The Ukraine-Australia Research Fund: Short-term VisitsLocation: Location: Australia | Workplace: On site

What do we offer?

This activity will support Ukrainian researchers to undertake short-term visits to Australia to engage in research at a host institute, or to attend a conference and program of site visits. The Australian host organisation or host conference organiser applies to the Academy for funding to support the direct travel costs for the Ukrainian researchers visit. The host is responsible for managing all travel arrangements in consultation with the visiting Ukrainian researchers and funding must be managed through the host’s organisation. Displaced Ukrainian researchers, no longer residing in Ukraine, are eligible for this program if employed at an internationally recognised research institute. Evidence of Ukrainian nationality and confirmation of displacement from Ukraine due to the war will be required in the application supporting documents.

Visits to engage in research projects are expected to be for a period of six to 12 weeks in duration and can be for one person only. Visits to attend a conference and site visit program should be for a period of two to four weeks long and can be for one or more people. The primary focus of all short-term visits to Australia should be the value of the activities to the visiting Ukrainian researchers.

This activity will provide immediate impact by enabling ongoing research activities and has the long-term benefit of increasing collaborations between Ukrainian researchers and international research communities.

See an overview of the Ukraine-Australia Research Fund.

Eligibility

The below eligibility criteria apply at the time of application.

The applying host must:

• be employed as a scientist/faculty member of an eligible research institute, as listed below
  • Australian tertiary education institutions (as per the Higher Education Support Act 2003)
  • Australian cooperative research centres
  • Publicly funded research agencies
  • Australian state and territory funded research organisations
  • Australian public research companies
  • Australian private research companies
  • Australian not-for-profit research organisations
  • Other Australian incorporated entities.
• have appropriate delegation, or authority from the relevant delegate, to accept the terms of the award
• confirm, and be able to demonstrate upon request, that their mission, scope, and research serves civilian purposes. Military research is not eligible for funding.

The visiting Ukrainian researchers must:

• be either a:
  • Ukrainian citizen or Ukrainian Permanent Resident employed as a researcher, or enrolled in a higher degree by research*, at a research institute in Ukraine, or
  • Ukrainian citizen or permanent resident displaced by the war and be employed as a researcher, or enrolled in a higher degree by research*, at an internationally recognised research institute in another country
• be undertaking, or have received, a higher degree by research* (criterion updated as at 12/05/2023).
• confirm, and be able to demonstrate upon request, that their mission, scope, and research serves civilian purposes. Military research is not eligible for funding
• conduct research in one of the below fields.

*Master of Science/Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Please note that there is no limit on years post PhD for eligibility of the visiting Ukrainian researchers, however preference will be given to early- and mid-career researchers (up to 15 years post PhD conferral) at assessment.

Fields of research

Researchers in the following fields are eligible to apply.

• Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
• Biological sciences
• Biomedical and clinical sciences
• Chemical sciences
• Earth sciences
• Engineering
• Environmental sciences
• Health sciences
• Information and computing sciences
• Mathematical sciences
• Physical sciences

Terms of award

Successful applications may receive an offer of funding from the Academy towards the cost travel for approved Ukrainian researchers.

The amount of funding available for each visiting researcher is outlined below.

• A return economy international airfare from the closest major airport to where the Ukrainian researcher is based, to the location(s) of the Australian host.
• Accommodation expenses, up to a limit of A$300 per person, per night. Please refer to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) taxation determination TD2022/10 for a guide on reasonable accommodation rates in each major city in Australia.
• A per diem of $140 for each day the visiting researcher is in Australia (including weekends), to cover food and incidental expenses. Funds must be paid to the researchers by the Australian host institute immediately on arrival into Australia.
• Travel and medical insurance, and visa expenses, will be reimbursed up to a total limit of A$1000 per visiting researcher. Please note: all visiting researchers must have comprehensive travel and full medical insurance for the entirety of their travel period under this program.
• other direct support costs as agreed by the Academy.

The host’s organisation is responsible for receiving the funding, making travel and logistical arrangements in conjunction with the visiting Ukrainian researchers, reporting on and acquitting the grant, and facilitating full payment of the daily allowance to the researcher on their arrival into Australia.

Grant funds cannot be paid to individuals. Host Australian organisations will invoice the Academy directly for the grant funding and any unspent funds must be returned to the Academy at the time of reporting.

The grant does not provide funds for research expenses, salaries, bench fees, managerial and administrative costs, or institute overheads. Funding can only be used for the direct travel and support expenses as outlined in the funding agreement.

How to apply?

Submit an online application on the Academy’s grant portal, and attach the following documents:

1. CV of the applying Australian host scientist, including a publication list.
2. CV of the Ukrainian researchers, including a publication list.
3. Letter of support from the Australian host organisation confirming the support that will be provided to the visiting Ukrainian researchers. See template
4. Letter of support from the Ukrainian researchers’ home institutes. If a researcher is based outside of Ukraine due to being displaced by the war with Russia, the current home institute is asked to confirm this in the letter. See template
5. Proof of Ukrainian citizenship or permanent residency for the visiting researchers.

Applying hosts should develop a proposal for a short-term visit in consultation with the Ukrainian researchers. The proposal should include an outline of what supports and opportunities will be available to the visiting Ukrainian researcher during their visit.

The application form includes a budget table with space for additional information and uploading supporting documents to the budget, such as quotes for accommodation or flights. If the rates for accommodation are above the amounts in table 1 of TD2022/10, provide an explanation of why in the budget table comments section.

If the application is for a visit to engage in a research project, the application form will include a section to outline the project proposal and the benefit of the activities for the visiting researcher.

If the application is for a conference and program of site visits, the application form will need to outline the itinerary for the conference and site visit program and the benefit of the program to the visiting researcher(s).

Assessment criteria

Proposals will be assessed on:

• the relevance and benefit of the of the research project, or conference and site visit program, to the Ukrainian researcher(s).
• value of the expected outcomes of the short-term visit to the Ukrainian researcher(s).
• demonstrated capacity of the host organisation to support the visiting researcher, provide access to appropriate facilities, equipment, and beneficial collaborative opportunities (if visit is for a research project), OR
• the capacity of the host organisation to manage accommodation and travel arrangements, provide appropriate access to conference events, networking opportunities and a program of site visits (if visit is to attend an international conference).
• having a well-supported budget outline that shows effective use of funds.

Reporting requirements

Successful applicants will be required to submit a report within three months of the Ukrainian researcher’s departure from Australia. The visiting scientist will be asked to complete a survey at the end of their visit to Australia and this must be included in the report.

The final report will include a financial statement from the Australian host institute confirming how the funds were distributed. The Breakthrough Prize Foundation funding is a donation and unspent grant funds must be returned to the Academy.

It is a requirement that any publication or media release resulting from the activities funded by this program mention the support of the Australian Academy of Science and the Breakthrough Foundation.

Notification of outcome 

Applications close 11 pm (AEST) Wednesday 7 June 2023. Application outcomes are expected in early July.

Applications are considered carefully against the selection criteria by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the assessment committee are based on the assessed merit and impact of the proposal. The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.

Frequently asked questions

Find out the answers to frequently asked questions (PDF 100KB).

For further information, contact:

International Programs
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6201 9412
Email