In May this year, ACGR members came together to celebrate and publicly acknowledge the exceptional academic staff at the forefront of Australian graduate research training.

The Australian Council of Graduate Research (ACGR) Excellence Awards span key aspects of graduate research training, recognising excellence and innovation in supervision, leadership and industry engagement.

As part of our celebration of the impact and value of graduate research and research training, we take a look back at this year’s Award recipients.

2022 ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Supervision sponsored by ResearchMaster

Associate Professor Lauren Ball of Griffith University was acknowledged for excellence in graduate research supervision, an award proudly sponsored by ResearchMaster.

The award recognises exceptional and innovative supervision of graduate research candidates. It is open to individual HDR supervisors or teams of supervisors.

Amongst other detailed feedback, the ACGR judging panel recognised Dr Ball for her student-centred, collaborative and impact focussed approach to research supervision.

Special Commendations were also announced for Professor Susanne Schmidt of The University of Queensland, Professor Karen Malone of Swinburne University of Technology and Associate Professor Ilaria Vanni Accarigi of University of Technology Sydney.

The 2022 ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Supervision was proudly sponsored by ResearchMaster

ACGR Award for Excellence in Promoting Industry Engagement in Graduate Research

The ARC Centre for Medical Implant Technology (CMIT) of The University of Melbourne were recognised for excellence in promoting industry engagement in graduate research.

Open to individuals or teams of HDR supervisors, coordinators or professional staff, the ACGR award recognises innovative and transformational engagement between higher degree research candidates and industry partners.

Led by Professor Peter Lee, the CMIT team includes Associate Professor David Ackland, Dr Jia-Yee Lee and Ms Meg Belmonte.

Amongst other detailed feedback, the ACGR judging panel commended the CMIT team for enabling close and innovative collaboration between graduate researchers and industry partners in the Medtech sector.

Special commendations were also announced for Professor Justin Gooding of The University of New South Wales as well as Professor Yongsheng Gao and ARC Research Hub for Driving Farming Productivity and Disease Prevention at Griffith University.

2022 ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership

Dr Dani Milos of Flinders University was announced as the winner of the 2022 ACGR Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership.

The Graduate Research Leadership Award is conferred to an individual in a research training leadership role who demonstrates inspirational and effective local graduate research leadership at a School, Faculty or other academic unit level.

Amongst other detailed feedback, the ACGR judging panel noted Dr Dani Milos’s exceptional leadership and advocacy for high-quality graduate research teaching, learning and mentoring.

Special commendations were announced for Associate Professor Maria Markoulli of UNSW and Associate Professor Samantha Richardson of RMIT University.

About the awards

Established in 2017, the ACGR Excellence Awards publicly promote outstanding performance in higher degree research supervision, leadership and industry engagement.

ACGR President, Professor Imelda Whelehan, praised both the high number and exceptional calibre of the 2022 nominations.

“The ACGR Excellence Awards recognise outstanding performance in higher degree research supervision, leadership and industry engagement.

The dedication, professionalism and innovative practice of each of our 2022 Award recipients truly makes a difference to research cultures, HDR student experience and industry partnerships across the country,” she said.

Professor Whelehan also offered sincere thanks to the 19 institutions who submitted a total of 29 nominations.

Each award-winning individual or team receives a grant of $3000 as well as an invitation to attend a ACGR national meeting.