Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
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Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowship news
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About the Fellowships
RMIT University provides Research Fellowships under two major schemes each year. These are the Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellowships and the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowships.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellows develop, engage in and lead high quality research in alignment with the University's research focus areas.
The Senior Research Fellows are expected to have a significant impact in the area of their specialisation, and to be acknowledged at an international level as being influential in expanding the knowledge of their relevant discipline. The Senior Research Fellows play an important research leadership role in embedding their research expertise into the life of their School and are expected to produce high quality, productivity driven research networks across RMIT and with local, national and global, internal and external partners.
Applicants
This is a competitive scheme advertised nationally and internationally on an annual basis. Applicants are selected on the basis of their excellent research track record and national or international recognition in an area aligned with RMIT’s research activity and impact.
The Fellowships are four year fixed term appointments with AUS$50,000 over this period to support the achievement of individual research goals. RMIT University also assists successful candidates with their move to Australia, providing visa and basic relocation support.
The Fellows are located in and supported by School services and structures, and are eligible for all School provided professional development and research support. These positions report through the normal School channels to the Head of School.
Recruitment for the 2012 round has now closed. Information regarding applications for the next round of applications will be available in mid-2013.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
2012 Fellowship recipients
Dr Baohua Jia
Only six years after completing her PhD, Dr Baohua Jia has already established an impressive research and publications record in smart nanotechnology for solar energy harvesting and smart nanostructures for sustainable information technology. This research has extensive application in the development of more energy efficient and cost effective solar cells and smaller, faster and greener optoelectronic devices.
Dr Jia comes to RMIT from Swinburne University where she has been a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Ultrahigh Bandwith Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS) and Chief Scientist at the Victoria-Suntech Advanced Solar Facility. She has received several awards for her research including an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher award and the 2012 L’Oreal Women in Science Fellowship.
Dr Jia will join the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and be aligned with the Platform Technologies Research Institute.
Dr Alyson Miller
Dr Alyson Miller has established a reputation for cerebral vascular pharmacology and stroke research including stroke risk factors, prevention and treatment.
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and impairment and her research is contributing to new directions in stroke therapy including current research into the importance of a newly discovered mechanism of cerebral protection by the hormone ghrelin.
Dr Miller has been extensively awarded for her research achievements, supervised students to PhD level, presented at numerous conferences in Australia and overseas and published widely in journals and books.
After completing her Bachelor and PhD studies in Scotland, Dr Miller has spent nearly 10 years undertaking research at Melbourne and Monash Universities.
Dr Miller joins the School of Medical Sciences and will be aligned with the Health Innovations Research Institute.
Dr Marta Poblet
Dr Marta Poblet has research that cuts across many disciplines including political science, law, technology and sociology and brings her into contact with computer scientists, knowledge engineers, GIS experts and crisis mappers.
Her particular area of interest is in how technologies can provide outcomes for citizens in the areas of justice, security, privacy, disaster relief or emergency management and she is also working on the influence of emerging technologies such as crowd sourcing and domain mapping.
With an undergraduate degree from her native Spain and postgraduate degrees from Stanford University, Dr Poblet also speaks six languages and she has been published in both English and Spanish language journals, papers and books.
Dr Poblet will join the Graduate School of Business and Law and be aligned with the Global Cities Research Institute.
Dr John Postill
Dr John Postill's research has taken him across several continents as he investigates the relationship between media and social change in different cultural, political and technological contexts.
His particular areas of interest include digital and media ethnography, digital activism, social change movements, protest and the use of civic urban spaces with recent work looking at the rise of social movements in Spain following the Arab Spring, some of which evolved into the Occupy Movement. He has also spent considerable time undertaking research in Malaysia, which was the focus of his PhD from University College London.
He has a strong publishing and supervision record, has regularly appeared in the media and incorporates many new web platforms into his research.
Dr Postill will join the School of Media and Communications and be aligned to the Global Cities Research Institute.
Dr Donald Wlodkowic
Dr Donald Wlodkowic has undertaken multidisciplinary research into the development of enabling microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip and bioMEMS technologies that have application in biomedicine, diagnostics, environmental monitoring, ecotoxicology and laboratory automation.
During his time at the University of Auckland, his work attracted substantial research investment and his collaboration with a number of industrial partners led to opportunities for commercialisation of these technologies.
