NHMRC Peer review: Guidance for self-nominations

When selecting peer reviewers, NHMRC takes into consideration the Guiding principles for peer reviewer nominations and appointments. In addition to these principles, researchers with different levels of expertise and experience are required by different NHMRC funding schemes.

Researchers should reflect on their level of expertise and experience when selecting the scheme that is most appropriate for their skillset. This assists NHMRC in selecting the most appropriate peer reviewers for each scheme.

NHMRC recommends researchers refer to the Peer Review Information for additional information and ensure availability over the relevant review period (indicative timelines are provided within the self-nomination form). NHMRC publishes dates for current and upcoming funding schemes on the NHMRC funding calendar.  

To assist researchers, guidance to determine which funding schemes are most appropriate for self-nomination is provided below.

• Are you establishing yourself as an independent, self-directed researcher in your field?
• Do you have a high-quality, recent record of achievement with an upward trajectory relative to opportunity?

You may wish to self-nominate for: Postgraduate Scholarships

• Are you a clinical researcher, biostatistician, or health economist?
• Are you a clinician with a professional interest and experience in clinical trials and/or cohort studies research?
• Are you a researcher with experience in clinical trials and/or cohort studies research?
• Do you have a strong record of achievement in clinical trials and/or cohort studies research?
• Do you want to contribute to assessment processes that guide investment in high quality clinical trials and/or cohort studies research?

You may wish to self-nominate for: Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants

• Are you interested in reviewing cross-sectoral or multi-disciplinary research?
• Are you involved in international collaborative research?
• Do you have experience in any of the following:
  • Integrating artificial intelligence into health and medical research?
  • Addressing emerging health threats and emergencies in Australia and globally?
  • Research focused on multiple long-term conditions?

You may wish to self-nominate for: International Collaborative Grant Schemes

• Is your research expertise in Indigenous health and medical research?
• Do you have experience in carrying out or reviewing Indigenous health and medical research?
• Do you identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent (see info on the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website)?

You may wish to self-nominate for:

Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria (IREC) assessment*

*Please note that as Indigenous health encompasses all areas of health and wellbeing, you may be called upon to review applications for multiple grant opportunities in all areas of health, depending on your expertise. As such, please ensure that your Peer Review unavailability entry is up to date within your Sapphire profile.

Note that IREC assessors may also be asked to serve as peer reviewers beyond IREC (in a dual role), so if the other areas apply, we encourage IREC assessors to nominate in other areas as well.

• Have you established yourself as an independent, self-directed researcher in a research program or as part of a research team?
• Do you have a high-quality or outstanding, recent record of achievement relative to opportunity?
• Are you developing as an internationally competitive/ internationally respected researcher in your field?
• Have you had experience/ extensive experience with peer review for NHMRC or equivalent Australian or international funding agencies?
• Do you have a record of achievement in competitive peer reviewed research in the health system or industry supported research?
• Do you have a high-quality recent record of achievement in health economics, preventative health research or translation of research into knowledge gain, health policy and practice?

You may wish to self-nominate for:

• Centres of Research Excellence
• Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
• Ideas Grants
• International Collaborative Grant Schemes
• Investigator Grants (Emerging Leadership and/or Leadership category)
• NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program Grants
• Partnership Projects
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• Synergy Grants
• Targeted Calls for Research.

Investigator Grants (Emerging Leadership and/or Leadership category)

Applicants to this scheme are reviewed by peers whose expertise and career stage/ experience are aligned with the level of the application. As such, nominees are asked to consider their career stage and nominate to peer review for a level (Emerging Leadership or Leadership) commensurate with their experience and profile. The Statement of Expectations provided in the Investigator Grant Guidelines provides a broad benchmark for each Investigator Grant level and may be of use to potential nominees.

Things to consider when self-nominating to review Investigator Grants:

• Nominees are considered for invitation as Investigator Grant peer reviewers based on their expertise and experience, and the expertise required to assess the applications received in the funding round. Invited peer reviewers are assigned to either the Emerging Leadership (EL) or Leadership (L) panel.
• Peer reviewers with less than 10 years post-PhD experience will be assigned to Emerging Leadership applications.
• Nominees with less than 5 years post-PhD experience will only be considered for peer review where they already hold an Investigator Grant or have previous NHMRC peer review experience.
• Investigator Grant applicants who wish to participate in peer review in the same funding round may do so. However, they will not be assigned to review applications at the level at which they have applied. Leadership applicants may review EL applications and EL2 applicants may review EL1 applications. EL1 applicants will not be invited to peer review in the round they are applying in.
• Researchers who nominate for IREC assessment may also be invited to act as scoring reviewers where their expertise and experience align with the requirements of the peer review process.