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The Australian Research Council’s ‘Discovery Early Career Researcher Award’ (DECRA) has been awarded to one of our very own, Dr John Noel Viaña. 

The Australian Research Council received a total of 1335 applications for DECRA for funding commencing in 2023. Applicants were assessed on: capability to conduct high quality research and collaborate within Australia and Internationally, quality and innovation of their proposed research project, potential benefits resulting from their research, and the feasibility of their research. Of the 1300, only 200 applicants were successful, including our very own CPAS Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr John Noel Viaña, who is one of 18 ECR’s from the Australian National University! From 2023, each DECRA recipient will receive support for three consecutive years. 

The DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early-career researchers, who have typically received their PhD in the last five years, with opportunities and resources to advance their research and build diverse career pathways. The DECRA scheme aims to enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas. 

The DECRA scheme is awarded by the Australian Research Council as part of their Discovery funding schemes, which recognise the importance of fundamental research to Australian innovation, job creation, economic growth and enhanced quality life for the benefit of all Australians.  

Dr John Noel Viaña – Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU 

$435,875 

This project aims to develop recommendations to make brain and mental health (BMH) research more diverse and inclusive. It will audit representation of minorities in Australian BMH publications and will conduct surveys, interviews, and workshops with scientists to determine institutional barriers to the inclusion of and engagement with minorities in research. This project will draw from concepts of epistemic justice and anti-racism to develop ethical frameworks for BMH racial equity. 

Expected outcomes include foundations for anti-racist neuroethics and empirically-derived recommendations to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in Australian brain and mental health studies.  

A big congratulations to all of the successful applicants! See the full ARC's RMS list by clicking here.