VicBioCon Research Grant

The VicBioCon Research Grant aims to support PhD students and early career scientists undertaking research or conservation action within Victoria. We also welcome applicants from land managers, environmental educators, and community organisations (e.g. ‘Friends of’ groups) who are actively engaged in projects that increase understanding or persistence of biodiversity within Victoria. The grant is intended to cater for our diverse audience of researchers, students and community members dedicated to conserving biodiversity in Victoria.

In 2026, the VicBioCon Research Grant is partly sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Trust.

Applicants will be judged on the project relevance, feasibility and meaningful impact to conservation or biodiversity knowledge in Victoria. Consideration will also be given to how well applicants have articulated how grant funds will be utilised to deliver project outcomes.

The VicBioCon Research Grant is available to a single applicant for a value up to AU$3500.

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

Be actively engaged in research or work that increases knowledge, or supports conservation of biodiversity within Victoria
Be affiliated with a Victorian-based research, or higher education organisation
Be available to present at the Victorian Biodiversity Conference in 2027, and will be attending the conference in 2026

To avoid conflicts of interest, please note that current and past (<2 years) VicBioCon committee members are not eligible to apply. Applicants that may have conflict of interest with Natural Resources Conservation Trust are also not eligible to apply.

The VicBioCon Research Grant for 2025 was awarded to Meg Farmer from
Deakin University for:
'The ecology and conservation of long-nosed potoroos during a feral cat eradication program.'
We look forward to hearing about Meg’s research at future conferences!

Applications for the VicBioCon Research Grant are open until the 31st of January, 2026

I am eligible for the grant because I am attending VicBioCon 2025 and am available to present in 2026

I am eligible for the grant because I am based at a Victorian institution

I am eligible for the grant because I am engaged in research or work that increases knowledge, or supports conservation of biodiversity within Victoria

Project title (20 words)

A brief summary of your project (200 words)

What aspects of your project make it interesting or necessary to happen now? (200 words)

Expected outcomes or impact of your project (300 words)

Describe how you will use the funds given to you by VicBioCon (250 words)

What other funding do you currently have? What opportunities would receiving the VicBioCon grant offer to you above and beyond your current funding? (100 words)

I will acknowledge funding received from VicBioCon on all outputs from my project

I declare I am not a current VicBioCon committee member, nor do I collaborate closely with an existing committee member

Thank you for submitting your application!