Senior staff support ECR Net activities

The Early Career Researcher Network (ECR Net) 2008 Research Workshop recently held in the faculty is evidence of the interest in cross-campus collaboration between researchers on the on-shore and off-shore campuses of Monash University.

The Workshop, which comprised a number of plenary sessions as well as parallel capacity-building activities, took place on June 5-6. The opening address was delivered by Professor Edwina Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). Other speakers included Professor Max King, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training), Professor Jane Godfrey, President of the Academic Board and other leading academics from the faculty.

"The strong level of support for the ECR Net activities by so many of the faculty's most senior and respected researchers is evidence of the importance and value that this initiative has among people at the forefront of the faculty's research strategy and achievements," Professor Kim Langfield-Smith, Deputy Dean (Research) in the faculty explained.

Supported by funding from the International Strategic Initiatives Fund, a cohort of ECRs from the Sunway Campus in Malaysia attended the Workshop, along with more than 50 ECRs from across the five on-shore campuses. "Being able to bring together a large group of ECRs from Sunway and our on-shore campuses has the potential to lead to an increase in joint research income and joint research output", Dr Ingrid Nielsen, ECR Net Coordinator explained.

According to Ingrid it will also help to foster a collaborative and internationally focussed research culture in the faculty, which is a core objective of the ECR Net. "ECR Net has developed strong links with the School of Business at Sunway and through support from the International Strategic Initiatives Fund, we have been able to play an exciting role in promoting international mobility among ECRs. In the future ECR Net will work towards building links with our ECR colleagues in South Africa, with the objective of hosting an event for ECRs that brings people together from all seven Monash campuses."

The ECR Network was established in October 2006 with the aim of bringing early career researchers across the faculty together to foster interdepartmental and cross-campus research strengths and collaborations and provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of information of particular relevance to ECRs. Over 100 early career academics have now joined the ECR Net.

For more information on the ECR Net please contact Dr Ingrid Nielsen at Ingrid.Nielsen@buseco.monash.edu.au

Photo: From left Professor Edwina Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Dr Ingrid Nielsen, Professor Max King, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training), Professor Kim Langfield-Smith, Deputy Dean, Research and Mrs Halina Oswald, Director of the Monash Research Office.