Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) 2026 grant funding recipients announced

December 15, 2025

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates the grant recipients of the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) grant funding for the 2026 round.

Established by the Royal Society to further scientific discovery, the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) is administered by the Australian Academy of Science and provides grant funding to support activities that provide tangible benefits to Australia’s early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

A total commitment of $260,000 has been allocated to support 23 applications with the grant recipients spread across Australia. These grants are distributed among four Flagship projects, five Amplify initiatives and 11 Participation Support grants which are expected to start implementation from January 2026.

Funding stream one: Flagship activities

Find out more about Flagship activities

Four grants have been approved to deliver activities designed to provide meaningful benefits to EMCRs in Australia and the broader scientific community. The initiatives will foster collaboration between more than one organisation and garner additional sponsor support from partners to maximise impact.

Approved Flagship activities

Project title	University/institution
Symposium for Australia–Pacific early-career leadership for climate policy and science diplomacy	Future Earth Australia
Entrepreneurial mindset training for Victorian STEM EMCRs to build capacity towards Australian innovation	RMIT University
Essential skills for statistics leadership in consultancy and research	Queensland University of Technology, University of Melbourne
The SynBio EMCR Series 2026: Connection, communication, and collaboration	Synthetic Biology Australia

Funding stream two: Amplify activities

Find out more about Amplify activities

Five grants were approved to enhance conferences, workshops, symposia and networking events. These activities are designed as complementary additions to scientific events to support a greater focus on EMCR engagement and are intended to create opportunities for meaningful interactions and collaborations beyond research endeavours. The grant covers the additional costs to support EMCR participation, ensuring a more inclusive and enriched experience for all attendees.

Approved Amplify activities

Project title	University/institution
2026 BPA/ANS/ACNS Joint Neuroscience conference EMCR program of events	Biological Psychiatry Australia (BPA), Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS), Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society (ACNS)
Early and Mid-Career Researcher Day at SEDI 2026 and beyond: building inclusion, connection, and careers	Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior (SEDI)
Rheology School at the 2026 Australian Society of Rheology Annual Meeting	Australian Society of Rheology
Mental health first aid skills for EMCRs in ocean sciences	Australian Marine Sciences Association
EMCR photovoltaic industry tour, career panel, poster slams, and bursaries at Wagga-AC2MP 2026	Australian Institute of Physics

Funding stream three: Participation Support grants

Find out more about Participation Support grants

Eleven grants were approved for Australian EMCRs to support their participation in scientific events and activities. This funding covers expenses related to caregiving, accessibility, and mobility, ensuring EMCRs can access career development opportunities like conferences and workshops. By reducing financial barriers, the Participation Support grant enables EMCRs to fully engage in activities essential for their professional advancement.

Approved Participation Support grants

Applicant	University/institution
Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka	University of Adelaide
Dr Thomas Burton	University of New South Wales
Dr Ashfaque Chowdhury	Central Queensland University
Dr Nehad Elsalamouny	University of Wollongong
Dr Pamali Fonseka	La Trobe University
Dr Christopher Keneally	University of Adelaide
Dr Sombol Mokhles	Australian National University
Dr Kamyar Shirvani Moghaddam	RMIT University
Dr Prabhavi Perera	Australian National University
Dr Danielle Smith	University of Queensland
Dr Pei Lay Yap	University of Adelaide

Every application undergoes thorough evaluation by the EMCR Committee of Council, a panel consisting of esteemed Academy Fellows and EMCRs. The final decisions regarding approvals and allocations were made by the Academy's Council and the Board of the Royal Society (Australia) Pty Ltd. Participation Support recipients were selected for funding using a computerised random generator following eligibility screening.

The next round

The Academy anticipates the next call for applications to open around mid-2026. For any enquiries related to the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) program, please email theomurphyau@science.org.au.