Dr Wlodkowic is originally from Poland, completed his PhD in Finland and worked in Scotland before moving to New Zealand. He will join the School of Applied Sciences and be aligned with the Platform Technologies Research Institute.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
2011 Fellowship recipients
Dr Kay Cook
Dr Kay Cook
Professor James Friend
Professor James Friend
Associate Professor Andrew Greentree
Associate Professor Andrew Greentree
Associate Professor Jason Potts
Associate Professor Jason Potts' expertise lies in the study of economic dynamics, particularly in relation to the causes and consequences of innovation. This expertise enabled him to contribute significantly to the work of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation at the Queensland University of Technology prior to coming to RMIT. Jason has published his research outputs in numerous books and book chapters and also in many national and international refereed journals. He is also Editor or Associate Editor for a number of Economics journals and is an ARC expert reviewer. Based in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, Jason’s research has a cross–disciplinary focus with strong alignment to the Design Research Institute. His work examining the role of creative industries in the three phases of an innovation trajectory: origination, adoption and retention will provide many opportunities for collaborative research across the University, through the integration of evolutionary and complexity-based economic analysis.
Dr Ian Ridley
Dr Ian Ridley
Associate Professor Gary Rosengarten
Associate Professor Gary Rosengarten
Dr Sarah Spencer
Dr Sarah Spencer has a growing national and international profile in the research fields of stress and perinatal programming of disease. She is interested in the impact of psychological stress on brain pathways that control or contribute to the body’s stress responses. At the University of Calgary, Dr Spencer explored neuroimmune interactions, examining the effects of a neonatal immune challenge on adult animals’ responses to further inflammatory insults. Since returning to Australia, she has combined her research backgrounds in stress, neuroinflammation, and developmental physiology to investigate effects of early life dietary manipulations on the stress and metabolism in the adult animal. Dr Spencer is based at the Health Innovations Research Institute and the School of Health Sciences.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
2010 Fellowship recipients
2010 RMIT University Senior Research Fellow
Associate Professor Toby Allen
Associate Professor Toby Allen
Associate Professor Toby Allen comes to us from the University of California where he has been working for the past seven years. Associate Professor Allen has a background in computational biophysics and expertise in ion channels and membranes. This work has significant internal links to the work of the Health Innovations Research Institute and also external links to the Victorian Government’s investment in computational life science for discoveries in medicine and biotechnology. With an outstanding citation record and international research awards, Professor Allen is based in the School of Applied Sciences, but his skills and enquiry also allow development of collaborative research projects with established groups across the College of Science, Engineering and Health.
Dr Heather Horst
Dr Heather Horst
Dr Heather Horst’s research interests and experience revolve around the intersection of digital media, material culture, transnational migration, consumption and social change. She has also undertaken research on the impact on the relationship between digital media and learning. Dr Horst has a strong publications record having produced a significant number of peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She has also been an invited key note speaker at many national conferences in the USA and undertakes Editorial Board duties for a number of publications. Dr Horst is based in the School of Media and Communications, and her experience complements the research undertaken in the Centre for Applied Social Research at RMIT and the Design Research Institute.
Dr Anthony O'Mullane
Dr Anthony O'Mullane
Dr Anthony O'Mullane has developed extensive international research contacts in US, UK and India and in Australia through collaborations with industry and the CSIRO. It has been Dr O’Mullane’s expertise and experience in the areas of electrochemistry, materials science and electromaterials that have facilitated these contacts and collaborations. Dr O’Mullane has an established record of publications in A and A* journals and has contributed to successful ARC Discovery and Linkage grant applications. He has also been elected as the Secretary of the Electrochemistry Division of the RACI. Dr O’Mullane is based in the School of Applied Sciences and works with the Platform Technologies Research Institute.
Dr Marcelo Stamm
Dr Marcelo Stamm
Dr Juan Molero
Dr Juan Molero
Dr Juan Molero was awarded his PhD from the University of Madrid, studying the molecular mechanism governing insulin resistance during ageing. He has gone on to develop expertise in the study of obesity and diabetes, metabolism and drug screening and his current NHMRC project grant will allow further investigation into insulin resistance with potential applications towards the personalised treatment of diabetic patients. His strong focus on industry funded investigations has lead to a number of patents being filed. Dr Molero is based in the School of Health Sciences, but his work also aligns strongly with the programs of the Health Innovations Research Institute.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
2009 Fellowship recipients
Dr Jared Cole
Dr Jared Cole
Dr Jared Cole, Applied Physics/Communications Engineering from RMIT, PhD from the University of Melbourne, was awarded a Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Karlsruhe and, on the completion of the Fellowship, is currently working as faculty postdoc at Karlsruhe in the area of "quantum computing". Jared has been appointed to the School of Applied Sciences. Jared has an extensive publication list including a Nature Physics article (his current h-index is 8), maintains global collaborations and is interested in combining both theoretical physics and nanoelectronics in order to study the next generation of "quantum-enabled" devices.
