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From the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research)

In the midst of our continuing COVID-19 restrictions and challenges, it is pleasing to begin this issue with a celebration of the research and achievements of our candidates.

The University’s 3 Minute Thesis© and Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competitions were both held last month. I warmly congratulate Carmen Glanville, Veterinary and Agricultural Science, who won the 3MT© competition and Rose Macaulay, Faculty of Science, winner of VYT. Both candidates will go on to represent the University at the Asia Pacific and International finals, respectively. Please do take the time to view the finalists’ contributions, 3MT and VYT.

I reported last month that processes were being implemented for consideration of stipend extensions. The first applications are starting to be received and a University committee has been established to review them. Last month I also noted that research plans need to be reviewed regularly and, as necessary, adapted – we cannot know when access to sites, human participants, infrastructure, or resources may resume. It is now clear that neither candidates nor supervisors can afford to wait out these disruptions and we strongly suggest that research plans be reviewed as soon as is feasible. We have produced guidelines on Reconfiguring Graduate Research Projects and have held webinars for Advisory Committee chairs to assist with this.

As the stage 4 restrictions continue, we need to be increasingly alert to the impact on mental health and wellbeing. Please do check in on your candidates and, if any issues emerge, ask whether they are considering making use of resources such as counselling; and be aware that there are individuals who would not usually do so without encouragement, no matter how acute their need.

If you are concerned for their welfare and believe they would benefit from such support, you can refer them to Student Involvement and Advice. From this page https://le.unimelb.edu.au/student-support, click the link “Advice for subject coordinators on referring your students for support” to launch the request form.

I have been asked how we should respond to prospective candidates during the current uncertainties. The answer is that the University remains open for business and we continue to seek high calibre candidates for our research degrees. Please do engage contructively with prospective candidates and follow your usual recruitment processes.

Professor Justin Zobel
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research)

Supervisors did you know...how to update your Supervision Profile in Find an Expert

One of the key reasons visitors use the University of Melbourne’s Find an Expert website is to locate a potential research supervisor. To assist in attracting high quality applicants, you might want to update your supervision statement in the “Study with me” section of your Find An Expert profile, if you haven’t done this recently. 

You can update your statement in Themis:
1. Login to Themis: https://themis.unimelb.edu.au/
2. Go to UOM Research Self Service
3. Select the Themis Researcher Profile option
4. Select Public Staff Profile
5. Select Supervision Details
6. Enter or update your supervision statement

If you are a registered supervisor but not recruiting graduate researchers currently, unchecking the ‘Available for supervision’ checkbox in Themis will turn off your ‘Study with me’ page in Find an Expert.

[Source:Michelle Green | Graduate Research (Student Administration)]

Graduate Research Supervisory Agreement

A new Graduate Research Supervisory Agreement has been added to the Orientation and Induction page on the GR Hub as key resource for new graduate researchers. This agreement replaces the previous new graduate researcher’s checklist.  You are encouraged to complete this with your new and current graduate researchers to help establish and maintain mutual expectations.

The agreement is divided into two sections:
• An outline of the expectations for all graduate researchers and supervisors based on the relevant University policies and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
• A form allowing you and your graduate researchers to agree on specific expectations suitable the particular project and circumstances.

It’s recommended that the agreement is reviewed throughout a graduate researcher’s candidature – and revised as things change. Progress review meetings are a good opportunity for the agreement to be reviewed.

A new commencing graduate research candidature management form including this checklist is intended to be released early in 2021.

[Source: Michelle Green / Graduate Research (Student Administration]

August 2020 thesis submission pictures are up

Following Federal and State government guidelines, in-person services at Stop 1, have ceased for now, but graduate researchers have still been celebrating with us by taking and submitting their photo using the recently launched digital frame.

Once the situation has cleared and it is safe for the campus to reopen, all graduate researchers who have reached this milestone, whether they have submitted a photo or not, are welcome to come in at a time that suits to collect their gift.

Any photos submitted in person or using the digital frame will be added to the photo gallery on the Graduate Research Hub Submitting my Thesis webpage.

August 2020 photos can be viewed here

Please encourage your submitting graduate researchers to get creative and have their photos uploaded - we love to see their happy faces!

[Source: Russell Wilkinson | Graduate Research (Student Administration)]

Researchers – Themis Human Ethics Workbench clean up time!

In October 2020, access to Themis Human Ethics Workbench will be disabled and replaced with a new innovative Infonetica Ethics Review Manager (ERM) system.

Preparations are well underway, and we need your help now to ensure the smooth transition of your research applications to the new system in the coming months.

What we ask of you…

  • Continue using Themis Human Ethics Workbench to submit new human ethics research applications
  • Progress draft applications up until 5 October, as draft applications will not move to the new system
  • Before 5 October, save a copy of any historical/completed applications that you may like to refer to in the future, as these will not move to the new system.
  • To ensure that your projects and attachments are moved into the system please use a unique Project Title and attachment File Names, that are within the maximum 200 character range (including spaces) with no special text or characters.

In the coming weeks, you will receive communications providing further details and instructions to ensure your readiness for the new system.

If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, please send an email to ethics-melbourne@unimelb.edu.au

[Source: Carolyn Neill | Business Services]

Register NOW for Human Ethics Infonetica ERM Training

Researchers and those who submit human ethics applications are encouraged to attend a training session to learn how to use the new Infonetica Ethics Review Manager (ERM) system, that will replace Themis Human Ethics workbench from 5 October 2020.

