Researcher development

Flinders University’s researcher development programs are designed to support career development and help researchers meet their current goals and strategise for future research success.

These programs also establish and strengthen a University-wide research community.

Related resources

Researcher information and training sessions

Linking the research community

Research prizes and awards

ResearchLink

Researcher Mentoring Program for Early Career Researchers

Do you want to become a more successful researcher?
Do you want to build your research profile?
Are you strategising for future academic promotions?
Would you benefit from the support and guidance of an experienced, senior researcher?

The Flinders University Researcher Mentoring Program pairs early career researchers (ECRs) with senior academics. Through the Program, senior researchers support ECRs to develop their research careers, meet their research aspirations and goals, and strategise for future academic success.

This Researcher Mentoring Program also provides an opportunity for ECRs to create a University-wide community with their fellow mentees who are at similar career stages (within 8 years post-PhD). This ECR community serves as a source of support and information for the mentees during the Program and beyond.

This Program runs from March to November each year. In the weeks leading up to the official launch in March, we hold sessions to provide mentees and mentors with information about the Program, expectations, and guidance about mentoring. During the Program, each mentee–mentor pair meet regularly, according to the schedules they decide. In addition, the cohort of mentees gather for three Roundtable Workshops to discuss topics of relevance to their career stage.

For more information including the program overview, eligibility criteria for mentees and mentors, and key dates for 2025, please see the Program Guidelines.

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2025 Program (see details below). Successful applicants will be notified in January 2025.

Testimonials from previous years

From Mentees:

“My mentor has been excellent and provided me with support specific to my role, promotion application and work-life balance.
“I always come away from [our meetings] feeling really positive about my research trajectory and plans to develop my individual research identity.”
“The one-on-one sessions have been incredible! I didn’t realise how much I needed a mentor outside of my own field to help me see the bigger picture of things and take a new approach to challenges.”
“It has been great getting to know a leader from another college and to work through some strategies for advancing my career.”

From Mentors:

“[The program] provides an opportunity for self-reflection and understanding what has worked well for me and where I have previously struggled.”
“The program is extremely well organised and the resources are excellent.”
“[The program] reinforces how far I have come in my own career and what I have to offer others.”
“I have also been learning some skills and strategies from hearing about my mentee’s practices (e.g., efficiencies, time management, and boundaries).”

Applications

Applications are by expression of interest for both mentees and mentors. Applications will close COB Monday 25 November 2024.

To express your interest as a mentee, please complete this survey.
To express your interest as a mentor, please complete this survey.

This Program is coordinated by Dr Jen Beaudry, Manager, (Researcher Training, Development and Communication).

Contact the Program Coordinator

Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

We are pleased to offer the Flinders University Researcher Mentoring Program for Early Career Researchers in 2025.

The Program is an opportunity for early career researchers (ECRs) to benefit from the support and valuable skills and knowledge of senior researchers at Flinders. This Program has served more than 280 ECRs since 2012. The feedback from the mentees has been consistently positive, highlighting improvements to their research profiles and well-being. I personally participated as a mentor in this program and found it an extremely rewarding experience.

The University values the “culture of care” and wealth of experience that our senior academic staff bring to mentoring our early career researchers. I strongly encourage researchers at all stages of their careers to participate in this Program either as mentees or mentors.

Professor Raymond Chan
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

First Nations Researchers Collective

The First Nations Researchers Collective at Flinders University provides a supporting, reciprocal network to share knowledge, foster collaboration, enhance opportunities, and build capacity for emerging and established Indigenous researchers.

The First Nations Researchers Collective at Flinders University (established December 2021) emerged from an iterative co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement, and Research Development and Support. The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) is sponsoring the Collective.

All Flinders University researchers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, including Honours and HDR students, are invited to be part of the Collective. The Collective is led by: Associate Professor Natalie Harkin (CHASS, Bedford Park), Associate Professor Karla Canuto (CMPH, Darwin), Research Fellow Lorna Murakami-Gold (CMPH, Alice Springs), and Lecturer and PhD Student Azra Coombe (CHASS, Bedford Park). Jen Beaudry (RDS) and Kerry Ludwig (OISE) provide administrative and strategic support.

The First Nations Researchers Collective is now underpinned by the Indigenous Research Strategy. The Collective contributes to Priority 1: Indigenous Research Excellence, Capacity and Leadership.

