Early Career Researcher Programs (ECRs)

The Early Career Researcher (ECR) Program was set up to help young researchers in the early stages of their careers and PhD candidates to undertake various types of training in areas themed around the Network. To date, the network has run 4 calls for funding, from November 2005 to the most recent in April 07. Activities supported include:

• Visits to research laboratories in Australia or overseas to learn new techniques, broaden research perspectives, and/or collaborate with Network members and other partners on projects that will directly contribute to the applicant's research.


• Attend training courses or workshops in Australia or overseas that wold directly contribute to broadening the applicant's research perspectives and make a contribution to research covered by the Network.


• Organising a training workshop in Australia for other ECRs, postgraduates, and research staff in a specific area. Under this activity, consideration was given to funding experts from Australia or overseas that would be involved in the workshop. The Network undertook three rounds and a total of twenty five projects have been successful. Full listing below.

Round	Project title:	CI(s)/Institution	Total amount funded
1	Coevolution of the Cotesia flavipes complex and their polydnaviruses: toward the effective control of stemborers in Australia.	Kate Muirhead, University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences	$3,500
1	Multidisciplinary training workshop for the integration of biodiversity modeling, environmental data, phylogenetic diversity, and carbon accounting	Susan Cameron and Rob Waterworth,	$15,000
1	The adaptive significance of temperature-dependent sex determination in an Australian lizard	Daniel Warner, University of Sydney	$1,000
1	The origin and future of the Cophixalus frog diversity of Australia's Wet Tropics rainforest	Conrad Hoskin, University of Queensland	$3,500
1	Research Visit to Prof Jim Whitfield’s Lab at The University of Illinois	Nick Murphy, University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences	$3,500
1	Sex Allocation in Reptiles: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation	Tobias Uller, University of Woolongong	$3,600
1	Short course, Enhanced understanding of shallow lake ecology-interpreting sediment records of plant remains	John Tibby & Jennie Fluin, University of Adelaide	$9,863
2	Attend a summer School workshop	Dr Michael Schmidt, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CSIRO	$3,365
2	Research visit to University of NSW, Vera Weisbecker Lab to learn clearing and staining techniques	Aaron Camens, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide	$ 731
2	The evolution of dispersal in range-shifting populations	Ben Phillips, ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sydney, School of Biological Sciences	$3,500
2	Research visit to South Africa to learn ecological patterns & conservation planning	Hedley Grantham, PhD Candidate, University of Queensland, Ecology Centre	$3,500
2	A multidisciplinary workshop for defining plant extinctions from island Oceania.	Matthew Prebble, Research Fellow & Cassandra Rowe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow	$15,125
2	Training in molecular techniques for sex identification in reptiles	Rajkumar Radd, ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney, School of Biological Sciences	$1,800
3	Genetic Diversity in a Fragmented Habitat: Laticaudid Sea-kraits as a Model System	Amanda Lane, PhD Candidate,University of Sydney, School of Biological Sciences	$1,300
3	Training course: Analysis of Environmental Data (Adelaide Jan 2007)	Angus MacGregor, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide, School of Geographical & Environmental Studies	$1,500
3	Methodological advances essential for understanding the recent history of the Australian terrestrial Biota: "Molecular Dates and Rates Workshop"	Christine Lambkin, Biodiversity Curator, QLD Museum(Entomology); Nick Murphy, Postdoctoral Fellow & Michelle Guzik, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences	$19,600
3	Research visit to Prof Jean Clobert's laboratory(France):tutoring in theory and application of mathematical models to explore phenotypic plasticity in animal populations	Fabien Aubret, ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney, School of Biological Sciences	$2,500
3	Research visit to Sean Connolly & Andrew Baird at James Cook University	Ariella Helfgott, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide, School of Mathematical Sciences	$1,100
3	Ancient DNA records of the environmental impact of climate change and humans on Australian megafauna	Nic Rawlence, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences	$3,500
3	Lachlan Farrington, Research Associate, University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences	Travel funding for attending an International workshop: conservation management and research in orchids	$3,500
3	Development and application of novel genetic markers to address issues of marine turtle conservation	Michael Jensen, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra, Institute of Applied Ecology	$3,800
3	Travel funding to attend workshop on Orchid Population Dynamics	Renate Faast, University of Adelaide	$3,500
3	Assessing the social and genetic architecture in Egernia whitii	Geoff While, PhD Candidate, University of Tasmania, School of Zoology	$1,350
4	Research training in conducting high-resolution GSA using the Coulter Multisizer with the potential to establish a terminal last Glacial Maxiumum palaeoflood record in the Flinders Ranges, SA. Visit to Prof Grant McTainsh lab, Griffith University	David Haberlah, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide	$750
4	Systematics and biogeography of a Oxyscelio and related genera of parasitic wasps(Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) with special reference to the Australasian fauna. Visit to Dr John Heraty's lab, University of California	Sally Thompson, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide	$1,500
