ASSC Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme Guidelines

The Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre (ASSC) Early Career Grants seek to fund projects that are strategically aligned with the ASSC priorities: to improve the prevention, early detection or treatment of skin cancers or skin diseases. The objectives of this scheme are to:

• Support early career researchers with high research potential to progress their research careers by funding high-quality research projects and (including pilot projects).
• Encourage research collaboration between UQ and QIMR Berghofer to accelerate translational outcomes in skin disease and skin cancer research.
• Enhance ASSC member’s competitiveness in bidding for external research funding.
• Provide experience in preparing a grant application for peer review.

FUNDING AVAILABLE

Up to four grants will be awarded with a maximum value of $20,000 each.

FUNDING RULES

Funding will follow institutional rules of internal funding. Funds can be spent on personnel (including applicant’s salary), laboratory consumables and external providers when appropriate. All expenses have to be related to the project. This funding cannot attract institutional overheads and cannot be used for travel, or other routine laboratory equipment usually provided by the research group or the institution (e.g., information technology). Funding for successful applicants will commence in August 2023 and end 30 June 2024.

ELIGIBILITY

Successful applicant must:

• Be staff on payroll (<10 years of receiving MD or PhD);
• Be conducting research in the skin and skin cancer field;
• The lead UQ or QIMR Berghofer applicant must not have received the ASSC grant in the past 3 years;
• For previously successful applicants, please include a summary report of research outcomes from your most recently successful grant in your application.

SCORING CRITERIA

• Appropriate & feasible methods (40%)
• Significance & innovation (20%)
• Track record: include 10 best publications, all grants, mentoring, presentations, contribution to discipline (20%)
• Budget justification and balance across both institutions (10%)
• Demonstrable collaboration between UQ and QIMR on new projects (10%)

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

At the conclusion of funding, the grant recipient must provide a report to the ASSC, outlining an overview of the project, what has been achieved, how the grant has furthered the research potential, any presentations and publications, and any current grant applications, by the grant end date.

PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

The recipient will present at an ASSC Scientific Meeting, held annually.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Acknowledgement of the ASSC funding should be given in any future publications, presentations, advertising material, reports and public announcements, where relevant.  Please use the statement below:

“This research was conducted with the support of the Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre through the ASSC Enabling Grant Scheme”.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Successful applicants will be notified by email.

Applications open: 1 March, 2023

Applications close: 5pm, Friday 16 June, 2023

Download Grant Guidelines

Application form will be made available closer to opening date.