View the Indigenous Research Strategy

Key points

The content and concept will be led by the Indigenous research community.
The teams from the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement and Research Development and Support will collaborate to develop the framework for the program and will provide administrative support.
This co-design approach is critical to the success of the program: It ensures the Indigenous Researcher Collective is shaped by Indigenous voices without adding to the overall workload of Indigenous researchers.
This First Nations Researcher Collective is aligned with Flinders’ Reconciliation Action Plan (Action 10). The Collective is also reflected in, and links to the work of, the Indigenous Research Strategy (link above).

Program format

Indigenous researchers will get together to discuss specific research- and career-related issues; four sessions will be held each year.
Up to four Indigenous researchers will be leaders in the Collective (identified through Expression of Interest). The leaders will rotate the responsibility of planning and chairing each session.
Indigenous and non-Indigenous presenters will be invited to speak, as appropriate and as decided by the leaders in the Collective.
The sessions of the Collective will virtually connect local with rural and remote researchers with hubs in Bedford Park, Darwin, and Alice Springs. Once per year, the rural and remote researchers will be flown to Bedford Park for an in-person Summit.
Between sessions, we will provide an online forum for interaction and collaboration.

If you would like to participate in the Collective or get more information, please email:

researchers.collective@flinders.edu.au

Leadership Development Programs

We collaborate with external agencies to provide a range of opportunities that strengthen the culture of research leadership at Flinders. These programs are tailored to the needs and experiences of researchers at different stages of their careers.

These programs are selective and only available to researchers nominated by their College research leadership team.

Building Research Leaders for ECRs

Delivered by Hugh Kearns from ThinkWell, this program is designed for early career researchers (ECRs) to develop the skills, knowledge and attitude required to become a research leader.

Duration: 3 full days spread throughout the year

EOI form

Essence of Research Leadership for MCRs

Delivered by Mark Douglas from ETHOS, this program is designed to guide the careers of mid-career researchers (MCRs) toward building influence and exploring leadership roles.

Duration: 2.5 days spread throughout the year

EOI form

Research Coaching Australia for Senior Researchers

In this program, senior researchers are paired with retired research leaders from Research Coaching Australia. The coaches individually support senior researchers with their goals for research leadership.

Includes: 3 1-hour coaching sessions

EOI form

If you would like to be considered for one of these programs, you are encouraged to discuss your goals, career plans and suitability with your College research leadership team. You can also complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form that will be taken into consideration during the nomination period.

Nominations for the 2025 programs will be finalised early in the calendar year.

NHMRC Investigator Bootcamp Program

The Research Development (Health) Team is pleased to announce a new program for NHMRC Investigator Grant applicants.

Launching for the first time in 2025, the Bootcamp aims to maximise applicants’ odds of success in NHMRC Investigator Grants by having a structured process to prepare an application and equipping participants with grant writing skills.

The Program will offer a range of experiential learning opportunities, ranging from interactive sessions to self-paced learning, mentoring, and formal and informal group activities. Participants will gain skills and strategies to enhance their competitiveness for fellowships and grants, including benchmarking, pitching, reviewing, and writing; develop an increased understanding of your research program, achievements, and trajectory; and complete drafts for the key components of an NHMRC Investigator application before the round opens.

The Bootcamp will take off in early-mid February, with activities running until the NHMRC Investigator Grants round opens (anticipated June 2025). There are limited places available, with priority given to those applying in the upcoming round, and individuals with highly competitive track records as determined by the Colleges’ Deans of Research.

View the program outline and timeline for 2025 here.

Register your interest by 31 January 2025 via the link below.

EOI form

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Dr Marina Zupan, Research Development Officer at marina.zupan@flinders.edu.au.

Related resources

Researcher Mentoring Program for Early Career Researchers

Testimonials from previous years

Applications

Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

First Nations Researchers Collective

Leadership Development Programs

Building Research Leaders for ECRs

Essence of Research Leadership for MCRs

Research Coaching Australia for Senior Researchers

NHMRC Investigator Bootcamp Program

Need help?

Research Systems and Platforms

Follow Flinders

FOREVER FEARLESS

Researcher development

Related resources

Researcher Mentoring Program for Early Career Researchers

Testimonials from previous years

Applications

Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

First Nations Researchers Collective

Leadership Development Programs

Building Research Leaders for ECRs

Essence of Research Leadership for MCRs

Research Coaching Australia for Senior Researchers

NHMRC Investigator Bootcamp Program

Need help?

Research Systems and Platforms

Follow Flinders

FOREVER FEARLESS

This website uses cookies