BUILDING AN ACADEMIC TRACK RECORD THROUGH GRANTS/AWARDS

Dr Tim Schultz, Adelaide Nursing School

BackgroundPhD (2002) “Oxygen transport in varanid lizards during exercise”• 2004-08: Scientific Assistant to Executive

Director, Joanna Briggs Institute, Royal Adelaide Hospital

• 2008-15: Technical Director, Australian Patient Safety Foundation

• 2016-2017: Research Fellow and Postgraduate Coordinator, School of Nursing, University of Adelaide (p/time)

• 2018- : Senior Research Fellow and Postgraduate Coordinator, Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide (p/time)

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Grants since 2010 (n=21)Cat 1 (Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR) n=2• HCF Research FoundationCat 2 (Other public sector research income) n=8• SA Health; Royal Adelaide Hospital• Australian Commission on Safety and

Quality in Health Care • Australia - Indonesia Institute Cat 3 (Industry and other research income) n=11

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Cat 3 Funders• World Health Organisation• Biogen Australia and New Zealand • University of Adelaide• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of

Radiologists• Australasian College for Emergency

Medicine• Heart Foundation SA• Aus Aid Alumni Program• Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation

(SA)

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Grant characteristics

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Category n Mean ($) SD1 2 178,764 187,2852 8 58,293 54,0243 11 65,000 60,829Grand Total 21 73,280 76,587

Position on grant

Category 1 2 3 4 5Grand Total

1 0 1 0 0 1 22 5 0 1 2 0 83 0 9 2 0 0 11

Grand Total 5 10 3 2 1 21

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Start year

Some reflectionsSquare pegs and round holes• Don’t invent a project to fit a funder• Don’t force a team outside of its comfort

zoneIt’s all about the PI and the teamBe clear about why you’re going for the grant and what you’ll get out of it if you get it• Can it be published?• Is it more about revenue or track record?What, if anything, can be done unfunded?

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EnablersTeam make-up• Needs a:

• A “star”• A “worker bee”• A “methods guru”• A clear lead and host organisation• Previous success and interconnectedness

Working with “stars”NetworksPanels / preferred providers (cat 2, 3)Starting small (eg pilot data, travel, equipment) and showing clear progressionStrategic

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ChallengesThe funding environmentGetting used to rejection – and, unfortunately, little feedbackTimelines (for applications, for projects)Politics and changeClash between university and industrySuccess - project managing grants

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Advice about winning grants• Seek out help (colleagues,

supervisors, University)• Trust your intuition• Follow the instructions• Tell a compelling story• Be open to opportunities and

proactive• Be really clear on what you need,

from whom and when• Look for other funders

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