Lizard Island Postdoctoral Fellowships Grant

The Lizard Island Postdoctoral Fellowships, funded by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation, offer three awards for 2026. These fellowships are aimed at researchers with a PhD earned after October 2020, focusing on coral reef biology, ecology, and taxonomy. With a maximum funding of $20,900 per year, these fellowships support field research essential for scientific advancement and collaboration. Successful applicants are expected to make substantial contributions to marine science while adhering to strict eligibility criteria.

The Lizard Island Postdoctoral Fellowships program has operated since 2008 and 56 awards have been made to date. It is funded by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation and its donors. Three fellowships are offered for 2026:The Isobel Bennett Marine Biology Fellowship is named in recognition of the late Dr Isobel Bennett who was one of Australia's eminent marine biologists. The Hermon Slade Raiatea Foundation has provided funding to the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) to enable this fellowship.The John and Laurine Proud Fellowship is named in recognition of the late Sir John Proud and his late wife, Lady Laurine Proud. Sir John was the founder of the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation and was a long-term passionate supporter of the Research Station. Lady Proud continued her support after the death of her husband. Their estate now supports this fellowship through the LIRRF.The Maple-Brown Fellowship is generously funded by Susan Maple-Brown AM, a long-term supporter of LIRS and LIRRF.We are seeking applications in two categories:

• Biology, ecology, processes or traditional uses of coral reefsTaxonomy of little-known fauna or flora at Lizard Island

Fellows are expected to make substantial original contributions in one of these fields. The fellowships are intended to stimulate scientific benefits in addition to the research outcomes through collaboration, research training, and contributing to larger projects.
Benefits
Funding is provided for field expenses at LIRS over one or two years as required. Salary is not provided. The maximum value of each 2026 fellowship is $20,900 including GST per year for either one or two years. Projects that do not require diving should limit their request to $17,600 including GST per year. Fellowship funds must be spent on field work at LIRS. Allowable expenses include bench fees, travel, freight, and field/lab consumables. Fellowship funds may not be used for salary, for living expenses (such as food while at Lizard Island), or for equipment other than research consumables needed for the project. The fellow's university may not deduct a fee for administering the fellowship.

Eligibility

At the time of applying, applicants must:hold a PhD degree that was awarded on or after 1 October 2020. If a researcher does not satisfy this criterion and considers that s/he has an equivalent research qualification or experience of similar duration, then s/he must determine eligibility by making a case to the Selection Committee at least two weeks before the closing date for applications.
show that they have the time and resources to conduct the field research and to publish the results. This is usually demonstrated by being employed in a research position for the duration of the fellowship period. In recognition of the reality of early postdoctoral employment, other ways of demonstrating a commitment to completing the research process may be acceptable.