For a full list of contacts, you can visit our Faculty, institute and centres contacts page. If you need information regarding the fellowships please get in touch with out team.
Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2027
Applications open 1 July 2026
Our Fellowships build research and innovation capability and excellence, enabling high-achieving researchers to make an impact across Deakin's five interconnected research strengths.
What are the Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowships?
The Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (DUPRF) support and develop early career researchers identified as potential rising stars, to enhance the capacity and capability in key research areas and build the next generation of high-achieving and internationally competitive researchers.
Application key dates
Please note the following internal deadlines:
- Applications open – Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Applications closed – 11.55pm on Monday 10 August 2026 (AEST)
- Outcomes – From November 2026
Eligibility
- Applicants must have been awarded a PhD on or after 1 January 2023 or, together with allowable career interruptions, have an award of PhD date that would be commensurate with a PhD Award Date of 1 January 2023.
Funding amount
- The Fellowship provides up to 3 years of salary support from a Level A, Step 6 up to the top a Level B classification, commensurate with experience. Please note that for international fellows the third year is subject to meeting visa requirements. Refer to the Guidelines for further information.
- Successful fellows also receive a once-off research support grant of $15,000, to be used throughout the Fellowship. This grant must be used for direct research costs that relate specifically to the research project. These can include consumables, specialised computers, other equipment and resources as well as domestic or overseas travel if permitted.
How to apply
- Read the DUPRF Guidelines, Instructions and Conditions of Award.
- Liaise with the faculty/school/institute or centre that aligns most closely with your research interests and identify your proposed supervisor. Refer to the Faculty, institutes and centres contacts page. Please note applicants are required to obtain a supervisor support statement confirming their agreement to host the fellowship and attach to the application.
- Prepare the following supporting documents, which must be uploaded as part of your application. Applicants must use the the 2027 templates as previous round templates will not be accepted. Please refer to the DUPRF Template Instructions Guide (PDF, 231KB).
- Top 5 Publications Template (DOCX, 37.9KB) – You will need to provide details of your top 5 publications, monographs, NTROs or patents from the last 5 years, including the publication title, your role and contribution, impact on the field, number of citations and impact factor (if applicable), following the specified content guidelines.
- Supervisor Support Statement Template (DOCX 48.5KB) – You will need to ask your proposed supervisor to complete and sign a Support Statement form, which includes comments on your research proposal and a summary of how they will support you if your application is successful.
- Summary of Experience and Contributions Template (DOCX, 37.2KB) – You will need to prepare a one-page Summary of Experience and Contributions form outlining your key research contributions, relevant expertise, supervisory experience and career aspirations, strictly following the required formatting guidelines.
- Full Research Project Proposal Template (DOCX, 37.7KB) – You will need to work with your supervisor on a Full Research Proposal (maximum five A4 pages) that outlines your project aims, background, significance, methodology, anticipated outcomes and alignment with Deakin's research strengths, strictly following the required formatting guidelines.
- Curriculum Vitae and Publication List – You will need to upload this list as a single PDF document and must not exceed 8 pages.
- Competitive Funding and Prizes and Awards Template (DOCX, 514KB) – You will need to provide the relative information relating to any competitive funding or prizes or awards received.
- Evidence of PhD conferral – This must be your official testamur, not transcript. Or a letter from your institution indicating you are on track to complete your PhD by no later than 31 December 2026.
- Evidence of any career interruptions impacting your eligibility (if applicable) – This can be in the form of a Statutory Declaration (This link is for a Victorian Statutory Declaration. Equivalent Statutory Declarations are also accepted as long as they are in English). As well as attaching the career interruption calculator.
- Complete the online application form via the application portal, ensuring you upload all supporting documents and follow the submission instructions as detailed in the Guidelines. Failure to comply with any of these submission instructions will render your application ineligible.
- Submit the application on or before the closing date and time.
Frequently asked questions
Browse our frequently asked questions to learn everything you need to know about the Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and how to apply.
Career Interruptions Calculator
You can use our career interruptions calculator to determine if you are eligible to apply for this round.
Download the 2027 Career Interruption Calculator (XLSX, 87KB)
Faculty, institute and centre contacts
Search our contacts page to identify a supervisor that aligns with your research interests. You will then reach out to them prior to applying to prepare your research project proposal and obtain a supervisor support statement.
Deakin's research strengths
Guided by five research strengths, our world-class researchers are transforming bold ideas into groundbreaking solutions to global challenges.
Documents and information
Download the following guidelines and templates for 2027 applications:
Deakin 2030 Ideas to Impact (PDF, 1.9MB)
DUPRF Guidelines, Instructions and Conditions of Awards (PDF, 533KB)
DUPRF Template Instructions Guide (PDF, 231KB)
Top 5 Publications Template (DOCX, 37.9KB)
Supervisor Support Statement Template (DOCX, 48.5KB)
Summary of Experience and Contributions Template (DOCX, 37.2KB)
Full Research Proposal Template (DOCX, 37.7KB)
Competitive Funding and Prizes and Awards Template (DOCX, 514KB)
Key contacts
Email the team
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