Unlocking the future

The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Future Fellowships scheme has named new Future Fellows for the 2014 round.

Functional neuroimaging, somatic mutations in plants, managing invasive marine species, nanotechnology and better understanding subset populations of adult stem cells are just some of the research areas the new fellows will progress.

Announced by the Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne, $115 million will support 150 outstanding Australian and international mid-career researchers to conduct research in Australia in areas of national importance.

The four-year fellowships range over three salary levels (of up to $203,248 a year). Each researcher’s administering organisation will also receive up to $50,000 per year to support related infrastructure, equipment, travel and relocation costs.

“We need to ensure that Australia’s best minds stay in this great country to do their research, which in turn bolsters our capacity to innovate,” Pyne said in a statement. “One hundred four-year fellowships will be awarded each year from 2015 onwards.”

The University of Melbourne topped the table with 22 fellowships, followed by the University of Queensland with 16 and the University of Sydney with 13.

For more information see the ARC website.