One of the major objectives of the CBA is to build capacity through training of postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers.

We want to hear from you!

The CBA welcomes input from Early Career Researchers and PhD students regarding the types of training activities you need to address your specific research requirements and interests. 

Our technical workshops typically focus on advanced analytical / technical methods in population- and phylo-genomics, spatial ecology, macroecology and biodiversity informatics, often with the primary developers of the methods presenting.

We also facilitate and support other workshops such as working groups, round table discussions and symposiums, which support research development and collaboration across our partner institutions and knowledge exchange amongst scientists, managers and policy makers.

If you have someone you would like to invite and/or a workshop idea ready to go, download and complete a Training Support proposal template and send it to claire.stephens@anu.edu.au.

Alternatively, get in touch and give us some more general training areas/ideas you would be interested in and we'll see how we can help.

"The CBA's opportunities — including attending and leading workshops — have equipped me with a skill set that is sought-after as an ECR. I strongly urge PhD students and ECRs to take full advantage of them, as they are instrumental in cultivating the skill sets required for success”. Post doc, University of Canberra, 2023.

Eligibility

A Training Support proposal should be led by Postdocs and/or PhD students from at least one of our CBA partner institutions, ie. ANU, CSIRO and/or UC.

The topic of the proposed activity should complement CBA’s biodiversity science focus, eg. evolutionary biology, population and ecosystem ecology, genomics, bioinformatics, and/or spatial modelling.

Funding may be sought for a range of training activities including (but not limited to) workshops, short courses, tutorials, retreats. They can be held at ANU, UC or CSIRO (other venues can be proposed if appropriate).

The activity should be relevant to EMCRs (and others) from all three CBA partner institutions. To further encourage cross-institutional interaction, a social function as part of the program is highly recommended where appropriate.

If required, the CBA can also provide coordination support for your activity, e.g. advertising, registration, venue and flight bookings, etc.

In addition to Training Support funding, CBA also has funding for visiting scientists invited by lab leaders who, during their time in Canberra, will present a workshop and/or seminar for CBA members.

How to apply

Using the template (under Downloads) we invite you to submit a short proposal (~2 pages or less) that includes:

1. Title and type of training activity
2. Organisers’ details
3. Proposed presenter/s
4. Proposed date/s
5. Brief outline of the training activity
6. Itemised budget

Applications will be assessed by the CBA Director and Liaison Committee.

Past ECR-proposed workshops

• R-evolutionary Insights: Deep dive into SNP-based population genomics
• Stochastic modelling meets evolutionary biology
• Estimating biogeographic history with BioGeoBEARS and PhyBEARS
• A beginner’s guide to population genomics simulations with SLiM and slimr
• Nanopore sequencing for biosecurity
• Putting pen to paper: Scientific writing for researchers
• Mechanistic niche modelling using NichemapR
• Nanopore Sequencing Workshop
• SNPs in population- and phylo-genomics
• Biodiversity in R: models and methods for spatial analysis
• Hierarchical occupancy-detection modelling
• Demographic inference for comparative phylogeography using Next-Gen sequence data
• Computational macroevolution and phylogenetic comparative methods
• Population and landscape genomics
• R Bootcamp

ECR register

We aim to maintain a register of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) so we know who you are and what you do so we can help provide CBA-affiliated Postdocs and PhD students with collaborative opportunities such as training workshops, project funding, etc. Please register your details here if you would like to be included on our ECR Register.