The UTS Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellowship (CIRF) aims to attract and retain outstanding Indigenous early career researchers. Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early career researchers who wish to develop their research, teaching and learning, management and communication skills to become the next generation of Indigenous academic leaders.
For more information please refer to the Chancellor’s Research Fellowships if you are interested in the CRF scheme.
The CIRF offers:
- A four-year combination research and teaching appointment
- Academic starting salary from Level B, Step 2 ($123,389 as of 1 March 2025) plus 17 per cent employer-provided superannuation contribution
- Research project funding of up to AUD $50,000
- Access to the International Research Development Scheme
- Early Career Researcher development and support
- Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching
All fellows will be expected to engage in high-quality research projects, produce high-quality outputs, and contribute to existing and emerging teaching and learning areas relevant to UTS.
Information on the scheme and instructions for applicants for the 2026 round:
- CIRF26 Guidelines and Information for Candidates
- Career Disruption and Eligibility Request Form
- Career Disruption and Eligibility Calculator
- UTS 2027 Strategy
- CRF26 and CIRF26 Instructions to Applicants
- CRF26 and CIRF26 Sample Expression of Interest Form
In addition to the requirements outlined in the CIRF guidelines, candidates are advised to contact their proposed host faculty or equivalent about their research priority areas.
- UTS Business School
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Health
- TD School
- Institute for Sustainable Futures
- Institute for Public Policy and Governance
- Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
- Connected Intelligence Centre
- New Faculty (formerly FASS, DAB, & Animal Logic) - The New Faculty will accept EOIs for the C(I)RF 2026 that align with the research interests of our Schools:
Eligibility
Candidates must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the scheme:
The role is an identified role for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Under the provisions of section 126 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), an exemption is given from sections 8, 25 and 51 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) to University of Technology Sydney to advertise, designate and recruit targeted roles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons only as part of the strategic target of reaching 3% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff by 2023.
Applicants must:
- be of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
- Identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
- be accepted as such by the community in which they live and or have lived.
Candidates will have been awarded a research doctoral degree (equivalent to an Australian PhD degree) within the last five years. The scheme is open to both domestic and international applicants.
Candidates must complete the Career Disruption Eligibility Request Form if they have been awarded their PhD within five years before the Census Date (5 June 2020) and have experienced a significant disruption to their early research career. The completed form must be attached together with the application form.
Candidates must nominate and consult closely with UTS Sponsor(s) and the relevant faculty contact prior to developing and submitting the application.
The fellowships are highly competitive. To be short-listed, candidates must have an exceptional track record relative to opportunity as well as the commitment to enhance the research capacity and culture of UTS.
Professor Chris Turney and past recipients discussing the UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowships and how to apply.