Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions regarding Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships.

Yes, you may apply. However, you must be awarded your PhD prior to accepting an offer of employment. Successful candidates who are offered a position must be able to demonstrate they have met all the requirements for completion of their PhD program, be able to adopt the title of Doctor, and be able to produce a statement of academic completion upon request.

Yes, RMIT accepts applications for Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowships from local and international researchers. RMIT is an approved sponsor for visas and all offers will be subject to Australian Work Rights being granted. Further information can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

RMIT recruits with an emphasis on merit over quantity of output. Applicants will be invited to provide a statement for consideration of achievement relative to research opportunity as part of the application process. The following are examples of significant career interruptions which may be considered in Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship applications: carer’s responsibilities, parental leave and illness. As part of your application for a fellowship, you will be asked to discuss career achievements relative to your research opportunity.

RMIT wants to ensure our people have the flexibility to take care of their life just as they take care of work. The University supports flexible work arrangements and will also consider requests for part-time positions. 

Yes, you can apply for an RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship while you hold a research fellowship at another institution. Please ensure that any other fellowships you hold are listed in your CV as part of your application.

No, you should establish which scheme is most suited to you given the eligibility criteria noted in the position descriptions for each scheme, as well your skills and experience and apply for that fellowship.

RMIT staff members with a continuing academic position are not eligible to apply for a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship.

RMIT staff on casual or fixed-term contracts who meet the Fellowship’s eligibility criteria, are eligible to apply for a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship.

Yes, there is no limit on how many times you can apply for a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship. If a previous application was unsuccessful and you have developed your academic track record and/or gained further experience since that application, RMIT encourages you to apply again.

To apply for a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship, you will

  • Visit the fellowship website
  • Register your interest: We will ask you to align to an Enabling Impact Platforms (EIP), research priority area and academic school by Sunday 18 August 2019.
  • Stage 1. Full Assessment: All eligible applicants will be sent an initial application to complete by Sunday 25 August 2019. We will ask you questions such as your motivation for applying and how it aligns to the relevant EIP, your research outputs, detailed information on your career, plus a copy of your Curriculum Vitae. In some responses, you will be required to record a short video or a written response or upload an attachment.
  • Stage 2. Research Plan or Other Documentation: All candidates who are selected for progression to stage two will be asked to complete a research plan or other documentation (eg statement addressing selection criteria, or Summary of outcomes of PhD thesis) by 22 September 2019.  Details of documentation required will be advised to all Stage 2 applicants.
  • Stage 3. Interview: All candidates selected to progress to interview will be invited to complete a short work style preferences questionnaire prior to attending the interview. It is anticipated that interviews will take place across October 2019.
  • Stage 4. Checks & Offers: All candidates selected for the scheme will be asked to undertake reference checks prior to offer.  It is anticipated that checks and offers will occur from November 2019.

Assessors take into consideration:

  • Research Outputs relative to opportunity (including publications, external competitive research funding, research translation)
  • Collaboration, Communication, Engagement and Leadership capability and experience, including experience in engaging with industry, community and government stakeholders
  • Track record of conducting collaboration projects across disciplines
  • Ability to plan, develop, and engage in high quality, impactful research projects
  • Ability to contribute significant knowledge to the research priority areas that RMIT’s Enabling Impact Platforms focus on

Please refer to the selection criteria outlined in the position description for full details.

RMIT is committed in driving progression towards gender equality and ensuring the diversity in our organisation is balanced at every level.

RMIT has joined the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena SWAN Program to support gender equity and diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines. See our Diversity & Inclusion page. This program promotes women’s career development in STEMM and provides support to encourage staff success. Meet our Women in STEMM.

Female Only Recruitment for Senior Research Fellowships and Research Fellowships

To address the under representation of women in STEMM, the Senior Research/Research Fellowships program will only be accepting female applicants for the following schools, subject to alignment with the research priorities of RMIT’s Enabling Impact Platforms (EIPs):

  • School of Business, IT and Logistics
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Science

The Section 12 of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act permits the University to conduct female only recruitment in addressing the substantive imbalance of female representation in Science, Engineering and Business, IT and Logistics schools.

PLEASE NOTE that the Postdoctoral Fellowships and Indigenous Research Fellowships are open to all applicants across all Schools.

RMIT is calling for applicants to undertake research in an area aligned with one or more of RMIT’s Enabling Impact Platforms. Information on Enabling Impact Platforms and the associated research priority areas are available on the EIP webpage.

 

All RMIT staff can access professional development opportunities as part of their employment. 

The Indigenous Research Fellowship is an identified opportunity under ‘Special Measures’ of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act 2010. This means that only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply. Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage is required and you will need to submit this during the ‘Register Your Interest’ process.

If you need support with confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage, please email ngarara.willim@rmit.edu.au The Ngarara Willim Centre supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and student within the University. 

Contact us

For further enquiries please email researchfellowships@rmit.edu.au.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.