Lizard Island Research Grants

The intended maximum value of the grant is $16,500 including GST per year for either one or two years as required.

The maximum amount may be increased to $19,800 including GST per year for applications by postdoctoral researchers whose projects require a dive team of three people. Contact LIRS to discuss before applying if you fall into that category and if your budget exceeds $16,500 including GST.

The grant must be must be spent on field work at LIRS including bench fees, travel, freight, and field/lab consumables.

The grant may not be used for salary, for living expenses (such as food while at Lizard Island) or for equipment other than research consumables. An administration fee may not be deducted from the grant by the administering institution.

1. Field work must take place between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 for the first year, and in the same period of the subsequent year if a second year is awarded. However, a blackout period applies in November and December unless there are compelling biological reasons for doing the work in those months (e.g. coral spawning, fish recruitment).
2. Funding in the second year, if awarded, is subject to suitable progress.
3. The applicant must have institutional support that is expected to continue for the duration of the grant.
4. Collaborations between researchers and between institutions are welcome. The applicant must be the principal investigator and his/her institution must be willing to administer the grant without charging an administration fee. Any additional investigators must bring complementary expertise to the project as documented in their CVs. A maximum of three investigators in total will be named in any public listing of the grant.
5. Reporting, outreach, acknowledgement and other conditions will be detailed in a contract with the successful applicant.
6. Feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful applicants.

Applicants must be affiliated with an academic institution that will administer the grant.

Those who do not meet this eligibility criterion will not be considered further.

The person:

1. Meets the eligibility criterion.
2. Has an excellent academic record.
3. Has high research output in relation to career stage.
4. Has relevant research and fieldwork experience.

The project:

1. Will significantly advance knowledge of the extent and/or effect of plastic pollution on coral reefs.
2. Makes good use of LIRS facilities.
3. Is feasible within the limitations of budget and safety regulations.
4. Makes efficient usage of grant funds.
5. Has additional funding available if the grant does not cover all planned costs.
6. Enables scientific leverage.

Applications must be submitted online.

Online application form for 2023 Plastic Pollution Research Grant

Two MS Word documents must be uploaded to the online application form.

1. 2023 Project Application Form, and
2. Curriculum vitae of the principal applicant (maximum 4 pages, 12 point font, 3 cm margins).

If any co-investigators are listed, each must submit a CV with the same restrictions as for the applicant by email to lizard@australian.museum.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria.

To assist in preparing your application, please consult other sections of this website to learn about LIRS facilities and the number of assistants you will need to bring to comply with the Station's scuba diving and boating regulations. You are welcome to contact LIRS with any queries.

Use the indicative costs for bench fees and travel between Cairns and Lizard Island as provided in the project application form.

Closing date is 24 October 2022

Provide a 2-page document that outlines your broad plan, its context and significance, and why you are well-placed to conduct the work.

• The proposed research must increase knowledge of coral reefs in a way that can inform management in a practical way AND it is valuable to do it now, considering the existential threats facing coral reefs.
• Reef restoration and adaptation are not priority areas because substantial funding is available for such projects elsewhere.
• Proposals for research involving plastic pollution should apply under that grant scheme.
• All or most of the funded field research must be conducted at Lizard Island Research Station.
• Funding is for field work and laboratory expenses only, not salary.
• Funding over several years may be awarded.
• The applicant must have institutional support that is expected to continue for the duration of the grant.
• Collaborations between researchers and between institutions are welcome. The applicant must be the principal investigator and his/her institution must be willing to administer the grant without charging an administration fee. Any additional investigators must bring complementary expertise to the project as documented in their CVs. A maximum of three investigators in total will be named in any public listing of the grant.
• A budget is not required at this stage. However, note that the funds available are in the order of tens of thousands of dollars per year, not hundreds of thousands. A budget will be required in full applications.
• Confirm that all intended field-work participants are based in Australia.
• Submit to lizard@australian.museum by a date to be advised in 2023.

Dates for the 2024 Critical Research Grant process will be posted in the first half of 2023.