The Momentum Grant provides up to $82.5K per year over two years ($165,000 total), which the recipient can use towards salary (including on-costs), salary for assistance within their team, or research costs. This is a Grant, not a Fellowship.
If salary and on-costs require less than $82.5K per year (or the applicable pro-rated amount), remaining funds may be used to support salary for team assistance or other research costs for the applicant, as required. It is essential that applicants discuss and confirm this with your supervisor prior to submitting an application.
The total amount awarded is pro-rated based on the applicant’s time fraction (FTE) and specified in the application. If applicable, the applicant's contract end date will be extended to cover the duration of the Grant.
The Grant is available up to a maximum period of 24 months. Funding is intended nominally for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. An extension may be possible under exceptional circumstances via the Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion.
Staff who are coming off externally funded grants in the next 6 months, and those without any external grant support will be prioritised for support.
Momentum Grant recipients who subsequently secure external salary support are encouraged to take up the external salary funding as soon as possible and must not defer, ensuring completion of the Momentum Grant within the allocated funding term.
Grant recipients cannot hold another internal University nor external grant where salary support has been awarded concurrently.
Grant recipients are expected to develop a plan to achieve research independence and sustainability with their supervisor and Head of Department/Centre/School.
Grant recipients are expected to apply for external grants and research funding during the term of the Momentum Grant.
Grant recipients are subject to the University of Melbourne's Conditions of Employment.
Grant recipients retain their existing appointment within the Faculty for the duration of the Grant.
Twenty days (pro-rata) annual leave per annum must be taken during the term of the Grant to ensure annual budget allocations are met, to avoid the budget division incurring additional costs at the conclusion of the Grant. If leave is not taken during the term of the Grant, the administering Department/Centre will be responsible for any additional leave incurred beyond the conclusion of the grant term. Grant recipients must utilise their full annual leave entitlement each year for the duration of the grant. Please refer to the University’s Leave Policy.