Several young investigators in Australia and the US this week received grants to get their independent research programs up and running.
The Australian Research Council named 277 researchers with recent PhDs who are to receive its inaugural Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards. According to The Australian, "the ARC diverted the $104 million funding handed out in DECRAs from its mainstream Discovery Grants program."
ARC's Margaret Sheil spoke with The Australian about the importance of supporting early-career researchers. "Once you have that independence it gives you credibility, negotiating power, and kudos that help you to do other things," Sheil said. "And in terms of attracting global talent, the entry point for most new blood is early in the career, not late," she added.
Meanwhile, the US National Institutes of Health Director's Early Independence Awards program announced its 10 winners, as well. Funding for the NIH Director's awards is supplied by the agency's Common Fund.
Applications for 2012 NIH Director's Early Independence Awards are due January 30, 2012.