Grants and funding
Apply for funding to support your project.
UQ Marine Stations New Initiative Scheme (NIS)
The University of Queensland (UQ) Marine Research Stations New Initiative Scheme (NIS) supports new and expanded use of Heron Island Research Station (HIRS) and Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS) by providing subsidies towards accommodation and bench fees.
The scheme is intended as an initial incentive for activities that have the potential to develop into future research, teaching, regular meetings or workshops, or other ongoing use of the stations. This represents a significant expansion of earlier versions of this scheme which were for research only.
Applications will be assessed on the value and feasibility of the proposed activity, its alignment with the purpose of the scheme, and most importantly, its potential to generate future use and wider benefit for the research stations and UQ.
Who is the scheme for?
NIS is primarily intended to support new or infrequent users of HIRS and MBRS.
For the purposes of this scheme, an infrequent user is an individual or group for whom use of the relevant research station/s is not already a routine or established part of their research, teaching or professional activities.
However, previous use of a station does not automatically make an applicant ineligible. An activity may still be eligible where it represents a genuinely new project or program, introduces new participants or collaborators, substantially expands an existing activity, or is likely to lead to increased future use of the station/s.
Eligibility
The scheme is open to UQ staff and UQ students proposing eligible activities at HIRS and/or MBRS and include:
- researchers (including ECRs and EMCRs)
- HDR students
- undergraduate students
- academic staff
- professional staff.
Applications may support research, teaching and training, workshops and conferences, planning and collaborative activities, or other activities suited to the station/s.
The key selection criterion is the potential for the proposed activity to establish or strengthen ongoing use of HIRS and MBRS beyond the period of NIS support. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the proposed activity is expected to lead to future engagement with, or continued use of, at least one of the stations.
Priority will therefore be given to applications where there is a clear pathway to ongoing support for activities at the station/s.
UQ-led applications involving external research, teaching, community or partner organisations will also be considered where the activity provides a clear benefit to the station/s and/or UQ and has the potential to support ongoing station use.
What support is available
NIS support is available towards accommodation and bench fees at HIRS and/or MBRS. The level of support depends on the type of activity proposed:
- Research activities: Up to 100% subsidy for a maximum‡ of 50 person-nights per application.
- Teaching, training, workshops/meetings and conferences: Up to 50% subsidy for a maximum‡ of 100 person-nights per application.
‡Please request only the level of support you realistically expect to use, to enable funding to be allocated effectively across projects.
A person-night is accommodation for one person for one night. Person-night allocations may be distributed flexibly across participants and visits during the grant period.
For example, 40 person-nights could support one researcher for 40 nights, 2 researchers for 20 nights, or several shorter visits totalling 40 person-nights.
Similarly, a 100 person-night allocation could support 50 participants for 2 nights, 25 participants for 4 nights, or another combination of participants and visits. For teaching, training, workshops and conferences, the NIS would subsidise 50% of the eligible costs associated with those person-nights.
Applicants should specify the number of person-nights requested, how these will be used, and the anticipated contribution of the activity to ongoing use of the station.
Boating and diving costs are not normally considered but may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Exclusions
Travel costs and meals are not covered.
Grant period
One NIS round will be offered each year, with application closing on 10 November 2026, 12pm.
NIS awards will be made by 30 November 2026, to commence from 1 January 2027 and must be used for visits to the stations in 2027.
An award may be used for a single visit or across multiple approved visits during the grant period. Any unused person-nights or subsidy funding will expire at the end of the 2027 and cannot be carried forward.
In exceptional circumstances, awardees may request an extension before the grant period expires. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Available support
Applicants must state both the support requested and the minimum level of support required for the activity to proceed. For person-night applications, this should include the total and minimum number of person-nights.
The selection committee may offer a lower level of support than requested where the activity remains viable and this enables support to be distributed across a greater number of high-value activities.
