Research Training

As an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences The Cairns Institute plays a major role in research training. The Institute is involved in the recruitment, supervision, networking and mentoring of research students enrolled in Masters and Doctoral programs at JCU and partner universities.

A number of research students are physically located in The Cairns Institute Building D3 in order to work more closely with supervisors housed in the building. These, and other, research students benefit from the seminar series and other activities run by the Institute.

The Institute warmly welcomes inquiries from people interested in undertaking higher degrees by research on topics aligned with our strategic intent and research themes.

Details on application procedures and scholarship opportunities are available from JCU’s Graduate Research School.

GRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOOL

Workshop 1: Researcher Induction Program

Date: 7 February
This workshop offers an overview of essential processes and frameworks to help you progress and manage your research projects. It’s perfect for those starting out or needing a refresher on securing grants and projects. Key topics include:

• Navigating the research office and critical JCU policies
• Grants finance and employing project staff
• Compliance with external legislative frameworks
• College-specific procedures, travel, and resource management

Workshop 2: Writing Competitive Grants – A Research Office Perspective

Date: 18 February
Gain insights into the critical components of an effective grant application. This workshop will cover:

• The competitive grant landscape
• Elements of successful grants
• Writing for the audience
• Strategic context, significance, and innovation

Workshop 3: Policy Spotlight – Internal/External Controls and Legislation

Date: 25 March
Develop a working knowledge of internal policy frameworks and legislation impacting research projects. Topics include:

• JCU policies affecting applications and contracts
• Biodiscovery Act and Defence Trade Controls
• Applying legislative requirements from a researcher’s perspective

Workshop 4: Engaging Industry

Date: 20 May
This practical workshop focuses on engaging with industry partners, a critical aspect of career development for researchers. Learn strategies for managing relationships and hear from experienced researchers and industry partners.

For more details and to register for these sessions, please visit the Research Services SharePoint site. 

Research Impact Training (Introduction)

Why is Research Impact Important?
The Australian Research Council's Engagement and Impact Assessment defines research impact as "the contribution that research makes to the economy, society, environment, and culture, beyond the contribution to academic research." Bayley and Phipps (2019) further elaborate that "Impact is the provable effects of research in the real world. It is the changes we can see (demonstrate, measure, capture), beyond academia (in society, economy, environment) which happen because of research (caused by, contributed to, attributable to)."

By participating in this training program, you are positioning yourself at the forefront of a university-wide initiative designed to enhance our collective ability to communicate the significance of our research.

Who is this training for?
Early Career Researchers

What will you gain?
This program provides both informational insights and practical exercises, equipping you with the essential skills needed to effectively demonstrate the real-world impact of your research.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding different types of research impact
• Planning for impact through defined pathways
• Identifying potential impacts of your research
• Identifying and engaging with stakeholders
• Stakeholder mapping
• Formulating key messages
• Creating a comprehensive impact plan

You can view the recording and access the working materials from the session from the Research Impact Library Guide at JCU

If you would like to be included in future training sessions, please contact The Cairns Institute's Research Manager, Aliyah Ravat, at aliyah.ravat@jcu.edu.au