The Forrest Research Foundation Fellowships

Forrest Fellowships are offered to early-stage postdoctoral researchers who have outstanding academic profiles and who have already made significant personal research contributions within and beyond their discipline. 

Forrest Fellows will wish to extend their postdoctoral research well beyond the focus of their doctoral dissertation and will aim to do so in a way that builds intellectual bridges within and between disciplines. Forrest Fellows are also committed to communicating their research to others, to have a positive impact on the world around us. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJune 30, 2026
• Study LevelPostdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorThe Forrest Research Foundation
• City to studyWestern Australia, Western Australia
• School to studyCurtin University, Edith Cowan University (ECU), Murdoch University, University of Notre Dame, University of Western Australia (UWA)
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

The Forrest Research Foundation will provide funding for:

• Salary
  • Salary consistent with a Level A Step 8 appointment (for example, the University of Western Australia salary for this appointment is $112,371 in 2026) plus 17% superannuation
• Accommodation Allowance
  • An accommodation allowance of $25,740 per annum in 2026 (subject to marginal tax rate)
• Research and travel allowance
  • A once-off research and travel allowance of $12,000. This allowance is available for approved research-related expenses, overseas research and conference travel. 
• Relocation allowance
  • All interstate and international Fellows can apply for a relocation allowance, including an economy airfare to Perth, which can be discussed with the Director if successful.

Forrest Fellows will support the general mission of the Forrest Research Foundation which could include providing mentoring, ambassadorial and leadership to Forrest Scholars, Forrest Hall and the Forrest Research Foundation. Appointments at Level B will be considered if supported by the employing university. 

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for a Forrest Research Foundation Fellowship, an applicant must:

• Have had their PhD conferred on or after 1 January 2024, or will have successfully completed all the requirements for the award of their PhD by 31 December 2026.
• Be intending to reside at Forrest Hall for the duration of the Fellowship (exemptions may be considered by the Governors of the Forrest Research Foundation).

To be eligible to take up a Forrest Research Foundation Fellowship, an awardee must:

• Have been offered and accepted an employment contract at a Western Australian university. The Forrest Foundation will liaise with the nominated university to issue the employment contract to successful fellowship applicants.
• Have received their PhD conferral before taking up their appointment.
• Take up the Forrest Fellowship and commence employment at the relevant university within 12 months of being awarded the Fellowship.
• Agree to reporting their progress to the Forrest Research Foundation Director and the Minderoo Foundation each year.

Selection criteria:
Applications will be assessed by the Forrest Research Foundation Selection Committee on the basis of each applicant’s:

• Outstanding academic achievements.
• Exceptional ability, resourcefulness and originality.
• Potential to make a positive difference to the world.
• Their ability and commitment to mentoring and leadership within the Forrest Research Foundation community (including Forrest Scholars and at Forrest Hall).
• A demonstration of how the award would help build world-class innovation and research capacity in Western Australia.

Selection Process

• The selection of applicants will be undertaken by the Selection Committee of the Forrest Research Foundation having regard to applicants’ academic records, completed application and supporting documentation.
• If the applicant is shortlisted, the applicant’s nominated university is responsible for providing a short statement on the research environment that Forrest Fellows will be a part of (facilities, mentoring, equipment etc.) as well as a commitment to any additional resources (e.g. recommended salary level, start-up grants etc.). The applicant’s nominated university will also need to detail how the employing university will develop and mentor the Forrest Fellow, either on to a subsequent research fellowship or into teaching activities.
• The Selection Committee will interview shortlisted applicants. Shortlisted applicants may be required to conduct a presentation on research at the nominated university in conjunction with the selection process.
• The Forrest Research Foundation Selection Committee will refer Fellows to the Forrest Research Foundation Board of Governors for endorsement.

Application Documents

Applications must include the following documentation in order to be considered:

• A completed online application form submitted through the Forrest Research Foundation website.
• A Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages).
• Contact details for three referees – one personal or professional (optional) and at least two academic.
• Photograph.

Check also:
ANU Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship 2026
University of Canberra Research Scholarships 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applications are made via the Application Portal.

For more information, kindly visit the Forrest Research Foundation webpage.