Australian APEC Study Centre continues to support women in research

The fellowship provides financial support for high-achieving female researchers from developing APEC economies to pursue research in partnership with Australian education and research institutions.

The 2016 winners are undertaking research across fields including optical science, flora, wastewater treatment, media, marine law, energy efficient housing, industrial engineering, neurodevelopment disorders and gender-based violence.

One of the winners is Dr Cheryll Ruth R. Soriano from the Philippines, who will be joining researchers at RMIT examining new media use in slum communities.

The fellowship scheme, which was launched in 2015, aims to encourage the mobility of post-doctorate female researchers throughout the APEC region.

It is designed to assist with the particular challenges female researchers face in undertaking cross-border research activities such as lack of flexibility and financial support for child care.

Each year up to 10 fellowships are awarded to facilitate a research project of between one and four months.

Within the pool of successful recipients, two fellowships are offered to early career researchers with less than five years of professional research experience.

“As a result of the very high calibre of fellows in 2015 two places were set aside in 2016 for researchers at the beginning of their career with the aim of encouraging up-and-coming researchers to apply,” Margot Kilgour, Senior Manager, Australian APEC Study Centre, RMIT, said.

“We have also kept flexibility in mind, with extra financial benefits offered to fellows who have dependent children, something that is usually a barrier to women researchers.”

The Australian APEC Study Centre administers the fellowship, which is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

View all the 2016 Australian-APEC Women in Research Fellows.

Story: Ainslie Logsdon