Early-Mid Career Researchers and Academics Association (EMCRA)

Supporting postdoctoral researchers in the School, EMCRA offers networking opportunities and annual collaborative seed-funding grants.

The latest News & Events from our EMCRA community

Contact us

Email
sbs-emcra@unimelb.edu.au
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/company/sbs-emcra-unimelb

About Us

The School of Biomedical Sciences' Early-Mid Career Researchers and Academics (EMCRA) Association was formed to support level A and B postdoctoral researchers in our School, across all three departments. We offer opportunities for postdocs to network with each other, and most importantly run an inter-department collaborative seed-funding grant once a year, the EMCRA Seed Funding Award. We are also actively involved with the School of Biomedical Sciences' Research Committee and Executive Committee, providing a voice for early and mid-career researchers to the senior members of the School.

Please reach out via email or our social channels, so we can keep you up to date with events and opportunities that specifically benefit YOU, our School's postdocs! We are also eager to engage with other postdoctoral early-mid career associations in Victoria. If you represent any such organisation, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Email: sbs-emcra@unimelb.edu.au

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EMCRA Travel Awards

Applications for the EMCRA Travel Awards are now open.

Purpose

The travel awards support costs associated with conference attendance and/or laboratory visits for early to mid career researchers and academics.

In 2026, SBS EMCRA will be offering two rounds of travel awards, with one international and one domestic travel award available for each Department per round. Grants are valued at $2,000 for international and $750 for domestic travel.

  • Round 1: For travel from 1st January 2026 through to 30th June 2026
  • Round 2: For travel from 1st July 2026 through to 31st December 2026

How to apply

Please read the full guidelines for this award here.

Important dates for Round 1
  • Applications open 1st December 2025
  • Applications due by 5pm on Friday, 13th February 2026
  • Outcome of application: End of March 2026
Important dates for Round 2
  • Applications open 1st June 2026
  • Applications due by 5pm on Friday, 17th July 2026
  • Outcome of application: Late August 2026

Apply now

Call for reviewers

Are you interested in gaining experience in reviewing award applications?

The SBS EMCRA committee is looking for EMCRAs to review  the 2026 Travel  Awards applications. It's a great way to get involved in these initiatives and the experience will look great on your CV!

Important Dates
  • Round 1: Review period – 14th to 28th March 2026
  • Round 2: Review period – late July 2026
How to register

Complete the form here.

Register your interest

EMCRA Seed Funding Award

The most recent round of the EMCRA Seed Funding Award was run in 2025. 3 Grants of $40,000 each were awarded to the highest ranked applicant from each of the School’s three Departments.

Details of future funding rounds will be shared in due course.

Purpose

The EMCRA Seed Funding Award scheme is designed to support innovative new research led by EMCRA Association in the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS). SBS recognises the value and importance of supporting the career development of EMCRs towards establishing a track record of project management and autonomous innovative research that will underpin future bids for external competitive research funding.

This award facilitates emerging research led by EMCRAs across SBS. Applicable research projects may include basic research, translational work, teaching-focused projects, or other research projects within the scope of EMCRAs working across SBS. While collaborative research projects are encouraged, individual research projects are also eligible. Collaborative projects can be with researchers in or beyond the University of Melbourne; however, funds must be expended through the University’s Purchase and Acquisition services.

To facilitate the development of EMCRAs research, SBS will make available 3 grants, to the value of $40,000 each, to the leading applicant from each of the School’s three Departments: Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, and Microbiology and Immunology.

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Promotions

We realised that many of the EMCRs applicants don't know the pathways that will lead them to get a promotion.

To help you plan and manage your academic career, here are some frequently asked questions as well as resources to help you get successfully promoted.

The main guidelines document for promotion can be found here. Most of your questions will be answered in this document.

The full documentation pathway of how to apply can be found here.

Dates/Timetables for Promotions can be found here.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions from EMCRs about promotions.

  • Completion of an annual or triennial performance development review within the past 12 months is a criteria for eligibility for promotion.

    A great resource about the Guidelines for promotions can be found here

    Generally, the university requires you to be approaching or progressing towards the benchmarks in the ACBI (A>B) or meeting or approaching the benchmarks in the ACBI (B>C).

    The main areas the university considers is Research, Education and Leadership - this is very similar to your general Performance Review.

  • The Academic Career Benchmarks and Indicators (ACBI) is the University’s guidelines for the expectations, contributions and achievements of academic staff, will also be used to assess staff member’s achievements.

    A rubric to view can be found here.

  • Generally the best time to do this is during a performance review. Much of the writing of a promotion application is similar to your performance review and can help you gather the evidence you need to put forward your application.

  • The confirmation period is the designated time period prior to a continuing academic appointment being confirmed. During this period, a staff member is supported to demonstrate, and is assessed against, specific confirmation criteria on their competency, capability, and suitability to sustain and develop an academic career consistent with a leading university.

    Full guidelines for confirmation can be found here.

    For a detailed walkthrough on how to apply for confirmation click here

  • Your confirmation criteria was developed when you originally accepted your current position.

    You must demonstrate that you have achieved these criteria after beginning your employment to have your confirmation accepted.

    You can apply for confirmation and promotion at the same time and are required to respond to the seperate set of criteria for the confirmation.

Resources

Find the information you need to succeed while working in the School. Think career development, funding opportunities, grant writing tips, connecting with other EMCR organisations and where to find support during challenging times.

Let us know if there are resources you want to see here - or if you have content that you think we should be sharing. Contact us at sbs-emcra@unimelb.edu.au with the subject line: Resources Page.

Promote Yourself

EMCRAs are encouraged to highlight publications or achievements that can be shared to the wider EMCRA community and on the EMCRA LinkedIn for promotional use.

Share your achievements using the Promote Yourself form.

Promotions

We realised that many of the EMCRs applicants don't know the pathways that will lead them to get a promotion. To help you plan and manage your academic career, we listed here some websites that can help you to find the information you need.

Mental Health Resources

To better support EMCRs, we have put together a list of mental health resources below. Note that this is a general guide - please visit your GP for professional advice and call ‘000’ for urgent assistance.

  • UoM Health and Wellbeing Directory

    This University webpage covers a wide range of internal and external health and wellbeing support services and resources.

  • UoM COVID-19 Managing Stress and Anxiety Webpage

    This University webpage covers the mental health reactions associated with COVID-19, coping strategies and recommended resources and support available in Australia.

    UoM Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    This is a confidential support service available to UoM employees and their immediate family members. It is delivered by an external provider, Benestar through telephone, video, online, or the BeneHub app. Appointments can be made by calling 1300 360 364 (Australia) or +61 2 8295 2292 (International). Alternatively, visit https://benestar.com/, click on the ‘BeneHub Login’ button and enter the following details in the ‘Use your company token’ and create your personal profile’ section:

    ID: UOM

    Token: UOM01

    Head to Health

    An excellent website created by the Australian Government Department of Health that provide step-by-step guide to help you find the right digital mental health resources that suit your needs.

    Lifeline Australia

    Provides telephone counselling and referral to local mental health support services.

    Telephone: 13 11 14

    Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA)

    Provides mental health and suicide prevention information to cater for people from various cultural and language background.

    QLife

    Provides anonymous and free counselling and referral services tailored for the LGBTI community.

    Telephone: 1800 184 527

    Relationship Matters (formerly LifeWorks)

    Non-for-profit organisation which provides relationship counselling and mediation.

    Telephone: 1300 543 396

    Wire

    Provides free support, referral and information for all Victorian women, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals.

    Telephone: 1300 134 130