AINSE POST-GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

2008 Guidelines for the Preparation of Applications

These notes are intended to assist applicants complete the on-line application form.

GENERAL

The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) makes AINSE Post-Graduate Research Awards (PGRA) in support of projects undertaken by its member universities which have an identifiable focus on nuclear and nuclear-related applications and /or on the use of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facilities and expertise and others as listed in the AINSE Users Guide. PGRAs are made at the discretion of the AINSE Council, through its Executive Committee.

AINSE Post-Graduate Research Awards have three components

• Stipend
• Award for Travel and Accommodation
• Award for Lucas Heights Costs

Stipend

The stipend during tenure of the award will be at rates announced by AINSE. The rate applicable from 1 January 2008 will be $7,500 pa.

Responsibility for establishing taxation liability lies with the recipient of an AINSE award.

Award for Lucas Heights Costs

Charges apply to the use of all AINSE supported facilities (ASF) and services, hereinafter referred to as "facility costs". AINSE will contribute towards facility costs which, at the discretion of the co-supervisor, may include the purchase of equipment, materials, and computing time essential to the research project. The supporting Award provided for these purposes is $5,500 pa, which will be paid direct to the university. Should facility costs exceed the supporting Award, ANSTO will fund the additional costs involved subject to prior arrangements being made with the student's ANSTO co-supervisor. The co-supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that funds from either the supporting Award or his/her own program area are available to cover any facility costs in other program areas.

Award for Travel and Accommodation

AINSE will provide a credit, to cover travel and accommodation expenses associated with an attachment or visit to Lucas Heights during the year of the Award. The mode of travel will be left to the student's discretion but the travel component of the Award will be calculated on the basis of the most economical means of transport between the student's university and Lucas Heights. In the case of students based in Sydney or Wollongong, a daily travel allowance is based on the distance between the University and Lucas Heights. Since the cost of travel and/or accommodation may change during the year, the AINSE award shall be regarded as a contribution towards these expenses, and shall not be adjusted to reflect the actual expenses incurred.

The accommodation component of the Award for an AINSE PGRA will be based on four weeks accommodation at the Lucas Heights Motel.

GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM

Each application should be prepared by the research student responsible for the project using the electronic form on AINSE’s home page in consultation with their university supervisor and ANSTO co- supervisor. The completed form should then be signed by the candidate and the designated person from the university Research Office.

The signed original plus EIGHT COPIES of the completed application form and documentation must be forwarded through the Registrar, or appropriate office, to reach AINSE by the closing date 15 April 2008. Applications received after this date will not be considered in the present series.

AINSE will advise the member universities of the awards made in the current series of AINSE Awards before 30 June.

Web Browser

A version of Netscape or Explorer version 4 or later is required for the use of the web-based Application Form. Earlier versions do not support this application form. Our system will check and notify you if you need to upgrade your web browser. It will point you to an address to obtain updated versions. The process will take more than 10 minutes.

If you are unable to make modifications and there are no IT personnel to assist please contact Dr Dennis Mather (telephone: 9717 3436). You should first complete the web-based form. When it is finalised it can be printed for signing. You should then press submit and forward the signed copy by mail.

PIN

To access the electronic application form you need a PIN. This reduces data entry requirements, ensures consistency in data collection, and maintains privacy. However, it also means that your details currently held by AINSE must be correct. If you do not have a PIN or if these have changed please complete a personal details form which can be accessed from the AINSE home page. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgment within 24 hours confirming your updated details and PIN, if you are a new applicant. Please note that a PIN need only be issued to the Chief Investigator who will complete and submit the application.

Candidate

A candidate for an AINSE PGRA must be nominated by the member university of AINSE at which tenure of the Award is proposed. As a prerequisite for applying for an Award, overseas students must produce evidence of having obtained the necessary entry permits to Australia.

Other factors that will be considered by AINSE include the undergraduate record of the applicant, the degree of collaboration with ANSTO or other ASF facilities and the likelihood of additional funding from other sources.

When filling in the form click on the ‘save’ button in the bottom left hand corner frequently. Once this has been done at least once two new buttons come up ‘print/reviewable’ and ‘submit’.

Project Title

A concise title that best describes the project is required. Please use 120 characters or fewer.

Scientific Objectives

Provide a concise statement of the scientific objectives, in 100 words or less. AINSE PGRAs support projects undertaken by its member organisations in the fields of nuclear science and engineering or their applications.

For a project to be considered as furthering the attainment of the objectives, for which AINSE was established, it must satisfy AINSE of its high scientific merit, its scientific and technical feasibility, and the adequacy of plans, personnel and resources for its execution.

Background

The relationship of the investigation to present knowledge and to comparable investigations in progress elsewhere; the expected outcomes; and the criteria under which the proposal relates to AINSE's areas of interest should be included.

Proposed Method and Program

Provide a concise outline of the program for the project, in no more than 1000 words. Specify the design of the experiment, the procedure to be followed, project milestones for the achievement of scientific objectives, and any other information, which will assist AINSE in making a scientific evaluation of the proposal. Continuing or closely related projects must include a brief progress report on the applicant's current Award.

Details should be given of the facilities, equipment, services, and consultations, which the candidate plans to use. The use of such facilities must be discussed with the Contact Officer responsible (see Section 10, below). A list of Facilities and Services is given in the AINSE Users’ Guide - a copy of which is held by each AINSE Councillor and University Research Office

Additional information is required for many facilities, and should be discussed with the prospective ANSTO co-supervisor before the application is submitted. This information should be included in the application.

Any Other Information in Support of This Application

Socio-Economic and Research Field, Courses and Disciplines Codes

ANSTO Co-Supervisor

In the first instance the prospective co-supervisor (usually an ANSTO research scientist) should be approached by the candidate to discuss details of the project.

It is expected that the university will appoint a suitably qualified member of staff from ANSTO as a co-supervisor of the project. The co-supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that the ANSTO facilities and services required for the project can be made available in the year of the Award.

Facilities

Details of facilities are given in the AINSE Users’ Guide As mentioned above, you should already have contacted your preferred ANSTO co-supervisor and agreed on the most appropriate facilities, and ascertained the availability of the facility and ANSTO staff during the requested time.

You will need to ensure that you state clearly and concisely why the facility you have chosen is the best for the project.

You may wish to show your application to others, and you will need to keep a copy for yourself. To do this click on the ‘review printable’ button. This will bring up an rtf file. You should highlight all of the document and then copy it into a blank Word document and save it on your computer.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. submit the form electronically and print a copy.

When you are ready to sign the application click on the ‘submit’ button. Once it is submitted no further changes can be made.

2. the printed copy must be signed by
• the candidate
• a member of your university’s Research Office

Completed application form and eight copies should then be submitted through the Registrar or Research Office of the member university to which the chief investigator belongs.

The signed original plus EIGHT COPIES of the application form must be received by AINSE by the closing date 15 April 2008. Your documents should be addressed to

Executive Secretary
AINSE
Private Mail Bag No. 1
Menai NSW 2234
Australia

This page last updated 18 March, 2008