ARC DERC Award

YOUR OPPORTUNITY 

The Centre for the Health Economy, through the Faculty of Business and Economics is inviting outstanding international early career researchers to apply for an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). 

This represents an excellent opportunity for early career researchers at the forefront of their field, to work at a leading Australian university, to develop their international research profile, and to build a career as a high impact research and innovation leader of the future. 

Researchers from around the world are eligible to apply if they have been awarded a PhD within the last 5 years (after 1 March 2011), or earlier if they can demonstrate periods of significant career interruption (maximum period is award of PhD within the last 9 years). 

PRESTIGIOUS, EXCELLENT REMUNERATION AND SUPPORT 

DECRAs are highly prestigious, and when you join the Macquarie University research community you will enjoy strong institutional support. 

The Awards include ARC funding of up to approximately AU$135,000 per year over three years on a full-time basis. The per annum salary contribution from the ARC is approximately AU$95,000, including 30% on-costs, and up to AU$40,000 per annum for project costs. In addition to the ARC support, Macquarie will provide a highly competitive package that includes salary top-up, supplementation for project costs, access to internal funding, career development, international study programs, and cutting edge infrastructure. The cost of visa applications for successful applicants is also covered. 

For details on the outstanding support package Macquarie will provide to you, please contact the Faculty of Business and Economics Research Manager, Kerry Todd-Smith. 

ABOUT THE DECRA FUNDING SCHEME 

The ARC is the peak Australian Government body that supports the highest-quality fundamental and applied research through national competitive grant schemes across all disciplines (clinical and other medical research is primarily supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council). 

The DECRA scheme aims to: 

  • Support and advance promising early career researchers 
  • Promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways 
  • Focus research effort in the research priority areas to improve research capacity and policy outcomes 
  • Enable research and research training in high quality and supportive environments 

Given the prestige of the DECRA scheme, it is highly competitive. Up to 200 awards are offered each year – an approximate 15% success rate. Success in the DECRA scheme requires: 

  • A highly significant and innovative project that advances knowledge, with outcomes that deliver cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits to Australia 
  • An outstanding research track record that places you at the top of your discipline for your stage of career 
  • A highly supportive and collaborative research environment that provides you with the intellectual and physical resources required to develop your independent research career 
  • A project that is feasible within the budget and timeframe of the award and represents value for money 

ABOUT MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY 

Macquarie University is one of Australia’s top 10 universities and is located on a large, green campus within the Macquarie Park Technology Cluster, just a short train ride north of the Sydney CBD. Macquarie’s recent 50-year anniversary highlights the University’s swift ascension into the ranks of world-leading research-intensive universities. Macquarie’s research and teaching excellence spans a diverse range of disciplines and is a testament to the University’s commitment to continued excellence and innovation. 

Under the Macquarie University 2015 – 2024 Strategic Research Framework, Macquarie has committed to five Future-shaping Research Priorities that will guide University investment in research over the next ten years. 

These priorities encompass multidisciplinary challenge areas that build on and expand the world- leading research strengths of Macquarie University, maximising national benefit and leading to world-changing impact. They are: 

  • HEALTHY PEOPLE: Pioneering health, integrated healthcare and lifelong-learning for wellness in our ageing world 
  • RESILIENT SOCIETIES: Understanding cultures in our changing world and building ethical, just and inclusive communities 
  • PROSPEROUS ECONOMIES: Strengthening economic productivity to promote prosperity in our diverse world
  • SECURE PLANET: Sustaining our interdependent world and exploring our place in the universe 
  • INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES: Advancing our interconnected world with frontier technologies, systems, designs and creative practice 

Internationally engaged and collaborative Macquarie University has approximately 40,000 students, 10,000 of whom are international. Macquarie researchers have a strong track record in collaboration, nationally and internationally. Macquarie is the 13th largest university in the nation, however in 2013, it was ranked 5th in Australia for the proportion of publications co-authored with researchers from another country. 45% of Macquarie publications were co-authored with researchers from another Australian university or institution and 44% of Macquarie’s publications were co-authored with researchers from another country. Furthermore, 85% of Macquarie's research activity is regarded by the Australian Government as being of world standard or higher. 

FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS 

Macquarie’s Faculty of Business and Economics is a unique research environment. Research in the Faculty spans a wide range of disciplines including: 

  • Accounting and Corporate Governance 
  • Applied Finance and Actuarial Studies 
  • Economics 
  • Marketing and Management 

As one of Australia's leading research institutions, the Faculty provides research and analysis services to numerous corporations and government bodies. Research engagements are a key priority and the Faculty ensures researchers are well funded and supported, and that they have the flexibility to be truly innovative in their approach. 

The Faculty hosts a number of Research Centres that promote and support world-class research with our business and community partners. These include: 

  • International Governance and Performance Research Centre 
  • The Centre for Financial Risk 
  • The Centre for Workforce Futures 
  • Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy

CONSIDERING APPLYING LATER THIS YEAR?

Download the MQU information sheet