44 years | 312 | 32.0% | 66 | 33.0% |
| 45-49 years | 177 | 18.2% | 22 | 11.0% |
| 50-54 years | 56 | 5.7% | 7 | 3.5% |
| 55-59 years | 32 | 3.3% | 2 | 1.0% |
| 60+ years | 5 | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 1 | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Grand Total | 975 | 100% | 200 | 100% |
Table 9: Gender distribution of candidates for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009
Fellowship type |
Gender |
Commencing in 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of proposals |
% of proposals considered |
No. of approved Fellows |
Success Rates per Salary Level by Gender |
||
| Salary Level 1 @ $95,000 | Female | 131 | 13.44% | 36 | 27.48% |
| Male | 261 | 26.77% | 71 | 27.20% | |
| Salary Level 1 Total | 392 | 40.21% | 107 | 27.30% | |
| Salary Level 2 @ $115,000 | Female | 107 | 10.97% | 17 | 15.89% |
| Male | 267 | 27.38% | 48 | 17.98% | |
| Salary Level 2 Total | 374 | 38.36% | 65 | 17.38% | |
| Salary Level 3 @ $135,000 | Female | 45 | 4.62% | 6 | 13.33% |
| Male | 164 | 16.82% | 22 | 13.41% | |
| Salary Level 3 Total | 209 | 21.44% | 28 | 13.40% | |
| All levels | Female | 283 | 29.03% | 59 | 20.85% |
| Male | 692 | 70.97% | 141 | 20.38% | |
| Total | 975 | 100% | 200 | 20.51% | |
Of the 975 Future Fellowship candidates considered, 283 (29.03 %) are female. The overall female success rate for ARC Future Fellowships is 20.85%.
Indigenous Health and Wellbeing
Of the 114 proposals relevant to the area of Indigenous health and wellbeing, 26 of them are approved for funding.
Table 10: Proposals relating to Indigenous Health and Wellbeing for ARC Future Fellowships proposals for funding commencing in 2009
ARC Discipline grouping |
Commencing in 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of proposals considered |
% of proposals considered |
No. of proposals approved |
% of proposals approved |
Total $ |
|
| Indigenous Health and Wellbeing | 114 | 11.69% | 26 | 13.00% | $18,608,063 |
09/09/09
