A guide to research at Charles Sturt University

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Industry)

The DVC (RDI) is responsible for research, research training, partnerships with industry, commercialisation, Indigenous education and research leadership, and a number of other important strategic areas of the university relating to research, development and industry.

Under the University’s Delegations and Authorisations Policy, the DVC (RDI) is the delegated position with the authority to approve the submission of research funding applications and sign research-related funding agreements.

Research Office

The Research Office provides services to academic staff, Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, HDR supervisors, research support staff, and the University’s academic leadership to support CSU’s research strategy and goals. Key areas of the Research Office are Research Analytics, Research Legal, Research Support, Grant Management, HDR & Scholarships, and Arts & Archives.

Faculties

CSU’s three Faculties (Arts and Education, Business, Justice & Behavioural Sciences, and Science) comprise a number of Schools and Centres for specific areas of study and research.

The Faculties support researchers with:

• Approvals and administration of research projects
• HDR candidature administration and management
• Internal funding schemes
• Forums, networking and collaboration

Further Information:

• Research in the Faculty of Arts and Education
• Research in the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences
• Research in the Faculty of Science

Research Centres

CSU has four Research Centres designed to bring together staff around a coherent research theme. Membership to the Research Centres is open to active researchers at CSU. Individuals must meet eligibility criteria and apply to become a member.

• Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation
• National Wine and Grape Industry Centre
• Institute for Land, Water and Society
• Centre for Public and Contextual Theology

Who are the support people?

Academic support is provided by the Associate Deans (Research) and the Sub-Deans Graduate Studies across the three Faculties at CSU, as well as the four Research Centre Directors.

Each Faculty has a Faculty Research Liaison Officer and a Faculty Graduate Studies Liaison Officer.

Research Centres have a designated Centre Business Manager.

• Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation
• National Wine and Grape Industry Centre
• Institute for Land, Water and Society
• Centre for Public and Contextual Theology

These staff in both the Faculties and the Centres provide support to researchers.

Additional administrative and research support is provided by staff in the Research Office, Library Services, Spatial Data Analysis Network (SPAN), Quantitative Consulting Unit (QCU), and Student Services.

Research facilities and infrastructure

Our facilities range from world class agricultural precincts to state-of-the-art laboratories and collaboration spaces.

• Research facilities at CSU
• National Life Sciences Hub (NaLSH)
• AgriPark
• CSU Rhizolysimeter
• Environmental and Analytical Laboratories
• High Performance Computing Facilities and Labs
• Exercise and Sport Science Laboratories
• CSU Regional Archives and University Art Collection

Research Narrative

The CSU Research Narrative sets the university’s research priorities within three interdisciplinary research spheres: resilient people, flourishing communities, and sustainable environments.

Research landscape

CSU’s research strengths lie across a number of Fields of Research, with a focus on:

• Agriculture, land and water
• Sustaining resilient healthy communities
• Regional development
• Cultivation of a civic and just society
• Indigenous research
• Education and Professional Practice

CRO – CSU Research Outputs

CSU Research Output (CRO) is the university’s repository for research and scholarly outputs created by CSU staff and students. There is a public showcase website, and a restricted database available only for staff access.

MyResearch

Research Master is the university’s research management system (also referred to as MyResearch). MyResearch is used to review and manage HDR students and their progress, funded projects, ethics, and research personnel.  MyResearch login.

Research code of conduct

CSU researchers are obliged to comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research in their research practices. Enquiries in relation to the Code and its application at CSU should be directed to the Ethics and Compliance Unit.

Ethics and compliance

Ethics and safety in research is managed by our Ethics and Compliance Unit. All researchers must obtain appropriate ethics approvals before commencing research involving animals or human participants.

Grant processes

Before you apply for a grant, you should understand the processes related to seeking approval, developing, submitting and managing a research project on our Funding and Grants webpage.

As a CSU researcher you can access and find funding opportunities through the Research Professional funding database.

Internal funding opportunities

There are various internal funding opportunities through Schools, Faculties, Research Centres, DVC-RDI, and CSU Green to support your research. Ask about the various opportunities for seed grants, travel and conference support, leverage funding, infrastructure support, awards and fellowships.

• DVC (RDI) Strategic Funding
• FoAE funding opportunities
• FoBJBS funding news
• FoS funding opportunities
• CSU Green grants

Supervising HDR students

Research supervision is undertaken by a team of qualified academic staff who guide and support our Higher Degree Research (HDR) students. Researchers who are supervising HDR student projects must be listed on the CSU Register of Supervisors.  Workshops to support new and upcoming supervisors are provided by the Research Office Professional Development program.

Tools for researchers

Access CSU’s Research Hub for a range of tools, guides and electronic forms to undertake and manage your research projects.

• Research data, methods and tools
• Research forms and guides

Responsibilities and expectations

The standards of performance required of researchers at CSU depends on the research work function of staff appointments (e.g. research only, teaching and research, or adjunct), which are outlined in the Enterprise Agreement. For teaching and research staff, the allocation of research is typically 30% of an academic workload.

Research Active is an ongoing assessment of individual research performance, and is currently used to determine eligibility for HDR student supervision.

• Institutional assessments of research performance
• Academic workload research allocation
• Research Active status for HDR supervision

Research plan

Academic staff need to complete a 3-year research plan for the Employee Development and Review Scheme (EDRS).

Professional development

The Research Office Professional Development team provide a range of programs, workshops, and resources to support your continued development at any stage in your research career. Early career researchers are encouraged to enrol in My Research Career, to help get you started. You can register for a session on the Research PD calendar, and access previous recordings and resources from the Research Office Interact2 site.

CSU supports the professional development of Academic staff members seeking to obtain a Higher Degree by Research qualification through a research workload support scheme.

Networking and mentoring

Many opportunities for networking occur informally at the School or discipline group level, including research meetings, seminars, and communities of practice. Faculties offer a range of networking events for researchers, such as Research forums and HDR forums. The Mentoring @ CSU Handbook provides guidance on how to go about organising or requesting a mentor.

Create a web profile

Ask your School and/or Research Centre about creating a profile on their webpages, and establish a profile on CSU’s Research Output (CRO).

Researcher Profile Library Guide

Sign up for Bulletins

The Research Office provide a monthly Bulletin, bringing together research news from around CSU.

The Faculties and Research Centres also distribute research bulletins, which you can subscribe to by contacting your Faculty Research Liaison Officer or Research Centre Business Manager.

Register on Vitae

Vitae provides tools and resources for the professional and career development of researchers. You have full access to the Vitae website as part of our member subscription.

Join The Conversation

Researchers at CSU regularly publish articles in The Conversation to extend the reach and impact of their work among broader audiences.

Follow on social media

Connect with CSU researchers through the CSU Social Hub.

Twitter: @CSUArts_Edu; @ilwscsu; @GrahamCentre; @NWGICwagga; @CSUMedia; @CSUpostdocs

Facebook: @ILWS.CSU; @GrahamCentreForAgriculturalInnovation; @CSUpostdocs

Engage with CSU News

Subscribe to CSU News, tell the world about your research story, and join CSU’s list of experts to comment in the media on your area of expertise.