From 17 September to 14 October, training sessions will be offered over six days, covering the new human ethics application process including how to use Infonetica ERM to submit applications. You will also learn about the new human ethics committee structures and meeting schedule.

To register for a session, visit the Infonetica ERM Training page

If you have any questions, please send an email us to ethics-melbourne@unimelb.edu.au

[Source: Carolyn Neill | Business Services]

International Research Funding Opportunities

We are pleased to announce the opening of our inaugural call of the Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund. Our collaborative research links with Universität Bonn have accelerated in recent years and this new fund aims to support collaboration in new research areas between the two institutions. Up to three applications will be funded and receive up to 20,000 € or $33,000 AUD from each institution.

Follow this link for more information on the joint call with Bonn

In 2019 12 projects received funding in our inaugural call of the MEL–BER Seed Fund. Together with the members of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) – Freie Universität, Humboldt-Universität, Technische Universität and Charité – we have now opened the second round of this call, seeking to strengthen our already existing links and stimulate new research collaborations between the five institutions.

Follow this link for more information on the joint call with BUA

As a reminder, our calls for Joint PhD projects with KU Leuven and Manchester remain open to applications with deadlines for submission approaching.

Follow this link for more information on the joint call with KU Leuven

Follow this link for more information on the joint call with Manchester

[Source: Mark Gregory / Chancellery Research and Enterprise]

Research in Germany Webinar

Date: Thursday September 17
Time: 12.00 pm – 1.15 pm

For more information and registration

In collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service, we would like to invite you to an event showcasing the funding opportunities available to you to collaborate with and conduct research in Germany, including research grants currently open for applications.

This event is for all Melbourne researchers, from graduate researchers and early career researchers through to senior academics, interested or engaged in collaboration with Germany.

Presenters at the event include:
• Prof Justin Zobel - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research);
• Katharina McGrath - Director DAAD Information Centre in Sydney;
• A/Prof Stefan Bode - DAAD Research Ambassador at UoM; and
• Nishant Shandilya - AU-NZ Representative EURAXESS Worldwide.

Presentations will last approximately 1 hour, with 15 minutes for Q&A.

[Source: Mark Gregory / Chancellery Research and Enterprise]

Researcher@Library programs

Supporting graduate researchers and academics through the research process.

The University Library offers high-quality resources and services that support our researchers and graduate students through the complete research lifecycle. We can help maximise your research outcomes.

Check out our Researcher @Library program for workshops and seminars coming up soon!

File Management 101

Date: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Time: 1.00pm-2.00pm

For more information and registration

Using digital technologies effectively has become a mainstream requirement for the modern scholar. But how do you manage a tsunami of file formats, storage systems, metadata standards - not to mention the latest digital tools and cloud services - when all you want to do is focus on your research question? This webinar will help you get organised and start managing your files and information properly. Keep track of your data and become a more efficient researcher with these techniques on improving your file management. A webinar for you and/or your graduate researcher.

[Source: R@L Team | libraryresearch-tickets@unimelb.edu.au]

2020 Visualise Your Thesis Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition:

1st prize ($1,000): Rose MACAULAY, PhD student, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science

2nd prize ($500): Marija DINEVSKA, PhD student, Department of Surgery, MDHS

3rd Prize ($250): Matthew COLEMAN, PhD student, Melbourne Medical School, MDHS

Viewers' Choice ($100): SINGH, Neha – PhD student, Educational Psychology, Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

Rose Macaulay will represent the University in the International VYT Competition!

Like the 3 Minute Thesis, VYT is now a key event on the University calendar and provides an enjoyable and rewarding activity for graduate researchers which builds research communication skills. 

Access the 2020 showcase to view all of this year's entrants and the 2020 winner!

[Source: Visualise Your Thesis team | visualise-thesis@unimelb.edu.au]

APR.Intern | MTP Connect Partnership Announcement

For more information and registration

A new funding partnership between the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute's (AMSI) APR.Intern program and MedTech and Pharma Growth Centre (MTPConnect) will increase workforce capabilities and strengthen research translation within Australia's medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector.

Under the agreement, MTPConnect's REDI initiative will provide 20 businesses in the medtech, biotech and pharmaceutical sector with the opportunity to take on a PhD student through a short-term research placement and benefit from an additional $10,000 subsidy to ease the cost.

More information about the partnership can found in the link below.

If any of your industry partners wish to engage your PhD students under this arrangement please don't hesitate to contact Justin Mabbutt with any questions on the details below.

P: 03 8344 6991 | M : 0413 050 952 

E : j.mabbutt@aprintern.org.au | W: aprintern.org.au

[Source: Justin Mabbutt | APR.Intern]

Digital topics and tools to support your research – 23 Research Things

For more information and registration

The full 23, The 23 Research Things, has now concluded its 2020 run! This 2020 edition featured new contributions from researchers, data scientists, and librarians who introduced digital research tools or topics and outlined why and how these might be integrated into research practice. Visit the 23 Research Things blog to learn some tools and tips and have a look at popular posts for your researchers including Indigenous Knowledges authored by Aurora Milroy, Digital Storytelling, Data Visualisation, and Systematic Reviews.

[Source: 23 Research Things team | gr-library@unimelb.edu.au]

Want to view previous editions of this newsletter?

Previous editions, dating back to the start of 2018, are accessible via the Staff Hub Melbourne Research Supervisor Newsletter page (log in required) or the public facing Melbourne Research Supervisor Newsletter page on the GR Hub.

 

Information for staff working with graduate researchers can be found on the Staff Hub at: https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/students-teaching/graduate-research