Fellowships

Our Fellowship program supports mid-career researchers to pursue ground-breaking advances that will improve children’s health, development and wellbeing.

Scientists, clinicians, and allied health professionals are encouraged to secure a Fellowship opportunity to advance their career in research, and to help build a lasting legacy.

Our Fellowships are awarded a fixed-term, full-time Fellowship for three years (with the option of a further two years), valued at $150,000 per annum to cover salary and research costs.

We welcome applications from:

  • scientists
  • clinicians
  • allied health professionals
  • educators
  • social and behavioural scientists
  • public health and policy researchers, and
  • related disciplines whose work is focused on children and families.

The Fellowship is designed as a highly flexible support package, enabling collaboration across teams, institutions and sectors to deliver research with national and international impact.

Who should apply

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Hold a PhD and typically have 5–12 years of postdoctoral research experience (relative to opportunity) in an area relevant to improving childhood health, education or welfare.
  • Be eligible and willing to reside and work in South Australia for the duration of the Fellowship.
  • Undertake research that clearly and substantively aligns with the Fellowship theme.
  • Have a strong track record in child-focused research in one or more of: biomedical, clinical, public health, education, social and behavioural sciences, health or social policy, or related fields.
  • Have experience in applied, translational and/or implementation research that can lead to improved outcomes for children and families.
  • Have demonstrated success in supervising, mentoring and coaching trainee researchers.
  • Show a clear and strengthening trajectory of leadership capability.
  • Secure additional funding support from, and be hosted by, a reputable research institution with the capacity to support the proposed research program.
  • Demonstrate potential to attract additional national and/or international research funding and build research capability in South Australia.
  • Be willing to work with CRF to promote the Fellowship, their research and the Foundation.

Selection will be based on academic achievements, research experience relative to opportunity, academic references and interview performance.

Co-funding and hosting support from a South Australian university or recognised research organisation is required.

Applications are currently closed.

Meet our fellows

Our inaugural Fellows, who commenced their tenure with us in 2021, will both finish placements in 2026.

Dr Zlatko Kopecki

Firefly Fellow in Childhood Wound Infections

Fellowship Goal: to understand the bacterial composition of blister wounds in EB children, which will inform the development of more targeted approaches to combat infection and guide clinical EB management and antibiotic stewardship.

Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak

Firefly Fellow in Medicines Use and Safety

Fellowship Goal: to establish a sophisticated and robust approach for routinely evaluating medication safety and effectiveness during pregnancy and lactation to optimise birth outcomes and future child health.

Feature Stories