Hidden Vale Conservation Research Support Grants and HDR Award

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for the fourth round of Hidden Vale Conservation Research Support Grants and HDR Award.

The philosophy of these funding schemes is to support a diversity of UQ researchers and projects to attract high-quality students and support research that could lead to external research funding that is of core strategic interest to the Hidden Vale partnership between UQ and the Turner Family Foundation (TFF).

The Hidden Vale Research Station supports a wide range of research, teaching, and engagement initiatives in wildlife conservation and ecology. Properties of The Hidden Vale Project are managed by the Turner Family Foundation (TFF), and sustain a diversity of wildlife, regional ecosystems, habitat types and land uses.

Through research, rewilding, ecological restoration and education, the Hidden Vale Project seeks to build an enduring legacy for wildlife conservation and restoration.

A total of $160,000 is available in this round of awards.

The Faculty will:

fund research in two streams:

(i) the PhD Support Fund will fund research in new PhD projects, initially for one year.

(ii) the Honours/Masters Support Fund will fund research in new projects over a one-year period.

support HDR students through a Hidden Vale Wildlife Conservation HDR Award, for professional development, and to enhance the candidate’s research experience (for example, conference and workshop attendance, living expenses top-up).

Prior to submission, applicants to all streams of support are strongly encouraged to discuss the strategic fit of their proposed project to the Hidden Vale Project with Associate Professor Diana Fisher, Academic Director Hidden Vale Research Station d.fisher@uq.edu.au.

In previous rounds, supported project topics have included restoration thinning, fire ecology and management, biodiversity monitoring, reproductive biology for conservation, and captive breeding and conservation. In this round we will prioritise research that makes use of the Wildlife Centre facilities (for example wildlife pens and laboratories).

Details for Conservation Research Support Grants

Funding is to be used for research partly or entirely at the Hidden Vale property and/or Research Station – although exceptions will be considered when the research aligns with the core goals of the Hidden Vale Project.
A UQ academic must be the lead applicant and/or primary supervisor. The lead investigator must hold at least a 0.5 FTE appointment that extends throughout the duration of the project.
Projects to commence no later than 2026.

* Applications may be partially funded at the discretion of the selection committee.

(i) PhD Support Fund

Funds to be spent in support of work directly related to the research project.
Funding for individual projects up to a maximum of $20,000.
Year 1 funding will be provided at the start of PhD project. There may be opportunities for further applications in years 2 and 3 of the project.

* Both the PhD and Honours/Masters Support Funds are competitive awards, which means applicants may be unsuccessful.

(ii) Honours/Masters Support Fund

Funds to be spent in support of work directly related to the research project.
Funding will normally be awarded in a one-off payment of up to $15,000 at the commencement of the project.
Funding is to be used to undertake a specific research project that will be undertaken by one student.
Research undertaken by Masters of Conservation Research Students will be considered in this scheme.
Consideration will be given to undergraduate student projects that are well aligned with other students supported in this scheme.

* Both the PhD and Honours/Masters Support Funds are competitive awards, which means applicants may be unsuccessful.

Details for Hidden Vale Wildlife Conservation HDR Award

The purpose of the HDR Award is to support HDR research in wildlife conservation, with the funds used to support candidates undertaking a significant component of their thesis at the Hidden Vale Research Station. Further information is available in the Graduate School’s Schedule A Postgraduate Research Scholarships

The award may be held for up to 1 year and awarded when the tenure falls vacant.
The value of the award shall be a maximum of $10,000.
The Award is open to Higher Degree by Research candidates undertaking a significant component of their thesis project in wildlife conservation research at the Hidden Vale Research Station.
Funds are to be used to support the candidate’s research experience and professional development.

To be eligible applicants must:

complete their HDR program full-time and onshore in Australia
be nominated by an enrolling school or institute at UQ
Current students must be in receipt of a living allowance scholarship for the year of study to be eligible to receive this HDR award
Future students must satisfy the entry requirements for a higher degree by research at UQ and conditions for a Research Training Program, or equivalent living allowance scholarship from UQ’s Graduate School

Examples of eligible uses of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Conservation HDR Award funds:

contribution to professional development opportunities
contribution to living expenses

Examples of ineligible uses of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Conservation HDR Award funds:

Purchase of research equipment or consumables
Project-related costs

* This is a competitive award, which means students may be unsuccessful.

Selection Criteria

PhD Support Fund & Honours/Masters Support Fund

Alignment with the goals of the Hidden Vale Project and likelihood that the proposed project could develop into a long-term research program as part of the Hidden Vale Project.
Preference will be given to projects that could either:
- develop into a long-term research program based at Hidden Vale Research Station (Wildlife Centre or associated properties), or
- take advantage of previous strategic investments, particularly related to the Wildlife Centre in this round - more information available from the Academic Director.
Importance of the research for the relevant discipline or disciplines (e.g., innovation, quality, significance, international standing, etc.)
Track record of the lead applicant and suitability of the investigator(s) for the proposed project
Likelihood that the proposed program will result in additional external-sourced funding within 24 months of the completion of the project
Budget - feasibility including well-justified budget and ability to deliver the project.

Hidden Vale Wildlife Conservation HDR Award

Applicants will be ranked on the basis of:

Academic achievements and potential for scholastic success;
How the research project’s quality and significance aligns with wildlife conservation research;
How the funds will be used to enhance the candidate’s HDR experience; and
Any other matters the selection committee considers to be relevant to the applicant’s future research development.

Application Process

Apply using the Hidden Vale Conservation Support Grants and HDR Award online application form (link below) selecting the relevant funding scheme
Research Support Grant Applications must be approved by the lead applicant's HoS before submission to the Faculty.
Applications are due no later than 26 September 2025 at 5pm.
Applications will be ranked by a committee of the Associate Dean (Research), members of which will be nominated by the Faculty Research Committee.
Final outcomes are at the discretion of the Executive Dean.
Outcomes will be announced in early November 2025.
Information on successful projects will be circulated within the Faculty to profile the projects and promote the Fund.
Successful projects will be required to submit a progress report to the Associate Dean (Research) after 12 months for the PhD Support Fund and for the Honours/Masters Support Fund and the HDR Award.

For further information, contact the Science Research Management Team at science.research@uq.edu.au.

Application Form

Conditions of Award

Funding must be expended in accordance with the approved application. Any variation to the project, from that outlined in the approved application, must be approved by the Associate Dean Research, or a delegate. A variation can be requested by completing the Variation Request form available from science.research@uq.edu.au.

Successful recipients will be asked to complete progress and final reports during and after the completion of the project using templates that are provided to successful applicants.