New UQ researchers rewarded in early career scheme

New UQ researchers rewarded in early career scheme

Studies of Hervey Bay whale watch ecotourism, jazz performance, south-east Queensland amenity regions and Parkinson's Disease are among 38 research projects funded through a University of Queensland scheme.

The University's Research Committee has allocated $300,000 for the UQ Early Career Researcher Grants (ECRG) for 2000.

It also decided that a portion of funds received from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Small Grants Scheme would be allocated to the best Early Career Researcher Grant applicants, bringing the total available to $654,520.

The scheme aims to nurture new researchers and their work enabling them to apply eventually for larger, external grants.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield said the scheme aimed to retain and nurture the very best researchers.

"It's pleasing that a large portion - almost 40 percent - of recipients were women researchers," he said.

Among projects funded were studies of consumers' reactions to genetically modified food (Dr Gillian Sullivan-Mort, Graduate School of Management); the Australian women's movement (Dr Margaret Henderson, Contemporary Studies Program at UQ Ipswich); and computer security (Dr Cristina Cifuentes, Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering).

Of 38 successful projects in the scheme, 18 received ARC small grants and 20 early career researcher funds.

The result represents a 69 percent success rate meaning more than half the research projects seeking funds were successful.

The funds were distributed among research projects in the University's seven faculties as follows: Arts (3 grants), Biological and Chemical Sciences (2), Business, Economics and Law (3), Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (16), Health Sciences (8), Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (3) and Social and Behavioural Sciences (3).

Further information: Jan Massey, Director, UQ Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies, telephone 07 3365 3640.