Overview

The University of Sydney and the University of California, Davis have identified each other as strategic partners to foster deep collaborations in research and education. The University of Sydney - University of California, Davis Ignition Grants have been established to facilitate and support joint initiatives that will strengthen the two universities’ strategic priorities as well as develop multi-disciplinary innovative research to create academic and societal impact.

Call for Proposals

Applicants are encouraged to submit funding proposals from all disciplines for innovative and sustainable programs built around collaborative research linking The University of Sydney and the University of California, Davis.

All projects supported by these Ignition Grants are expected to lead to publication outputs and secure external funding totaling at least AUD $100,000 (equivalent to approximately USD $65,000) for continued collaboration within 12 months of the project end date. Evidence of external funding applications will need to be provided in final reports.

Proposals that seek to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are highly encouraged. Proposals should specify which SDG(s) the project supports and how.

Eligibility

Proposals must include a team of participants from both institutions, and preference will be given to teams that include Ph.D. or Master’s students, Postdocs, Early- and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) and/or researchers on sabbatical leave. Multi- or interdisciplinary projects are encouraged. Preference will be given to applications for new collaborations and to projects led by researchers within 10 years of receiving their Ph.D.

UC Davis co-Principal Investigators (co-PI) must be members of the Academic Senate of Academic Federation to hold co-PI status. Graduate students and postdocs can be part of the research team but cannot serve as co-PI.

Funding

In this round of the Ignition Grants, up to four proposals will be funded (each with two Chief Investigators: one from The University of Sydney and one from University of California, Davis). Each successful proposal may receive up to the equivalent of AUD $25,000 from each university (equivalent to approximately USD $16,000) for a total of AUD $50,000 (equivalent to approximately USD $32,000) per project.

Guidelines for Applicants

View the Ignition Grants Guidelines for Applicants for additional details. 

UC Davis faculty should note that this call contains some instructions that are written specifically for researchers from The University of Sydney; this is because all applications to the Ignition Grants must be submitted by the “Chief Investigator” from The University of Sydney via that university’s internal grant submission system. The partner faculty from UC Davis will appear on the proposal submission as the co-Chief Investigator (or co-Principal Investigator).

The University of Sydney applicants should familiarize themselves with the guidance and resources on international collaborations available on that university's intranet.

View Ignition Grants Guidelines for Applicants

Important Dates

• Applications open: June 24, 2024
• Applications close: August 2, 2024
• Successful applicants notified: Mid-Late September 2024
• Earliest date for projects to start: October 1, 2024
• Latest date for projects to start: November 1, 2024
• Latest date for projects to end: November 1, 2025
• Final reports due: January 31, 2026
• Update to final reports due: January 31, 2027

More Information

Rebecca Griffin

Manager, Global Research Partnerships
Office of Global and Research Engagement
The University of Sydney 
ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

Esther Luna DeLozier

Assistant Director of Partnerships and Faculty Engagement
Global Affairs
University of California, Davis
eldelozier@ucdavis.edu