What we do The Neurological Foundation Head of Research manages the application and awards process for grants, scholarships and fellowships, and is the main contact for applicants, recipients and the research offices that host each grant.
The Head of Research administers all research contracts and reporting, helping the Foundation to communicate effectively to our supporters on the progress and outcomes of the research we fund.
During each of our two funding rounds per year, the Head of Research receives applications, checks them for completeness and compliance, organises external reviewers to provide feedback on the quality of the project grant applications, and manages the review committees. The Scientific Advisory Committee reviews the projects, small projects and conference and training course applications. The Personal Awards Committee conducts interviews with fellowship and scholarship candidates in order to shortlist the applications. The Head of Research, along with the Committee Chairs, presents the funding recommendations to the Neurological Foundation Council.
The current Head of Research is Dr Sarah Schonberger. Sarah has a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Auckland and was a fully grant-funded Research Fellow at the University of Auckland. She has experience across all aspects of the research funding process, helping the University to secure their main source of government research funding, supporting researchers in applying for grants from all major funders, liaising with University research and finance offices to manage research contracts, and outcomes-based impact reporting.
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