Application process
The application form includes the following sections:
- research station (HIRS and/or MBRS)
- applicant name, role/status and UQ organisational unit
- relevant group, team or external organisation, where applicable
- project or activity title
- proposed timing and duration of the activity or visit(s)
- number and type of participants expected to attend, names where known, and estimated number who will be new or infrequent users of the station
- type and total amount of support requested, including the minimum level of support required for the activity to proceed
- project or activity summary
- description of the proposed activity and station use
- expected outcomes and benefits, including the anticipated research, teaching, training, engagement, collaboration or other outcomes arising from the activity
- potential to establish or strengthen ongoing station use, including:
- a clear explanation of how the proposed activity is expected to lead to engagement with HIRS or MBRS beyond the period of NIS support
- anticipated follow-on research, teaching, student projects, collaborations, workshops, repeat visits, bookings or other ongoing activity, where relevant
- likely funding available for future use, where relevant.
Grant selection process and announcement of NIS awards
Applications will be assessed by a selection committee chaired by the Centre for Marine Science (CMS) Director. The final selections will be approved by the Marine Station Advisory Committee.
Applications will be assessed against:
- alignment with the purpose of the NIS, including the extent to which the activity supports new or expanded station use
- quality, value and likely outcomes of the proposed activity
- potential to generate future research, teaching, collaboration, partnership or repeat use of the station
- value for money and efficient use of the support requested
- feasibility within station capacity, operational and safety requirements
- broader strategic benefit to HIRS, MBRS, CMS and UQ.
Final reporting and outputs
Awardees must provide a brief final report at the end of the grant period outlining the activity undertaken, its outcomes and any ongoing or future use of HIRS or MBRS arising from the award. The report should include:
- the support awarded and how it was used
- the number and type of participants supported
- key outcomes of the activity
- an article for promotion on the Faculty of Science and Centre for Marine Science websites
- any follow-on research, teaching, training, collaboration, partnerships, bookings or other station use generated or planned
- relevant publications, outputs, engagement activities or other impacts.
Awardees may also be asked to provide a short summary, photographs or other suitable material for use in station, CMS or UQ communications and promotion of the NIS.
The NIS and station use must be included in the acknowledgement sections of any publications, reports, social media, or other outputs for research or activities arising from the use of the station/s.
For any questions on this scheme, please email marine@uq.edu.au
Goodman Foundation Research Grants
The Goodman Foundation provides philanthropic support for research of relevance to Quandamooka Country (Moreton Bay), its people, islands, coasts and catchments, that is designed to enhance our knowledge of the region and help sustain its rich environmental and cultural heritage.
Goodman Grant projects are no more than one year in duration and must include a community outreach or public education component
Eligibility
UQ early- to mid-career researchers (including HDR students) in all fields.
Application process
Applications will re-open in 2027.
Please direct questions to marine@uq.edu.au
2026 Goodman Foundation Research Grant Recipients
| Name | Project | Funding awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Erin Brereton ,Dr Benjamin Mos, Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts | Night light on the reef: Behavioural responses of Diadema setosum to present day and future nocturnal light pollution | $6,471 |
| Genevieve Hennessy Dr Nicola Browne, Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema | Modelling sediment thresholds for Moreton Bay corals: Site-specific water quality guidelines to safeguard a marginal reef system | $9,991 |
| Dr Jianyin (Leslie) Huang Dr Yunyun (Allie) Zheng, Xiao Chen, Dr Benjamin Mos | How sediment runoff impacts water quality and algal growth in Moreton Bay | $5,400 |
| Francesca Roncolato Dr Benjamin Mos, Associate Professor Karen Cheney, Associate Professor Ben Gilby, Robbie Porter | Can new and Traditional restoration methods safeguard ecosystem services of shellfish reefs in Quandamooka? | $9,150 |
| Valerie Kwan Dr Vicki Bennion, Dr Jack Hill, Professor Catherine Lovelock FAA | Shifting sands – resurveying the changing mangroves of Quandamooka | $9,557 |
2025 Goodman Foundation Research Grant Recipients
| Name | Project | Funding awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Nicholas Hammerman Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema, Kirsten Golding | Disturbance ecology: understanding the resilience, recovery, and the deterioration of coral communities within Moreton Bay to inform management | $4,000 |
| Garth Campbell Carley Beggs, Dr Joseph Clokey, Dr Sarit Kaserzon | Assessment of concentrations and risk of glycophosphate and AMPA in the Moreton Bay catchment | $3,500 |
Annabel Kuskie | Vulnerability of Quandamooka's intertidal prawn nurseries | $9,284.70 |
| Dr Benjamin Mos Associate Professor Karen Cheney, MSUQ students | Shellfish reef restoration: Assessing biodiversity and filtration ecosystem services | $9,330 |
2024 Goodman Foundation Research Grant Recipients
| Name | Project | Funding awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Elysia Andrews Professor Tom Baldock | Assessing nearshore bathymetry change of Bribie Island through Satellite Derived Bathymetry | $6,000 |
| Dr Elvis Okoffo Dr Benjamin Mos, Dr Alistair Grinham, Associate Professor Helen Bostock, Professor Kevin Thomas | Unmasking the hidden threat: Investigating microplastic pollution in Moreton Bay ecosystems for a sustainable future | $10,000 |
Harris Heng Wei-Khang | Seagrass connectivity and its role in informing marine conservation planning for megaherbivores | $9,350 |
| Sofia Palmer Dr Nicola Browne, Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts | Assessing reef resilience and refuge potential of Moreton Bay's turbid reefs using carbonate budgets | $5,080 |
Moreton Bay Research Station Sibelco Student Grants
The Moreton Bay Research Station Sibelco Student Grants aim to support student research activities at Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS) that are not funded by other grants by covering accommodation, bench fees and/or boating/ diving costs.
The award will be based on the quality of the research proposed and the potential of the research to positively profile the student, the research station, and UQ to the wider community. These grants are to encourage UQ students to use the facilities at MBRS that would not otherwise do so, so it needs to be clear that this work cannot be covered by larger research grants awarded to either the student or academic supervisor.
Eligibility
The grants are open to UQ-students actively enrolled in undergraduate, honours, Masters or PhD programs at UQ. Students from across UQ are eligible (i.e. from all faculties and institutes) including, but not restricted to, marine and terrestrial research, and socioeconomic and cultural research.
The grant can be used to cover expenses paid directly to the station including: accommodation, daily facility fees (including research and wet lab), vehicle hire and MBRS boating/diving fees, including skipper fees.
A small proportion of the grant (~20%) can be used for equipment and consumables.
Other budget items (< 20%) can be discussed with the Academic Director.
The grant cannot be used for catering/food, or for ferry/ barge fares.
The grant limit and duration of the grants are as follows:
- Semester ‘Special Project’ students (e.g. SCIE3241): up to $250 (1 semester)
- Honours or Masters students: up to $1,000 (1 year)
- PhD students: up to $2,500 (2 years).
Application process
We will consider applications every 3 months (1st February, June, September, December) until the funding allocation is exhausted. However, you can request that the application be considered urgently, if needed.
Applications should be brief and relatively simple, but must include:
- applicant name and student ID
- applicant’s school or institute
- program the applicant is enrolled in (undergraduate course e.g. SCIE3241, masters, honours, HDR)
- name of applicant’s academic supervisor
- project title
- proposed commencement date.
- project summary (no more than 100 words)
- research project proposal (no more than 500 words):
- research objectives related to use of the station
- number of days required at MBRS to achieve objectives
- details of station facilities required (e.g. boating hours; microscope types)
- rationale for field assistance support (if required)
- expected outcomes of the research project and benefits (no more than 200 words)
- applicant’s CV (up to 2 pages)
- statement from supervisor why this project cannot be covered by existing funding sources.
Grant selection process
Applications will be assessed by a selection committee that is chaired by the Director of of the Centre for Marine Science. A ranked list will be generated by the committee based on the quality of the research proposal. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.
Final reporting and research outputs
Awardees will provide:
- a 30-word summary statement of the project outcomes to be published on MBRS web site.
- a one-page final report that outlines outcomes from research activities associated with field work supported by the program, including publications, reports, media and community engagement; report to be submitted within one month of completion of the grant
- any publications resulting from the project should acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Moreton Bay and its catchments, and the Moreton Bay Research Station.
Please email applications to marine@uq.edu.au
For any queries about this scheme, please email the Director of the Centre for Marine Science Associate Professor Karen Cheney, via: k.cheney@uq.edu.au
These scholarships are supported by Sibelco Australia Pty Ltd as part of a historical community development program.