Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Impact Fellowship (VCRIF)

About the Fellowship:

Established in 2025 by the Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Impact Fellowship (VCRIF) scheme aims to attract, support and retain high-performing researchers who will contribute to Victoria University’s research ambition.

The fellowship scheme supports researchers across four academic levels:

• Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and Impact Fellow (Level B)
• Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research and Impact Fellow (Level C)
• Vice-Chancellor’s Principal Research and Impact Fellow (Level D)
• Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Research and Impact Fellow (Level E)

Fellows will be supported to develop and deliver impactful research programs that contribute to Victoria University’s research strengths and strategic priorities.

Research Thematic Areas:

VU’s research direction is outlined in the Research and Impact Plan 2023–2028, which identifies six priority research areas:

• Innovating education & future-proofing Australia’s workforce
• Sport that inspires elite performance, community participation & healthy living
• Health & wellbeing solutions
• Transforming communities through policy, practice & governance
• Smart, sustainable & livable cities
• ‘By community, for community’ First Nations Knowledge

The Opportunity:

The Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Impact Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity for high-performing researchers to establish or expand their research program at Victoria University.

Fellows will have significant research time allocation to pursue high-impact research and will contribute to building research capability across the University.

Depending on level of appointment, Fellows will be expected to:

• Lead high-quality research programs with national or international impact
• Produce high-quality research outputs
• Secure competitive external research funding
• Supervise higher degree by research candidates
• Build interdisciplinary research collaborations
• Engage with industry, government and community partners
• Contribute to research leadership and culture within Victoria University

About You:

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline
• A strong track record of high-quality research outputs relative to opportunity
• Evidence of research leadership appropriate to career stage
• Experience securing or contributing to competitive research funding
• Capacity to supervise higher degree by research candidates
• Experience conducting interdisciplinary research
• Ability to engage with external stakeholders to enhance research impact

Appointment Details:

Appointment Level: Academic Level B–E

Employment Type: Full-time, fixed term

• Length: 3 years (Levels B & C)
• Up to 5 years (Levels D & E)

Location: Victoria University Melbourne campuses

Research Allocation: Research-focused role

Successful candidates will receive a competitive salary package and access to research support funding.

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest via https://vu.smartygrants.com.au/VCRIF.

Closing date for your Expressions of Interest will be 30 April 2026 @ 5pm

For further information please review the Vice-Chancellor’s Research & Impact Fellowship scheme on our webpage.