Dr Tania Lewis
Dr Tania Lewis
Dr Tania Lewis, previously a Charles La Trobe Research Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, working in the communications areas of "Lifestyle and consumption" and "Ethical consumerism and sustainability" has been appointed to the School of Media and Communications. Tania has an MBBS the University of Otago, BA(Hons) University of Canterbury; MA Cant and PhD from the University of Melbourne. Tania has an excellent publication record and is currently a Chief Investigator on an ARC Discovery grant.
Dr Steffen P Walz
Dr Steffen P Walz
Dr Steffen P Walz, currently company co-founder and executive sreee Walz and Seibert Zurich / sreee (CH) - an urban and interactive entertainment strategy consultant and conceptual designer, has been a senior researcher and project leader at ETH Zurich. Steffen has been appointed to the School of Media and Communications. Steffen has an MA from the University of Tubingen; and Doctor of Science ETH Zurich. He has excellent publications, extensive research grant funding, several awards and distinctions and has produced numerous creative works, selective games and interactive products.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
The focus of recruitment for the 2012 RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellowships was in the strategic research areas of:
- Advanced Manufacturing, including Materials and Textiles
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Economics including Consumer Behaviour
- Health Sciences, particularly Exercise Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Media and Communications, including Marketing
- Smart Technologies and Information Systems
- Urban Research
Applications
- Applications for the 2012 recruitment round has now closed.
- Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow - position description (DOC 114kb)
Key dates
- Applications open: 6 August 2012
- Applications close: 11.55pm 2 September 2012 (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
- Selection process completed: 16 November 2012
- Announcement of successful candidates: 5 December 2012
Senior Research Fellowships
FAQ’s
1. I am in the process of completing my PhD, can I apply for the Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships?Anyone can apply for the Fellowships and all applications will be considered on their merit. The qualification section of the position description for the Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships does state, however, that a PhD is a mandatory requirement.
RMIT is also currently advertising our Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellowships (aimed at Academic level B). This may be a more appropriate Fellowship Scheme for those with research experience but who are in the process of completing a PhD.
2. How many years research experience is required?
No specific number of years is required, however, we are looking for internationally recognised researchers with a proven track record in publications and attracting external research funding.
3. The application form requires me to demonstrate my research alignment to RMIT research priority areas. What are these areas?
RMIT's five key research focus areas are:
- Designing the Future
- Smart Technology Solutions
- Improving Health and Lifestyle
- Sustainability and Climate Change Challenges
- The Future of Cities
Our Research Institutes which support this focus are:
- Design Research Institute
- Global Cities Research Institute
- Health Innovations Research Institute
- Platform Technologies Research Institute
Further information and contacts
- Research at RMIT University
- Other fellowships and opportunities
- researchoffice@rmit.edu.au For enquiries only. Include the subject line ‘VC’s Senior Research Fellowships’. Applications received via this email will not be processed.
Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowships
About research at RMIT
RMIT University aspires to:
- make a significant contribution to knowledge in our areas of specialisation and identify and develop innovative solutions to problems affecting urban communities around the world
- work with internationally recognised partners to build synergies that ensure our research is relevant and contributes to solving problems affecting our world.
Research at RMIT is particularly focused in:
- Designing the Future
- Smart Technology Solutions
- Improving Health and Lifestyle
- Sustainability and Climate Change Challenges
- The Future of Cities
Institutes, collaboration and colleges
RMIT University’s strategic research priority areas and research foci are consolidated in its four Research Institutes.
- Design Research Institute
- Global Cities Research Institute
- Health Innovations Research Institute
- Platform Technologies Research Institute
Some of our key Research Institute programs are in the areas of:
- Future fabric of cities - physical and virtual project-based design research applied to new learning and workplaces, customised acoustic space and increased density and urbanism.
- Urban technology nexus - investigation of design and applications for multi-function lightweight structures and responsive materials, mathematics in architecture, conductive spaces and design tools.
- Mediated cities - design and articulation of place: evolving urban culture and its networks, people and artefacts.
- Social sustainability - applied focus on urban sustainability, using skills in either the sciences or social sciences, including fields ranging from GIS and statistics to the social framing of indicators and questions of social learning.
- Approaches to urban studies - interdisciplinary research into understanding social relations including the fields ranging from media anthropology and sociology to risk analysis and planning.
- Metabolism, exercise and disease - applies the latest techniques in biochemistry, cell biology and physiology to animal models of disease and human studies of exercise and metabolism.
- Ion channels and transporters - research in neuroscience and membrane physiology using electrophysiological, molecular biological and single cell imaging techniques to study membrane receptors and ion channels and calcium signaling.
- Nano materials and devices - including functional materials, bio nanotechnology, silicon photonics, lab-on-a-chip.
- Intelligent industrial information technologies - including smart energy systems, advanced manufacturing, space-based platform technologies.
- Security and safety - including biometrics, biosensing and biosignals.
For information about where other research collaboration takes place see:
For information about research in the University's three Academic Colleges see: