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Curtin Sarawak Research Fund

Guidelines 2008 round

1. OVERVIEW
Curtin Sarawak Research Fund [CSRF] scheme is a seed fund aimed at encouraging staff at Curtin Sarawak Malaysia to initiate Research and Development activities. In particular, the fund intends to support new researchers who are building up their experience in order to successfully apply for external research grants in future.

The application format of a CSRF proposal is designed to introduce the requirements of competitive grant writing to new and early career researchers. Applicants are advised to follow these guidelines.

The Curtin Sarawak Research Fund Committee places great emphasis on the reporting of research outcomes from the CSRF scheme. Therefore, applicants are urged to state their dissemination plan for presentations and publications within the application.

2. ELIGIBILITY
Chief Investigators
To be eligible to apply for funding under the CSRF scheme, applicants must:-

• be a member of the Academic Staff of Curtin Sarawak Malaysia;
• have sufficient tenure at Curtin to allow completion of their projects.

Priority will be given to first time applications of chief-investigators. Generally, a staff member can receive funding only once under the CSRF scheme as a sole Chief Investigator.

Associate Investigators
Applications may include one or more Associate Investigators (AIs). It is envisaged that in some cases senior researchers, e.g. from the Bentley Campus or from another university, may participate in a project as an AI in a mentoring and support role to the CI(s). Typically, an AI would:

• commit less time to the project than is required for a Chief Investigator, and/or
• provide expertise on limited aspects of the research; and/or
• provide a specific skill essential to the project.

Associate Investigators are not considered to be applicants or grantees under the Curtin Sarawak Research Fund scheme. A staff member can be Associate Investigator in more than one research project.

3. CSRF FUNDING CRITERIA
Curtin Sarawak Research Fund can be used to fund individual projects up to a value of RM 10,000. Grants are available in all disciplines. Expenditure is not permitted in respect of:

• Expensive, non project-specific equipment (eg: computers, camera);
• Time release (other than that provided by the School/Department).

All expenditures must comply with the procedures and norms of Curtin Sarawak. The budget must be checked by the applicant to ensure that appropriate costing on all budgeted items are confirmed. Applicants must provide a justification statement for all budget items requested.

Independently of the full duration of a project, requests for funding that have been approved for the 2008 budget of CSRF are allocated in their totality to this same budget. Funds that have been allocated in the 2008 budget of CSRF but not spent by 31 December 2008 will remain allocated and be carried over to the 2009 budget of CSRF.

4. CERTIFICATION
The applicant must certify that, to the best of his/her knowledge:

• All the details in his/her application are true and complete;
• The applicant satisfies the criteria of eligibility outlined above;
• The applicant is able to commit the time specified in the application of this project to ensure the projected outcomes are realised;
• If successful, the applicant will accept the Conditions of Award relating to the CSRF scheme as outlined in these Guidelines;
• The applicant has sought all relevant clearances for this research project; and
• The applicant will conduct the project in accordance with CSM's Ethics, Occupational, Health and Safety Regulations.

5. ETHICAL AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
All research proposals should have the approval of the Ethics Committee of Curtin Sarawak. Where relevant, external clearances from the corresponding entity (e.g. Ministry) must be sought. Funds will not be released until copies of the appropriate clearances are received by the CSRF-Committee. To conform to Curtin University policy, all research data must be retained by the Chief Investigator for a minimum period of five years after completion of the period of research.

6. APPLICATION PROCESS
A complete application package consists of the following:

The complete application package must be lodged with the respective persons throughout the year.

7. ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
A flowchart of the Assessment Procedures is shown in Figure 1. Research projects will first go through a screening process within Curtin Sarawak Malaysia. The applicant can suggest the name of two persons willing to screen his/her project. The final decision as to who will screen the research project lies with the Research Committee of each School.

After having been successfully screened by the Research Committee of the respective school, the Director of the School signs off on the proposal, which is then forwarded to the Associate Dean R&D of Curtin Sarawak. The Associate Dean R&D of Curtin Sarawak will arrange for the research projects to be peer-reviewed by researchers in Curtin Bentley. The applicant has the option of suggesting possible referees. The final decision on the referee to be chosen lies with the Chair of the CSRF-Committee.

Although the identity of the chosen referee(s) will be kept anonymous, the author of a research project is entitled to know the full content of a referee's feedback.

Figure 1: Flowchart of Assessment Procedures

8. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Primary and Other Assessment Criteria
The primary criteria used for the assessment of applications are:

• the quality of the proposed research; and
• the quality of the researcher(s), viz track record.

Quality of the proposed research
In assessing the quality of the research proposal, the assessor should take particular account of:

• the soundness of the planning and methodology;
• the originality of the project;
• the scientific, theoretical or technological merit; and
• the scope of the project.

Quality of the researcher
In assessing the quality of the researcher, consideration will be given to the applicant's track record, covering their recent research activities and achievements, publications and other outputs, relative to opportunities.

The potential of the Chief Investigator to receive further external/internal funding will also be taken into consideration.

9. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
The CSRF - Committee comprises:

• Pro-Vice Chancellor, Curtin Sarawak Campus(Chair);
• Dean, Curtin Sarawak Campus; and
• Chair, R & D Committee, Curtin Sarawak Campus

The Committee will meet when required to decide on the allocation of funds from the CSRF. The decision regarding the approval of a given project and the sum allocated will be based on:

• CSRF Application Form;
• Certification by applicant;
• Certification by Director of School;
• Referee report(s);
• Ethics Clearance; and
• Availability of funds.

The applicant will be given written notification of the decision taken by the CSRF-Committee.

10. REPORTING
Grantees will be responsible for the conduct of projects and correct expenditure of funds. The Chief Investigator must submit interim progress rreports as requested by the R&D office. A final report outlining methodology, budgetary expenditure, publications and/or presentations, must be submitted to the R&D office after completion of the research project.

The Chief Investigator will be asked to verify that the budget support was provided by the School/Department.

11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Ownership rights of products or processes resulting from research conducted at Curtin Sarawak Malaysia are as provided under the "Ownership of Intellectual Property" document of Curtin Perth, and under the protection of the relevant Malaysian copyright and intellectual property laws.

Download the Curtin Sarawak Research Fund Application Form 2008

Download the Curtin Sarawak Research Fund Project Progress Report – 2008

Download the Curtin Sarawak Research Fund Project Final Report

Download the Ethics and Research Practice Clearance Form