National Taxonomy Research Grants

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Up to $375,000 to support critical research in taxonomy and systematics, training and recruitment of taxonomists to enhance the understanding and documentation of Australia’s biodiversity.

What is the National Taxonomy Research Grants?

The National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP) 2025-26, funded by the Australian Government, supports critical research in taxonomy and systematics. This program aims to enhance the understanding and documentation of Australia’s biodiversity through rigorous scientific research, contributing significantly to conservation efforts and environmental management.

National Taxonomy Research Grants level of support

Grants available for the program:

  • $10,000 for Non-salaried Researcher, Honours, and Masters Scholarship grants
  • $20,000 for PhD Scholarship Support grants.

Up to 50% co-funding required:

  • $20,000 for Early Career Research Grants
  • $300,000 for Research Grants
  • $375,000 for Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants.

National Taxonomy Research Grants important dates

  • Closing date: Wednesday 12 March 2025 5:00pm AEDT
  • Project completion date: by 30 June 2028.
  • Register your interest with GrantHelper

National Taxonomy Research Grants objectives and outcomes

Objectives:

  • to support research into taxonomy
  • to increase funding for taxonomy through enhanced co-funding opportunities.

Intended outcomes:

  • to support and improve knowledge of the Australian biota through targeted taxonomic research grants aligned to the ABRS’s three Priority Areas for Research
  • to build Australia’s taxonomic capacity by supporting tertiary research training, early career researchers and facilitating knowledge transfer
  • to contribute to enhancing the ABRS information products and resources, including the Australian Faunal DirectoryFlora of AustraliaAustralian National Species List, publications, identification keys and any other taxonomic communication tools
  • to positively contribute to the fields of taxonomy and systematics.

Projects and expenditure eligible for National Taxonomy Research Grants support

The grant supports research projects that align with one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Biodiversity, Conservation, and Vulnerable Species
  • Public, Plant, Animal, and Environmental Health
  • Building Taxonomic Capacity

This grant can be used to cover direct costs associated with conducting research activities and required audit activities for your project. Eligible expenses must be incurred within the project’s duration as outlined in your grant agreement. These include:

  • Travel Costs: Reasonable expenses for domestic and international travel needed for project activities.
  • Stipend and Support: Includes fieldwork expenses and consumables for postgraduate students in the Research Grant stream.
  • Direct Labor Costs: Wages for employees directly involved in the project, with salary and related on-costs potentially included as co-funding.
  • Contract Expenditure: Costs for project activities contracted to third parties.
  • Equipment and Material Costs: Purchases directly related to project completion and loans of genetic material from museums.
  • Training and Compliance Costs: Expenses for staff training and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals (excluding government fees).
  • Contingency Costs: Up to 10% of eligible project costs to cover unforeseen expenses.
  • Postdoctoral and Researcher Salaries: For those not paid by the institution, with rates determined by the administering body.
  • Audit Costs: Up to 1% of total eligible project expenditure for independent audits requested by the grantor.

Ineligible expenditures:

  • Major capital expenditures, general infrastructure costs, and retrospective costs are ineligible. Costs related to the preparation of the grant application are also not covered.

See the guidelines for full details of projects and expenditure eligible for funding.

Other National Taxonomy Research Grants important details that you will need to know

You can apply if you:

  • have an Australian business number (ABN)
  • are an appropriate host institution (see section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines) submitting an application on behalf of a Principal Investigator, scholarship student, or Non-salaried Researcher Grant

 

And are one of the following entities:

  • an entity, incorporated in Australia (this includes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth))
  • a co-operative
  • a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO)
  • an Australian local government agency or body
  • an Australian State/Territory government agency or body
  • an Australian Commonwealth government agency or body (excluding non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities)
  • an incorporated association or not for profit organisation and you do not have an active state or territory incorporated association registration or ACNC registration at the time of application, provide the Constitutional documents and/or Articles of Association that demonstrate the character of the organisation
  • a partnership, provide a copy of your partnership agreement

 

You can’t apply if you are:

  • any organisation not included in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines
  • an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
  • an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
  • an international entity (overseas institutions are not eligible, but they can become Joint Investigators through an appropriate Australian host institution or other collaborators on the application, or through co-funding contributions)
  • an unincorporated association
  • an applicant that provides a CV of more than 4 pages (per CV) for a Principal Investigator, Joint Investigator or Student Supervisor
  • a non-Corporate Commonwealth entity
  • any applications from individuals and/or institutions that have outstanding reports or material owed from other existing or completed NTRGP grants.

 

See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.

Applications are assessed based on:

  • Relevance to taxonomic science (50 points)
  • Feasibility of the proposed research (30 points)
  • Capacity of the researchers and institutions to deliver the project (20 points)

 

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

  • Read and understand the guidelines.
  • Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
  • Demonstrate a strong alignment with the fund’s objectives.
  • Provide complete information requirements.

 

Required Documents for Application

1. Support Letters

  • Signed support letters from each contributing investigator’s institution confirming cash and salary co-funding contributions.
  • For Non-salaried Researcher Grants, support letters from the hosting institution to confirm the affiliation.

 

2. Project Budget

  • Provide a detailed project budget that includes salaries, FTE of each staff member, travel costs, fieldwork expenses, molecular laboratory work, and administrative/supervision arrangements. A budget template can be found on business.gov.au.

 

3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

  • A CV for each of the following, not exceeding four pages:
    1. Principal Investigator
    2. Joint Investigator
    3. Student Supervisor
  • For applications on behalf of a student, include a PDF of the student’s most recent academic transcript.

 

4. PhD Scholarship Support Documents

  • If applying on behalf of a PhD Scholarship Support Grant student, include a letter confirming the student secured a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship that commenced in 2024.
  • A copy of the notification confirming the acceptance of the PhD thesis for Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant applicants (if applicable).

 

5. Additional Supporting Documents

  • A letter detailing the circumstances of an allowable career interruption (if applicable).

 

6. Legal and Organisational Documents

  • For incorporated associations or not-for-profit organisations without an active state or territory incorporated association registration or ACNC registration at the time of application, provide constitutional documents and/or articles of association.
  • If applying as a partnership, include a copy of the partnership agreement.
  • Trust deed (if applicable).

 

See the guidelines for more details of information requirements.

Applicants must submit their proposals via the online portal provided by the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources.

Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.

National Taxonomy Research Grants resources

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