These grants aim to strengthen the Australasian genetics community by supporting collaboration, training, networking, and knowledge exchange. The scheme supports student/early career researcher GSA members to visit another institution to learn new techniques, access expertise or infrastructure, and establish new collaborations that build capacity across the genetics community.
The grants are intended for students and early career researchers (ECRs) and focus on developing new collaborations and research connections. Applications involving exchanges between GSA members are encouraged and will be prioritised.
Applications are currently open. Submit your entry by completing the application form and emailing it to GSA@asnevents.net.au with the subject heading “GSA Catalyst Exchange Grant”. Application deadline: 27th November 2026, 17:00 AEST.
Funding available
Up to A$2,000 per grant.
One to two grants will be awarded annually, subject to available funding.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
• Be a current student or ECR member of GSA. ECRs must be within five years of PhD conferral, excluding eligible career interruptions.
• Be undertaking a short visit to another Australasian institution.
• Propose an activity that supports collaboration, training, networking, or knowledge exchange.
Eligible activities include:
• Learning new laboratory, analytical, or computational methods.
• Sharing expertise or model systems.
• Facilitating access to samples, collections, equipment, or infrastructure.
• Accessing specialised computational resources or training.
• Establishing new collaborative research partnerships.
Preference will be given to:
• Proposals that establish new collaborations between research groups rather than extend existing ones.
• Applications where the host researcher is also a GSA member.
Timing of Activities
• Funded activities must commence within 12 months of the award being made.
• The proposed visit and all funded activities must be completed within 18 months of the award being made, unless an extension is approved by the GSA committee in advance.
• Any significant changes to the proposed activity, timing, or host institution must be approved by GSA.
• Any unspent funds must be returned to GSA.
Application Requirements
Applications should include:
1. The completed application form, including project summary, budget and justification, expected outcomes and plans for knowledge sharing and dissemination
2. A letter of support from the Host Researcher (an email is acceptable), including stating whether they are a GSA member
3. A letter of support from your supervisor (an email is acceptable)
Reporting and Outcomes
Successful applicants will be required to:
• Contribute a 250-500 word article for the GSA newsletter within 18 months of the award being made.
• Applicants are encouraged to present the outcomes of the exchange through a GSA communication activity (for example, a conference presentation, or webinar)
• Awardees will be invited to present at the next GSA conference if feasible (please note that no funding is provided for conference registration or conference travel)