4	Understanding recent evolutionary history of Australian Biota: "Phylogeography and coalescence Workshop	Alexandra Pavlova, Monash University; Joanna Sumner, Melbourne Museum; Daniel Murphy, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne; and David Chapple, Museum Victoria	$15,000
4	Bioavailability of organically bound iron to phytoplankton of the Southern Ocean, visit to Dr Veronique Schoemann's lab, Belgium	Christel Hassler, Postdoctorial Fellow, CSIRO Atmospheric and Marine Research	$1,500
4	Development and application of genetic microsatellites to address issues of Australian invertebrate biodiversity conservation ; visit to Dr Michael Traugott's Molecular Ecology Lab, Austria	Anett Richter, PhD Candidate, Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra	$1,500
4	Travel funding to obtain training from museum curators and experts in the field of morphological techniques, geology, geomorphology and ecology of the Pilbara region and to examine specimens of R. ornata	Mitzy Pepper, PhD Candidate, Australian National University	$1,500
4	Attend workshops in analytical techniques to identify drivers of disease and to investigate mechanisms of disease resistance in corals.	Cathie Page, PhD Candidate, James Cook University	$1,500
4	Assessing climate impacts on biodiversity: training workshop on bioclimatic modelling	Elvira Ploczanska, Postdoctorial Fellow, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Tasmania	$15,000
4	National Workshop on the systematics, ecology and management of Caladenia orchids	Lachlan Farrington, Renate Faast, Univesity of Adelaide	$15,000
5	Evolution of parental effects: conceptual issues and empirical patterns (International Workshop)	Tobias Uller, University of Wollongong & Erik Wapstra, University of Tasmania	$4,645
5	Research Visit to Univesity of Adelaide (Prof Andy Lowe's Lab) to learn techniques of microsatellite markers for Paraserianthes Iophantha	Gillian Brown, University of Melbourne	$750
5	Training course in Geographical Information Systems	Ian Moffat, Australian National University	$750
5	National Postgraduate training workshop in Systematics (details to be posted on the web early 2008)	Michelle Guzik, The University of Adelaide	$15,000
5	Research visit to Dr Steve Juggins Laboratory, University of Newcastle, UK and visit the Long Term Ecology Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK.	Ioan Flett, Australian National University	$1,500
6	Genetics & Ecology of Australian tropical savanna tree species Lab visit	Caroline Lehmann, Charles Darwin University	$1,000
6	Attend training course in spatial statistical modeling	Brett Murphy, CSIRO	$1,633
6	International Lab Visit, University of California	Kym Abrams, University of Adelaide	$2,500
6	Lab Visit	Kathryn Sparks, University of Adelaide	$2,500
6	BioED2009 workshop	Matt Phillips, Australian National University	$15,000
6	Internation Lab Visit, University of Michigan	Mark Sistrom, South Australian Museum	$2,500
6	International Lab Visit, University of California	Nick Porch, Australian National University	$2,000
6	Lab Visit	N. Weichell, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems	$1,000
6	Workshop: Remote Sensing data for Pacific island monitoring & management in Noumea	P.Pert, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems	$1,500
7	International workshop attendance, training in MARK software	A. Smith, Australian National University	$2,500
7	Training in frog morphology and taxonomy techniques, SA Museum	R. Catullo, Australian National University	$1,600
7	lab visit to work on a manuscript on the impact of climate and habitat change on Australian Birds	T. Martin	$2,108
7	International lab visit, Montana Conservation Genetics Lab	I. Hagen, Flinders University	$2,500
7	Workshop: Methods in Bioinformatics & Molecular Evolution	J. Metcalf, The University of Adelaide	$13,500
7	ECR Training workshop: Geochronologocial dating methods and their applications in Australasian palaeoenvironmental and archaeological research	S. Rittner & R.Joannes-Boyau, ANU and Flinders University	$14,430
7	Attend a workshop, UK	L. Trail, The University of Adelaide	$2,500
7	Lab visit to Australian National Wildlife Collection	V. Thomson, The University of Adelaide	$2,320
7	Training workshop	M. Guzik, The University of Adelaide	$2,490
8	Workshop on analysis tools and software in population genetics and phytogeography	E. Biffin, The University of Adelaide	$15,000
8	Attend course: ConGen-Population Genetics Data Analysis Course: Recent approaches for estimation of population size, structure, gene flow, selection detection focusing on conservation and beyond.	K. Ottewell, The University of Adelaide	$2,500
8	Attend Catchment and Reef Ecosystems Services.	P. Pert, CSIRO C/-James Cook University	$1,000
8	International Lab visit learning techniques on temporal changes in lipid content and lipid composition in scleractinian coral larvae, NZ	E. Graham, James Cook University	$2,500
8	Lab visit for systematics and speciation of Australian Monomorium (Hymenoptera Formicidae)	K. Sparks, The University of Adelaide	$1,000
8	Training visit to Villanova University, Philadelphia	P. Oliver, The University of Adelaide	$2,500
8	Lab visit: Comparing correlative and mechanistic models of species distributions	R. Tingley, The University of Adelaide	$720
8	Terrestrial palaeoecology in the Indo-Pacific: a workshop in methods for detecting and modelling Quaternary palaeobiodversity from sedimentary archives.	M. Prebble, The Australian National University	$15,000
8	International lab visit: Haplotype diversity of the Cotesia flavipes complex and their polydnaviruses: toward the effective biological control of mothborer pests in Australia	K. Muirhead, University of Adelaide	$2,500
8	International lab visit to train on genetic extraction and analysis techniques relevant to marine Peracarid crustaceans.	L. Hughes, Australian Museum	$2,500
8	Attend a modelling patterns and dynamics of species occurrence workshop, NZ	S. Troy, The University of Tasmania	$1,639