PRS in Engaging the Public in Peptide and Protein Science

1. Background

a. This Scholarship aims to support a student undertaking a PhD on an approved science communication or education project funded by the ARC within the Faculty of Science.

b. Funded by ARC Centre of Excellence in Peptide and Protein Science, this Scholarship aims to support a student undertaking a PhD or MPhil focusing on the development and study of creative methods to communicate peptide and protein science to non-expert audiences.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a Masters by Research or PhD within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. An applicant without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.

c. Applicant must hold an honours degree (First Class or Second Class upper) or a master’s degree in a related field with a substantial research component, or equivalent.

d. Students with training in peptide and protein science must be able to demonstrate experience in science communication or education activities, and students with training in creative methods or education must be able to demonstrate an understanding of peptide and protein science.

e. Applicant must be willing to undertake research in science communication in collaboration with scientists.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae,
III. cover letter indicating the motivation to carry out a research project in engaging the public and peptide and protein science, and outline their relevant experience / understanding in peptide and protein science, and in creative methods, science communication or education and
IV. area of study and research proposal.

b. Applicant can have a background in any discipline related to science or communication, including but not limited to art, performance, sound design, music, science, engineering, science communication.

c. Shortlist applicants may be requested to attend an interview.

d. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the minimum Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year) subject to satisfactory academic performance for:
I. up to 1.75 years for the successful Masters by Research recipient;
II. up to three years for the successful PhD recipient.

b. The PhD recipient is encouraged to complete their PhD in 3 years but may apply for an extension of the stipend allowance for up to 6 months.

c. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship excluding any potential extension period.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.

e. No other amount is payable.

f. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The recipient is required to follow official advice from the University and Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel in light of travel restrictions due to Covid-19.

c. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree.

d. In addition, further approval may be required as outlined in the University of Sydney’s Covid-19 Response Plan.

e. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

f. If the recipient is conducting research outside of Australia, the recipient acknowledges that the University of Sydney is not liable for any costs incurred. This includes but is not limited to: cost of travel and transfers (unless stated under section 4 (Value) of this scholarship to amount listed), delays due to travel restrictions or State and/or Federal quarantine requirements on their return to Australia.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). HDRAC will consult with Scholarship Office to confirm funding availability for the period of suspension. Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

12. Participants Agreement

a. The terms and conditions of the scholarship follow the Participants Agreement (the Agreement) for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science between the University of Queensland (Administering Organisation), Queensland University of Technology, The Australian National University, Monash University, Edith Cowan University and The University of Sydney (The Parties) to conduct activities in accordance with the Agreement, Application and the relevant Grant Agreement (the Activities).

13. Intellectual Property

a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship (the Student) must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney

14. Confidentiality

a. The Scholarship recipient is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by any of the Party confidential and not to use the confidential information except for the Activities unless required by law; not copy, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information without the prior written permission of the disclosing Party.

b. At written request of the disclosing Party, the Scholarship recipient must return to the disclosing Party any documents originating from the disclosing Party which embody Confidential Information.

15. Publications

a. The Scholarship recipient must acknowledge the support of their scholarship in any media, publications or presentations arising from the research. This must include acknowledgement of the ARC funding and comply with the guidelines as outlined on the ARC Open Access Policy.

b. If the Scholarship recipient wishes to make a disclosure of Confidential Information of another Party (including a disclosure of Project IP) by means of a Publication, the Scholarship recipient must first obtain the unanimous consent of the Centre Executive Committee after taking into consideration the advice of the Research Committee, (‘Reviewing Party’).

c. The Scholarship recipient must submit a draft version of the proposed Publication to the relevant Reviewing Party at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the date upon a draft of the Publication is intended to be submitted for Publication.

d. Within fourteen (14) days of receiving a request contemplated by clause 16.b each Reviewing Party will respond by either:

I. providing consent to the Publication;
II. providing consent to the Publication subject to data being anonymised or that party's Confidential Information being removed from the draft; or
III. requesting a delay of no greater than three months in disclosure of the Publication so as not to prejudice protection of Intellectual Property or Commercialisation of Centre Intellectual Property.

e. If the Scholarship recipient has not received a response from the Reviewing Party within the twenty-one (21) days referred to above, it will be entitled to assume consent has been granted by the Reviewing Party to publish the draft in the form in which the Publication was submitted for review.

f. Details and copies of all Publications must be entered into the Administering Organisation's online portal within thirty (30) days of publication.

16. Acknowledgement

a. The Scholarship recipient agrees that they will acknowledge another Party's contribution in any publication or public disclosure made in respect of the Activities.

b. The Scholarship recipient agrees that they will acknowledge the Centre in any publication or public disclosure in respect of the Activities with the following statement or as otherwise agreed to with the Centre Director:

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science.

All publications must acknowledge the role of the ARC as a major provider of funding for the Centre.

c. The ARC's contribution and support of the Centre must be acknowledged (wherever possible) by the Scholarship recipient at any time during or after completion of the Centre, when the Parties or the researchers or any other party publishes, produces or is involved in promotional material, such as books, articles, television or radio programs, social media, electronic media, newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the Centre. Such acknowledgement must be in a prominent place and an appropriate form acceptable to the ARC. Similar efforts should be made when publicly speaking about a Centre. Advice on acceptable forms of acknowledgement and use of the logo is provided on the ARC's website.

d. The Student, Parties and the Centre acknowledge that they must comply with the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Open Access Policy on the dissemination of research findings, which is available on the ARC website.

17. Thesis

a. Any restrictions on the right of a Scholarship recipient to publish his/her thesis will only be such as are reasonably necessary to protect the Background IP of the Parties, the Centre Intellectual Property and Confidential Information of the Centre or a Party provided that and any restrictions on publication of the outcomes will not extend beyond 18 months from the time of submission of the Student's Thesis.

b. Parties may request that any examiners of a thesis are required to enter into a confidentiality agreement and provide appropriate acknowledgements of confidentiality so as to protect Background IP, Centre Intellectual Property, and Confidential Information of the Parties.