Student Research Awards

Applications open 1 September and close 31 October each year. 

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Postgraduate and honours students conducting ecological research may apply for these Student Research Awards to cover expenses such as field travel, research assistance, equipment or consumables. The maximum individual award is $1,500. Ten awards of up to $1,500 are generally offered in each year.

To be eligible, applicants must be a member of the ESA and not have previously won a research award from the ESA. In addition, applicants must be studying at an Australian institution or conducting a significant part of their research on Australasian ecosystems.

Applications are assessed by two reviewers who rank the applications using the following criteria:

  • Was the significance of the research area/question clearly articulated
  • Was there a clear hypothesis/hypotheses being evaluated?
  • Did the experimental approach (including experimental design) address the hypothesis?
  • Was the method of analysis appropriate to the experimental design and question(s)
  • Were the projected timeline and budget appropriate?

Applicants are also to provide two referees in support of their proposal. Referees should comment on both the quality of student and project. We are interested in distinguishing enthusiastic, independent researchers. Referees don’t have to be independent – it is fine for supervisors to provide references for their students.

** The page limit for applications is 4 pages. That is, 2 pages to outline your proposal and budget, including references to relevant literature, and 2 pages for your references (ask your referees to stick to 1 page each).

Successful applicants will be required to provide a report of their activities for inclusion in ESA communications.

PLEASE NOTE: As these funds are relatively small research grants, we expect that the total funds provided for the student’s research be allocated for the work of the student and not used for general university administration or indirect cost recovery purposes. We consider that the Government should be providing funds for that purpose.

For further information email Diana Kuchinke () or contact Gail Spina