2012 UNSW VC Postdoctoral Fellowships: FASS application Process
Posted on: 04.06.2012
Background
The guidelines regarding 2012 UNSW VC postdoctoral applications have been announced. Successful applicants will be supported for two years (with the possibility of a third year extension, based on performance) at a Level A or B salary by UNSW Central (75%) and at a School/Centre level (25%) and with $10,000 per year (covered by Central) project cost budget.
FASS is able to submit 3 applications to UNSW Central for assessment. Applications, therefore, need to be vetted at school/centre and faculty levels by the process outlined below (see table).
Eligibility
- Applicants must be external to UNSW
- PhD conferred between 1 Jan 2008 – 31 Dec 2011
- ARC DECRA or other candidates can apply, but must disclose other applications
- Must have HoS/CD support and the support of a mentor
- Must be willing to seek external funding during candidature
Selection criteria
- Excellence of work; track record relative to opportunity; new expertise to the school (50%)
- Quality of the research environment, facilities and people who applicant will work with (30%)
- Quality of research project and its alignment to UNSW research strengths and potential to deliver quality outcomes (20%)
FASS Expressions of Interest
Expressions of Interest from potential candidates should include the following:
- a brief CV
- a brief statement of proposed research including alignment with UNSW research strengths in the context of the School/Centre research profile
- External funding sources that will be sought during fellowship
- The name of a school/centre based mentor
FASS and UNSW process and timeline
| Process | Responsibility | Date |
| Research Convenors work with Heads of Schools/Centre Directors to identify 1-2 talented, competitive research candidates who would complement the faculty/school/centre research strengths | Research conveners and Heads of School/ Centre Directors | May – June 2012 |
| VC postdoc applications open online and are advertised | UNSW | 18 June 2012* |
| Potential candidates provide an EoI to the HoS/Centre Director. It must include:
1. CV 2. Short (no more than 1 page) proposal of the post-doc research area 3. A paragraph on how this fits with the UNSW and faculty/school/centre research strengths 4. Name of an academic mentor |
Candidates | 12 July 2012 |
| HoS/CDs to forward school/Centre EoIs that they would be willing to support to the ADR.
HoS/CDs are advised to immediately reject poorly written and non-competitive applications by advising applicants that they will not be shortlisted. |
HoS/CDs | 13 July 2012 |
| ADR provides feedback to the HoS/CD about competitiveness relative to all applicants. HoS/CD makes decision as to which candidates should complete a full application | ADR | 16 July 2012 |
| Approved candidates complete full application | Candidates | 17 July – 22 Aug 2012 |
| Closing date for applicants to contact Heads of Schools and submit completed applications | Candidates | 23 Aug 2012* |
| Heads of Schools to notify applicants if they have been shortlisted for consideration | HoS/CDs | 3 Sept 2012* |
| HoS/CDs recommend a maximum of 2 (two) ranked applications to the Faculty Associate Dean (Research) | HoS/CDs | 5 Sept 2012* |
| FASS ranking of all school/centre applicants | Sub-group of the Research Committee | 11 Sept 2012* |
| Finalising of applications into format required | Candidates with mentors | 12-21 Sept 2012 |
| Dean approves final top 3 for submission to UNSW | Dean | 24 Sept 2012 |
| ADR submits to top 3 FASS applications to UNSW Central with a justification of their ranking | ADR | 26 Sept 2012* |
| Referees Reports called for on final short-listed applicants (closing date of 10 October to receive Referees Reports); Referees Reports are available to assist Central UNSW Fellowship Committee as required. | UNSW and referees | 28 Sept – 10 Oct 2012* |
| Central UNSW Fellowship Committee ranks applications | UNSW | 23-31 Oct 2012* |
| Announcement of 12 UNSW VC Postdoctoral Fellowships. | UNSW | c. week commencing 5 Nov 2012* (tbc) |
| Latest date for Fellows to take up position at UNSW | Successful candidates | 31 Mar 2013* |
*UNSW Central fixed dates
