Women researchers at the University of Queensland have dramatically improved their success rate in national competitive research grants in the past four years.
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield said that in 1997, 228 women chief investigators were awarded project grants, compared with 132 in 1994.
"Analysis of our grant performance data shows the proportion of women as a percentage of all University of Queensland chief investigators has risen from 16 percent in 1994 to almost 23.5 percent last year," he said.
"Nearly 50 percent of women academic and research-only staff were awarded project grants in competitive national schemes in 1997, compared with 38 percent in 1994.
"This is a pleasing result, given that many women researchers have to balance a heavy load of other commitments and responsibilities."
Professor Greenfield said the University was continuing initiatives to recognise the excellence of its staff and provide them with a high-quality research environment.
"We would like all our researchers to achieve their potential, despite the tight funding situation in competitive research grants," he said.
"Our initiatives include special schemes for women researchers, training workshops for all researchers to improve their likelihood of success in national schemes, incentive programs and rewards for performance."
Professor Greenfield said women researchers were an important part of the University's overall strategy to improve its research performance. In the past 10 years the University has risen from eighth ranking nationally in competitive research schemes to one of the nation's top two.
Director of the University's Office of Gender Equity Gay Mason said the Status of Women Committee had suggested a range of initiatives to encourage women researchers. These were strongly supported by the Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies.
They included postdoctoral re-entry fellowships, postgraduate re-entry scholarships, and short-term staff fellowships for women who were close to finishing their PhDs.
"All have been stunningly successful," Ms Mason said.
"Researchers have told us, for example, how important it has been for those with short-term staff fellowships to be relieved of teaching duties for short periods to complete writing their PhDs. This scheme is in its fifth year and has close to a 100 percent success rate."
Ms Mason said the University of Queensland had an impressive package of assistance for female staff members which was resulting in high performance figures for women researchers. It was also conveying an important message.
"As many recipients have indicated, they perceive the award as an acknowledgement that the University values the contributions of its female scholars and recognises the greater challenges they invariably need to overcome," she said.
Group research leader in the University's Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology Dr Melissa Little studies molecular genetics and developmental biology, an area advancing so rapidly it is difficult for any researcher to take leave without falling behind international competitors.
Dr Little leads a team of eight researching the role of the WT1 gene in Wilm's tumour, a childhood kidney cancer affecting one in 10,000. Only two Australian groups are studying this tumour gene, which is critical for normal kidney development and mutated in Wilms tumour and leukemia.
"I live a chaotic life focused around coping," said Dr Little, the mother of 13-month-old Nathaniel and Celeste, almost five years.
"I'm fortunate to have a supportive husband, access to high-quality child care and a supportive workplace with flexible work practices. Even so, it is still harder for mothers, especially those like me who consider it important to breastfeed.
"Whenever the children are sick I have to make time for them, and work nights to catch up. I'm fortunate to be at this stage in my career as my work practices involve less benchwork and more experimental design, supervision and administration, allowing me to be in the workplace at more regular hours and to work from home.
"We have a horrendous child-care bill but the thing that keeps most people in research is the drive to know. It isn't the financial incentive but the love of the discipline.
"Psychologically, I think it is important for me to not forsake my professional field. It's taken such a long time to train and reach my level of efficiency I would hate to fall behind. Right now is a hard time for me but the children are growing up and they won't have the same needs in future."
Dr Little was in the enviable position last year of choosing between two of Australia's most prestigious research fellowships - a Sylvia and Charles Viertel senior research fellowship and a National Health and Medical Research Council fellowship.
She went with the Viertel, valued at $165,000 per year for five years, due primarily to the increased time frame, but was also was granted permission to also take up an NHMRC project grant to advance Wilm's tumour research.
A University of Queensland graduate (bachelor of science with honours, 1984, PhD, 1990) she previously was also offered the choice of a C.J. Martin Postdoctoral Fellowship or a Royal Society Endeavour Fellowship. She chose the Endeavour fellowship to work in Edinburgh with the Medical Research Council's Human Genetics Unit.
She was awarded grants from both the NHMRC and Queensland Cancer Fund grant on her return to Australia. Dr Little's awards also include an NHMRC R. Douglas Wright fellowship (1995).
At 34, Dr Little is youngest and sole Queensland member of the Health and Medical Research Strategic Review (known as the Wills Review after its chair, Professor Peter Wills, head of the governing board of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney). The 13-member review committee includes five women.
The Wills Review, commissioned by Federal Health and Family Services Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge, is examining all aspects of health and medical research in Australia. Its broad terms of reference include assessment of the current quality of Australian medical research, research funding mechanisms, the workforce and liaisons with industry. Recommendations aim to steer Australian medical research into the next century.
For further information, contact Professor Greenfield, telephone 07 3365 3917, Ms Mason, telephone 07 3365 3052 or Dr Little telephone 07 3365 4494.
