Early career fellowships are aimed at encouraging early career researchers (up to 5 years post-PhD completion) to build on their research capability and become leaders of their own research team.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $600,000
- Application opened: 1 May 2025
- Application closed: 2 June 2025, 12:00 pm
Program objective
The Fellowships are designed to encourage the very best researchers to choose cancer as their selected field of research. Successful applicants will conduct team-based research to develop expertise in cancer research and may also work with more senior colleagues in developing their research career.
This program is funded and administered by Cancer Institute NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- NSW-based cancer researchers with less than 5 years post doctoral experience at the time of application.
Who can’t apply
- non NSW-based researchers
- researchers with more than 5 years post doctoral experience.
Types of project funded under this grant
The Fellowships are open to Investigators engaged in any discipline of research relevant to cancer, undertaking the research at a research organisation located in NSW.
Two-Stage application process
The 2025 Fellowship round will use a two-stage application process. All applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Successful EOI applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Key dates for both stages are in the Guidelines.
Past recipients
A list of fellowships previously funded by the Cancer Institute NSW is available online under Grants we've funded
What you can't apply for
Funds awarded cannot be used for any purposes associated with basic (for example, desk, stationery, phone) or overhead infrastructure costs (for example, institutional overheads of administrative levies).
Funds should not be used to support research conducted outside of NSW.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
You can download the full guidelines:
File
(PDF 198.48KB)
Prepare your Expression of Interest with this checklist
- Expression of Interest (completed on the Grants Management System)
- Letter of endorsement from the Administering Institution**
- Letter of endorsement from the Supervisor
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Fellow
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the Supervisor
- Career Disruption Calculator (if relevant)**
**Templates available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.
Address the eligibility criteria
- Located in NSW - Applicants must be located at a university, hospital or research institution located within NSW (may be located at more than one institution). This may differ from the Research. Administering Institution which must also be located in NSW. The research must be conducted in NSW.
- Less than 5 years post-doctoral experience - PhD candidates are eligible to apply for the Early Career Fellowship provided their thesis submission is completed before the grant submission close date. The PhD must be passed (not conferred) by 31 August 2025. Evidence that the PhD has been passed must be provided by the Administering Institution when accepting the Fellowship.
- Research Administering Institution Endorsement - Applications must nominate a single Research Administering Institution who will be responsible for the management of the grant and will enter into a Competitive Grants Agreement. The Research Administering Institution and their nominated institutional contact must be registered with the Cancer Institute NSW.
- Supervisor Endorsement - The Expression of Interest must include a letter from the Fellow’s proposed Supervisor.
Address the assessment criteria
1. Scientific Quality (25%)
The excellence of the research proposal, based on the rationale, design, and methodology. The feasibility of successfully delivering the proposed research outcomes in the timeframe, including identification of key milestones and success indicators to monitor the research progress.
2. Significance (25%)
The anticipated value-add and impact of the proposed research to cancer research in NSW. The potential for this proposed research to bring innovative and/or novel approaches to cancer research. The engagement of consumers during the course of the Fellowship.
3. Track Record (25%)
Demonstration of relevant professional qualifications, skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. The depth of research experience, with focus in the proposed area of cancer research. The quality of the research outputs and their impact and reach. The ability to attract and secure research projects, grants, awards, leveraged funding (Institutional support and other), relative to opportunity.
4. Potential (25%)
The clarity of the career objectives for the next three years and how these will be achieved and supported by the Supervisor, including a skills development plan. The leadership quality and the ability to promote the advancement of cancer research via teaching and professional contributions.
After the application is submitted
The Cancer Institute NSW utilises an independent Grants Review Committee composed of external members.
The Grants Review Committee will score and rank applications based on an assessment of merit against the stated assessment criteria. Applications targeting one or more focus populations as noted in the NSW Cancer Plan may be prioritised when determining the final rankings.
The Grants Review Committee will put forward recommendations for awarding of the grant to the Cancer Institute NSW Chief Executive Officer/Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW Board for consideration. The Cancer Institute NSW Board will approve the awarding and funding of the Fellowships.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.