UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
Key dates for UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards 2025
- Round opens: Monday 7 April 2025
- Nomination Forms due to School/Centre/Institute: Determined locally to support Recommendation Form preparation.
- Nomination Forms due to UQ Research Office: 16 May 2025, 5:00 PM
- Recommendation Forms due to Faculty & Institute Research Managers: 16 May 2025, 5:00 PM
- Faculty & Institute Rankings and Recommendation forms due to UQ Research Office: 10 June 2025, 5:00 PM
- Announcement: Research and Innovation Week, UQ Research and Innovation Awards for Excellence – held between 8-12 September 2025.
Overview
The University of Queensland Foundation Research Excellence Awards (UQ FREA) celebrates the exceptional research achievements and leadership potential of individual early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). By recognising and supporting EMCRs this prestigious award aims to foster their development as research leaders, enabling them to make a sustained impact in their disciplines.
UQ FREA aims to accelerate the career development of the recipients, empowering researchers to enhance their research trajectory and leadership capabilities over a 12-month period.
The selection of awardees will be based on two primary criteria:
- Track record: the nominee’s track record of excellence and impact in their field, relative to opportunity.
- Proposal: The merit of the proposal to utilise UQ FREA funding to enhance their career development and establish themselves as emerging research leaders.
Awards of up to $50,000 are available. Funding will commence on 01 January 2026 and it is expected that funds will be fully expended within 12 months.
How to apply
- Step 1: Familiarise yourself with the key UQ documentation.
- Step 2: Complete the UQ FREA nomination form.
- Step 3: Work with your School/Centre/Institute to prepare the 2025 UQ FREA Recommendation Form (To be completed by Head of School/Centre/Institute)
Readership and researcher support
Before applying, we recommend you:
- Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
- Join the UQ R&I Mailer to stay up to date with round developments.
- Access the UQ R&I Grants Library, a helpful resource of past successful proposals.
- If offered, attend UQ R&I information sessions and access PowerPoint presentations from presentations and slides.
Key Resources
- 2025 UQ FREA Nomination Form
- 2025 UQ FREA Recommendation Form (To be completed by Head of School/Centre/Institute)
- 2025 UQ FREA Guidelines (PDF, 197.3 KB) (Updated 09 April)
- 2025 UQ FREA Conditions of Award (PDF, 265.1 KB)
- 2025 UQ FREA Career Disruption Calculator (XLSX, 17.6 KB)
- 2025 Faculty and Institute Ranking Spreadsheet (XLSX, 18.6 KB)
Additional resources
- SAMPLE 2025 UQ FREA Nomination Form
- Visit the UQ Library's website for assistance with bibliometrics including collating evidence of end-user impact.
Reporting
Contact UQ R&I
Scheme queries
internalschemes@research.uq.edu.au
Round coordinator
Karen Lucas - Research Office Internal Schemes