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Honours Project Application 2009-10
Project Call
The scholarships are to allow university students to conduct Honours projects under the direct supervision of a researcher or extension officer. Honours project support should not be considered as supplementary funding for casual assistance within existing projects.
20/11/2009
Professor Peter Gregg
(02) 67992451,
Peter.Gregg@cottoncrc.org.au
Robyn Smith
Project Administration Officer
Cotton Catchment Communities CRC
Locked Bag 1001
Narrabri NSW 2390
Robyn.Smith@cottoncrc.org.au
Background
The Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre (Cotton CRC) commenced operations in 1st October 2005 when it successfully secured a third round of funding under the Commonwealth CRC Program. It succeeds the Australian Cotton CRC (1999-2005) and the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Cotton Production, 1993-99.
The aims of the Cotton CRC are met through high quality and integrated scientific research by the combined efforts and resources of the CRC's core participants:
Australian Cotton Growers Research Association, Cotton Australia Ltd, CSIRO, NSW DPI, Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries Queensland, Agriculture Western Australia, The University of Sydney, The University of New England, Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Cotton Seed Distributors, The University of New South Wales and University of Technology Sydney. The Cotton Catchment Communities CRC's head office is based at the Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI), Narrabri. The Cotton Catchment Communities CRC's mission is to undertake collaborative research, education and commercialisation activities to provide innovative knowledge that is adopted for the benefit of the Australian Cotton Industry, regional communities and the Nation.
Objectives:
Key objectives of the new Cotton Catchment Communities CRC are improved economic performance of the cotton industry and sustainable use of natural resources for regional communities. Its research focus includes increasing crop yields; improving fibre quality; improving irrigation and water use efficiency; promoting productivity and innovation; providing research information on salinity, river health, and groundwater; enhancing biodiversity; enhancing industry skills; facilitating technology transfer and regional wealth. Applications for funding must be directly related to at least one of these objectives. The CRC's Strategic Plan 2006-12 can be found on the CRC's website, http://www.cottoncrc.org.au 2009 Honour's Project Guidelines
Honours Project Program
This is an initiative of the Cotton CRC which aims to provide direct research linkages between industry, researchers and university students. The scholarships are to allow university students to conduct Honours projects under the direct supervision of a researcher or extension officer. Both the student and the applicant should benefit from the proposal. Honours project support should not be considered as supplementary funding for casual assistance within existing projects.
Eligibility
Any Cotton CRC researcher or extension officer may apply for Cotton CRC funds. Students can be placed at any location but must be under the direct supervision of the applicant. The project is open to all university students of a high standard who are accepted for an Honours year of an undergraduate degree or are enrolled in a separate honours program.
Proposals will be assessed on the basis of their compliance with Cotton CRC objectives, the capacity for outcomes to be achieved within the specified time frame and that the resulting benefits are clearly identified as a Cotton CRC outcome. Applicants are encouraged to discuss proposals with the Program Leaders before submission.
Appraisal
Proposals pass through a four stage process:
1. Program Leaders provide comments on all applications;
2. The Cotton CRC Chief Scientist decides on a short list of suitable projects;
3. The Cotton CRC Company Management Team considers the Chief Scientist's recommendation and provides final selection of projects (by early November).
4. The applicant advertises for suitable University students. (Alternatively applicants may nominate a particular student when applying for funding.)
Project Length
Honours project funds will be available for a maximum time period of 12 months. Universities must be advised and written confirmation of the student's involvement in the project must be submitted to the Project Management Officer before the project commences.
Funding
The maximum funding for an Honours Project is $3,000 stipend for the student, and $2,000 operating funds. Funds must not be spent on capital items, computer hardware or software.
Written Reports
Written reports are required from the student and supervisor (can be combined) within three (3) months of completing the project. The reports are to be submitted to the Project Management Officer. A copy of the student's thesis may be acceptable in lieu of the report. Students may be required to make formal presentations of their project.
Applications
A hard copy and an electronic copy of the application must be received by 31 October 2009. All applications should be sent to:
Project Administration Officer
Cotton Catchment Communities CRC
Locked Bag 1001
Narrabri NSW 2390
Robyn.Smith@cottoncrc.org.au
Application forms can be obtained from out website www.cottoncrc.org.au, each application
for an Honours project support should be no more than 2 pages and must include:
| Project Title: |
Short and self explanatory, but sufficiently descriptive to indicate the subject area and nature of the investigation. |
| Commencement Date: |
Proposed commencement date and duration of project. |
| University Student: |
Name of proposed University student, if known (attach C.V. if available). |
| Organisation: |
Name of organisation sponsoring the project. |
| Administrative Contact: |
Name, position, telephone and facsimile number of the officer who will be responsible for the administrative aspects of the projects. |
| Project Supervisor: |
The officer who will be directly responsible for supervising the University student. If the student is to be based at ACRI for any part of the project, the name of a local researcher who has agreed to supervise the project must be included. |
| Aims: |
A brief, concise outline of the project aims. |
| Research Proposal Summary: |
Details of the project proposal indicating the anticipated benefit to industry and the student. |
| Budget: |
A stipend of $3,000 p.a. will be paid to the student. Operating costs of $2,000 will be paid to the supervisors institution. |
|
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Program Leaders
Honours projects will be considered in the context of the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC's five established programs and will be monitored by the respective Program Leaders. All new applicants are encouraged to discuss applications with the relevant Program Leaders before submission. Contacts for Program Leaders are indicated below. Potential applications can also be discussed with the Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Gregg on (02) 67992451, email Peter.Gregg@cottoncrc.org.au
Download PDF Version of these Guidelines 
Cotton CRC Honours Project Guidelines 2009 2010.pdf
Download application form (Microsoft Word) 
Cotton CRC Honours project application 2009 2010.doc
