Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships

Appointed to: UOW School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

Project Title: “AI-driven design, synthesis and structural studies of small molecule tool compounds”

UOW Mentor: Professor Danielle Skropeta

Dr Jennifer Baker completed her PhD in early 2020 at the University of Newcastle, focussing on the design, synthesis and characterisation of small molecules targeting the Arylhydrocarbon Receptor for the treatment of breast cancer. Since completing her doctorate, Jennifer worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Newcastle in the laboratory of Professor Adam McCluskey, and more recently as an independent researcher investigating the role of the histone lysine demethylases in glioblastoma. Jennifer is highly experienced in drug design and use of in silico molecular modelling techniques, synthetic chemistry and the application of flow chemistry methodologies to the synthesis of biologically active molecules. She recently returned from a Fulbright Fellowship, where she travelled to Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, to train in structural biology methods under Professor Gabriel Lander. 

Dr Jennifer Baker (ORCID)

“I am excited to utilise my research skills in computational drug design, organic synthesis and cryo-electron microscopy during my VC Research Fellowship at UOW.”

Appointed to: UOW School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Project Title: “Yindyamarra Wula: Review of National Higher Education Indigenous Academic Pipeline, Research and Graduate Attributes to build a Model of Best Practice”

UOW Mentors: Senior Professor Sue Bennett, Professor Grace McCarthy, Ms Jaymee Beveridge

As a proud Wiradjuri woman, Dr Stacey Kim Coates is an accomplished Indigenous academic, executive leader and education sector specialist passionate about driving improved educational and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Stacey previously worked across a number of fields including child welfare, health and employment, before moving into the education sector. As well as bringing both extensive disciplinary and cultural knowledge and expertise to UOW, Stacey will examine the degree to which Indigenous cultures and knowledges are woven into the fabric of the Australian higher education system. This project aims to contribute to the delivery of lasting reform in Australia’s higher education system in order to meet the current and future needs of the nation. Stacey believes the rigorous and detailed Indigenous-led investigation of current practices surrounding Indigenous knowledges and research across the Australian higher education sector will provide a model of best practice for Australian universities, in terms of how to build a sustainable pipeline of Indigenous early career researchers, elevate Indigenous research outputs and implement Indigenous graduate attributes in a meaningful manner.

Dr Stacey Coates (ORCID)

“In my opinion, education is the single most important key to prosperity and a better future. However, education gets life only when it inspires people to take action, initiate a change, or transform something with what they have learned.”

Appointed to: UOW School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Project Title: “Understanding loneliness and improving belonging for vulnerable populations”

UOW Mentor: Professor Peter Kelly

Dr Isabella Ingram has led international research focusing on loneliness and substance use, with her work leading to a $1.3M competitive grant. Isabella is a clinical psychologist who has a strong commitment to hearing the voices of those with lived experience. Her work to date has been guided and strengthened by service consumer consultations. Isabella will develop and expand upon a program of research which is aims to reduce loneliness and its associated effects for people who are particularly vulnerable to loneliness. This project will involve qualitative and quantitative work with a diverse range of populations including people with substance use disorders, those who experience infertility, and people who experience other chronic health conditions.

Dr Isabella Ingram (ORCID)

“I’m looking forward to joining a community of bright minds at UOW. The collegiality, collaboration, and ongoing support offered by the University is a standout for me – and who can look past the ducks”.

Appointed to: UOW School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

Project Title: “Physics and Data-Driven Approaches for Biomolecular Condensates”

UOW Mentor: Professor Haibo Yu

Dr Qiang Zhu is a computational chemist with extensive experience in molecular modelling and methods development for chemical and biological systems. Over past nine years, Qiang has made significant contributions to the field through innovative research and collaboration with top-tier research institutes. This project explores biomolecular condensates (BMCs), essential cellular compartments formed through liquid-liquid phase separation, crucial for cellular organisation and implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. Utilising advance machine-learning techniques and molecular simulations across different resolutions, the research aims to uncover the complex mechanisms behind BMC formation and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Dr Qiang Zhu (ORCID)

“I am eager to join UOW and delve into the intricate world of biomolecular condensates, using cutting-edge techniques to advance our understanding and potentially contribute to therapeutic breakthroughs in neurodegenerative diseases.”

Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowship applications must be submitted via the UOW Jobs Website. 

It is essential that candidates read the Guidelines carefully to understand and prepare all the elements of the application. Please note that you are not required to provide responses to the selection criteria contained in the Position Description, and can simply enter ‘yes’ in the box under Application Questions.  Responses to selection criteria for this Fellowship (as outlined in the Guidelines) will be part of the research proposal.

To upload your combined pdf to the application, you can drop the document in either the Cover Letter or Resume option. You do not need to add a separate cover letter or resume, just the combined pdf as instructed in the scheme Guidelines.

The Guidelines are available in the Documents and Guidelines menu on this page. Separate Guidelines are provided for each Scheme.

