Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Funding Allocation

Category	Details
Total Project Funding Available	$80,000 per year
Project Funding Duration	Up to 3 years

Purpose

The Post-Doctoral Fellowships aim to support the development of the next generation of early to mid-career researchers, occupational hygienists or those working in occupational health in the field of dust diseases. These fellowships are designed to foster collaboration among industry, research organisations, and disciplines, support innovative research, and strengthen clinical and research capacities. They aim to enhance capacities in key fields related to dust diseases, such as, but not limited to, thoracic oncology, respiratory health, public health, nursing, psychology, and radiology. Ultimately, the program seeks to enhance medical and healthcare capabilities in the treatment, prevention, and management of dust diseases, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life for those affected.

Scope

The fellowships support:

• Research Scientists: Conducting comprehensive research that covers the entire spectrum of dust diseases, from basic science to applied clinical practices. This includes identifying risks, developing preventive strategies, improving diagnostic techniques, and creating innovative treatments.

• Occupational Hygienists or those working in Occupational Health: Focused on developing and evaluating intervention models that enhance patient care and management. This includes conducting pilot studies and preliminary interventions that can be scaled up for broader application, thus directly influencing clinical practices.

• Prevention-Focused Research: Research aimed at identifying and mitigating workplace or environmental factors contributing to dust diseases. This includes developing effective preventive strategies and best practices to reduce exposure risks and prevent the onset of dust diseases in vulnerable populations.

Objectives

• Support and Development: Provide financial support and opportunities for professional growth to early and mid-career researchers, occupational hygienists or those working in occupational health in the dust diseases field, ensuring a steady influx of new talent and ideas.

• Collaboration Enhancement: Promote cross-disciplinary and cross-organisational collaboration to leverage diverse expertise and broaden the impact of dust diseases research.

• Capacity Strengthening: Enhance research and clinical capacities in key fields related to dust diseases, such as, but not limited to, thoracic oncology, respiratory health, public health, nursing, psychology, and radiology.

• Healthcare Capability Enhancement: Improve medical and healthcare practices through targeted research and development, focusing on translating research findings into practical applications.

Requirements

• High-Quality Proposals: Research proposals should address critical stages of the dust disease lifecycle, including risk identification, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life improvements.

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Proposals should demonstrate innovative methodologies and the ability to integrate knowledge from various disciplines to address dust diseases.

• Future Translation: Candidates should outline potential future applications of their research, indicating how their findings might translate into practice or policy.

• Sustainability and Impact: Proposals should contribute to foundational knowledge and identify areas where initial findings can lead to significant long-term research and innovations. This includes outlining a clear path for sustainable impact and future research development, emphasising the fellowship’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and public health.

Alignment with the DDB Strategic Priorities 2025-2029

• Research Community Engagement: By targeting early to mid-career researchers, occupational hygienists or those working in occupational health, the fellowships enhance the DDB's engagement with an emerging group of researchers, crucial for long-term strategic goals. This engagement is essential for cultivating a new generation of experts dedicated to advancing dust disease research.

• Adaptive Funding Approach: Reflects the strategic aim to adapt funding practices to support emerging needs and innovative research in dust disease management. This adaptability ensures that the funding mechanisms remain relevant and responsive to the evolving research landscape.

• Evolving Needs: By addressing all lifecycle stages of dust diseases, the fellowships ensure responsiveness to dynamic research needs. This comprehensive approach supports the development of new treatments, preventive measures, and improvements in quality of life, aligning with the DDB’s mission to optimise health outcomes for those affected by dust diseases.

Alignment with the DDB Grant Strategy Guiding Principles

• Early-Stage Innovation: The fellowships support the exploration of innovative ideas at early stages, bringing fresh perspectives and solutions to the field. This principle encourages pioneering research that can lead to significant breakthroughs in dust disease understanding and management.

• Capacity Building: By focusing on research scientists, occupational hygienists or those working in occupational health, the fellowships build essential capacities in both basic and applied research. This development is critical for creating a robust foundation of expertise that can drive future advancements in the field.

• Quality of Life Enhancement: The research funded through these fellowships aims to benefit NSW workers with dust diseases and their families by improving health outcomes and daily living conditions. This focus aligns with the DDB’s commitment to enhancing the well-being of those impacted by dust diseases.

• Research Translation: Supports the principle of accelerating the translation of research into practice and policy. Ensuring that research findings lead to practical applications and policy changes is vital for achieving meaningful outcomes in dust disease management.

• Understanding and Prevention: Encourages research that deepens the understanding of dust diseases, including their epidemiology. This understanding is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and reducing the incidence of dust diseases among at-risk populations.