The Josephine Circle @ QIMR Berghofer Grant Funding Expression of Interest 2025
The Josephine Circle Grant
The Josephine Circle is a giving circle named in honour of pioneering QIMR Berghofer zoologist, entomologist, and parasitologist, Dr Josephine Mackerras.
A small group of influential leaders and philanthropists, their dedicated mission is to help close the gender gap in research funding and to stem the loss of women from the sector to work towards equal representation of women in senior research positions and overall grant funding.
Objective
Grants from The Josephine Circle will provide crucial funding and stability for talented Early- and Mid-Career female researchers to sustain their research and pursue potentially transformative discoveries.
- Early Career Grant: $25,000 p.a. x 2 years ($50,000 total)
- Mid-Career Grant: $75,000 p.a. x 2 years ($150,000 total)
Eligibility
- Early Career (RO): within eight years of the award of their PhD*
- Mid-Career (SRO): within fifteen years of the award of their PhD*
*including career disruption (pregnancy, major illness/injury, carer responsibilities)
Evaluation Criteria
Nominees will be assessed based on two primary criteria: the potential impact of the proposed research and the need for financial support.
Impact: Nominees should be able to demonstrate a clear and measurable potential to translate their research into tangible benefits for patients or the medical research sector in Australia and beyond.
Need: While having existing grant or philanthropic support won’t preclude a nominee from consideration, preference will be given to nominees who can demonstrate a genuine need for funding to carry out their research.
By focusing on both the impact and need of each project, we aim to ensure that funding is allocated to those whose research has the greatest potential to make a difference and who are most in need of financial support to realise their vision.
Next Steps
One early and one mid-career female researcher from each Program (Cancer, Brain & Mental Health, Infection & Inflammation, Population Health) from the pool of EOIs will be nominated by each Program Director.
4 early and 4 mid-career nominees will be asked to provide a short ‘pitch’ to in person to the members of The Josephine Circle and answer questions about their research. Date to be advised.
One mid and one early-career researcher will be selected by TJC members to receive the grant over two years. Recipients will provide an annual research update to TJC members.
Application Deadline: 15 July 2025
For more information, contact:
Heidi Hynd, Major Gifts Associate