The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Fellowship is open to candidates of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage ONLY. All other candidates can apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowship only. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage candidates can apply for either fellowship, or both, depending on which scheme best meets their needs.

To be eligible this year, candidates must have been awarded a Doctorate on or before the closing date of applications. 

The Scheme’s definition of “awarded” is:

Have met all the conditions for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy, Professional Doctorate, or other equivalent qualification recognised as meeting the AQF Level 10 criteria. For qualifications other than Doctor of Philosophy, a substantial research component or equivalent outputs will be required to be competitive. If all of the conditions for awarding of the degree have been met but the graduation ceremony has not yet taken place, a letter from the Postgraduate Student Office stating this will be accepted.

So if your thesis has been submitted but not yet examined and/or awarded by the closing date for applications, unfortunately, you will not be eligible this year. There is no exemption process from this requirement as the assessment panel will be receiving applications in the week following the closing date, meaning all eligibility must be met by that date.

Yes a 2025 round is expected. Applications are anticipated to open in February and close in April for candidates who have been awarded a Doctorate prior to the Scheme closing date. Successful candidates will commence from July 2025.

You must approach and secure a UOW Mentor before commencing your application. You can identify and make contact with a UOW researcher working in your field of research by searching UOW Scholars. You should start a discussion on your suitability and your likely competitiveness for the Fellowship. UOW academic staff will be expecting potential candidates to get in touch. Please be aware that UOW academics can support one candidate only per Scheme in this year’s round.

The UOW Mentor Report template is available in the Documents and Guidelines menu on this page.

Find a UOW Mentor

You will need to nominate just one UOW academic to be your UOW Mentor, that is, to be the primary person who writes and signs off on the Mentor Report. If the application is successful, you will most likely be employed in that Mentor’s Faculty. However, you can certainly have additional informal mentors and research collaborators, and those people can contribute statements to the Mentor Report if you wish (please check that your primary Mentor is happy to do this).

The UOW Mentor can be any suitable UOW researcher, either in a paid, honorary or Emeritus appointment. The suitability of the Mentor for the candidate will be considered by the selection committee, in terms of their experience and expertise in the research area and their availability and commitment to supporting the candidate over the three-year fellowship.

Where the Mentor has an honorary or Emeritus appointment, another UOW academic staff member (in a paid position) must be identified in the Mentor report who will connect the candidate into organisational support processes and systems where needed. This could be the Head of School.

You should select an external referee who knows your research very well, either a former PhD supervisor or current/former academic employment supervisor would be perfect. There is a template for this report in the Documents and Guidelines menu on this page.

As a UOW Doctoral graduate you are only eligible to apply if you have held a postdoctoral research/academic position with another organisation after the award of that degree, for a period equivalent to 12 months full-time as at the closing date of applications.

If you are a UOW Doctoral graduate and already hold a continuing paid position at UOW you are not eligible to apply for this fellowship scheme.

Yes you are eligible, as long as you also meet the other eligibility requirements outlined in the Guidelines.

Yes, international applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply, as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Guidelines.

If your Doctoral degree was awarded earlier than 30 April 2019 (Postdoctoral VC Fellowship Scheme) or earlier than 30 April 2014 (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander VC Fellowship Scheme) you must submit a Confirmation of Eligibility Request by email to research-services@uow.edu.au, attention Director Research Services Office.

The last date to submit a request is 5 pm Monday 15 April 2024. We recommend you submit your request as soon as possible (please don’t wait for the cut-off date) to ensure you receive an early response and have as much time as possible to work on your application.

For each career interruption, your request should clearly state the type/s (using the numbering given in the list in section 3 in the Guidelines), duration in weeks, whether the interruption was full-time during that period or part-time, and details (excluding any personal or sensitive information). Laying this information out in a table format would be ideal. Please calculate the total period of interruption you are claiming to demonstrate your eligibility. If you think attaching a CV would help explain your situation you are welcome to do this.

UOW will assess your request within a couple of days and contact you to confirm you are either eligible or ineligible to apply this year.

You do not need to provide evidence at the time of requesting an eligibility confirmation, or as part of the application process.

If you are shortlisted and invited to an interview, you will be asked to submit documentary evidence of your claims to UOW (may include employment contracts, medical certificates, etc as relevant to the career interruptions).

You do not need the right to work in Australia to apply for the UOW Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, as visa nomination will be arranged for successful candidates if required. Please note that the UOW Vice-Chancellor’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Early-Mid Career Research Fellowship is open to Indigenous Australian candidates only.

The current UOW Strategic Plan includes the research strategy at Goal 2. In addition, you can align your research project and application with UOW research priorities by working with a well-established research centre or institute. Your selected UOW Mentor will also be able to advise on the research priorities of the Faculty.

There is no template for the Project Proposal and CV. You will just need to ensure you follow the instructions (including formatting requirements) noted at section 5 (clauses 30 - 32) of the Guidelines.