Research Funding and Other Opportunities

AVERT members have access to exclusive research funding opportunities.  Learn more about the latest research funding calls administered by the AVERT network as well as other opportunities for research funding, fellowships, exchanges and collaborations. 

Postdoctoral Fellow Opportunity

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Macquarie University is inviting applications for a postdoctoral research fellow to contribute to the disinformation studies research projects. The successful candidate will work alongside Prof. Julian Droogan and Ms. Jennifer Williams on social media-based research investigating influence operations, their effects, and countermeasures.

Essential selection criteria

  • A PhD (or near completion) in International Security Studies, Media Studies, Cyber Security Studies, or a related field

  • Demonstrated experience in empirical research on online extremism and/or disinformation

  • Fluent proficiency in Bahasa Indonesian

  • Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research

  • A willingness to acquire new and diverse skills

  • Experience in independent and team-based research

  • Demonstrated ability to publish in academic and professional settings and contribute to grant writing

  • Excellent English communication skills (written and oral)

Desirable criteria

  • Technical expertise in web scraping, data management, and data visualisation

Position details

  • Salary: $84,437 – $113,697 per annum (Level A) plus 17% superannuation

  • Contract: Full-time, fixed-term for two years, with a possible third-year extension (subject to funding)

  • Location: Wallumattagal campus, North Ryde, Sydney

Application process

  • Deadline: Sunday, 2 March 2025 at 11:59 (AEDT)

  • For full details and apply, please visit here

  • For specific role enquiries, email Prof. Julian Droogan (julian.droogan@mq.edu.au) or Jennifer Williams (jennifer.williams@mq.edu.au)

  • For general recruitment enquiries, email Mirna Alaaiddin (mirna.alaaiddin@mq.edu.au)

Save the Date

17th Annual International Conference

7th - 8th July 2025

THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM RESEARCH IN A MULTI-CRISIS WORLD

The Society for Terrorism Research (STR), the School of Law & Social Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Conflict, Violence and Terrorism Research Centre (CVTRC) are delighted to announce that the 17th annual STR conference will be held on July 7th and 8th, 2025, on the University’s historic Egham campus.

In an era of global conflict, great power rivalry, state violence, polarisation and political volatility, this conference aims to consider both the raison d’être and future of terrorism research in the context of overlapping global crises. Participants are invited to identify the key evolving topics and debates of this multi-crisis era, particularly in light of emerging hybrid terrorist ideologies and terrorist use of technological innovation and AI. In the process we hope to identify new and emerging
research agendas, synergies and collaborations, in addition to showcasing cutting-edge research.

The full call for papers will open soon.

Funding Opportunity

The British Academy Evidence-Informed Policymaking Grants

The British Academy is offering grants of up to £150,000 for research projects focused on strengthening evidence use in policymaking.

The British Academy invites proposals for research projects that enhance evidence-informed policymaking in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This initiative, part of the International Science Partnerships Fund, seeks to support collaborations between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. The funding is designed to improve the integration of research evidence into policymaking, helping to shape policies across various sectors.

Details

  • Funding: Up to £150,000 per project (for 12 months).

  • Focus Areas: Strengthening evidence use in policymaking through research, organisational change, and knowledge systems development.

  • Eligibility: Projects must include at least one researcher from an eligible country and focus on ODA-eligible topics.

  • Application Deadline: 19 February 2025, 17:00 GMT.

For full details and application guidance, visit The British Academy’s funding page or contact international@thebritishacademy.ac.uk for any queries.

Funding Opportunity: 2025 Strategic Policy Grants Program

The Department of Defence has announced the 2025 Strategic Policy Grants Program (SPGP), an annual initiative supporting independent, strategic policy-focused research and related activities, including conferences, dialogues, seminars, and scenario exercises.

Objectives of the SPGP

  • Deepen public debate on Australia’s strategic and defence policy choices.

  • Inform the development of Australia’s defence and national security policy and strategy.

  • Strengthen Defence’s international and domestic partnerships.

  • Broaden participation in Australia’s strategic and defence policy debate.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an equivalent business registration number.

  • Joint applications are permitted but must identify a single project lead and organisation.

  • Proposed activities must align with Defence’s priorities and be distinct from existing business-as-usual activities.

Funding Details

  • Approximately AUD $3.5 million is available across all applications over three years (2025–2028).

  • No minimum or maximum funding thresholds; proposals must demonstrate efficient and ethical use of public resources.

Application Process

  • Applications can address specified priority policy questions or propose topics aligning with the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

  • Applications must be submitted via GrantConnect, where guidelines and further details are available.

  • Application Deadline: 28 February 2025

For more details, visit the Strategic Policy Grants Program page or contact sp.grants@defence.gov.au.

Call for Proposals

2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit

The Eradicate Hate Global Summit invites proposals for sessions at its upcoming conference, to be held from 15 to 17 September 2025 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This annual event convenes experts from various fields to develop actionable strategies against hate-fueled violence.

Submission Details

  • Proposal Types: Submissions may include keynotes, plenaries, panels, workshops, and other session formats.

  • Focus Areas: Proposals should aim to advance understanding and prevention of hate-fueled violence, encompassing topics such as policy development, community engagement, technological interventions, and educational initiatives.

  • Submission Deadline: 21 March 2025.

For comprehensive guidelines and to submit your proposal, please visit the 2025 Call for Proposals page.

Hate research publication opportunity

Call for Papers

Researching Hate Edited Book

Researchers are invited to submit abstracts for an upcoming edited book, Researching Hate, which will explore the methods, challenges, and ethical considerations involved in studying hate. This is a great opportunity for researchers engaged in hate studies to contribute to an important collection addressing the challenges and methodologies of this field.

The editors welcome abstracts on a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:

  • Reflections on conducting research in the field of hate studies.

  • Conceptual frameworks to inform hate studies research.

  • Novel and innovative research methods.

  • Challenges in accessing participants, groups, or platforms.

  • Ethical dilemmas and researcher safety considerations.

Submission Details

First drafts of accepted chapters are expected by late 2025, with the final manuscript due in Spring 2026.

For more details, please contact Dr Luke Hubbard

Call For Proposals - Now Open

Countering Violent Extremism Research That Supports Policy and Practice in Australia

Overview
As part of Phase 2 of the National Research Project, the Department of Home Affairs is seeking to fund up to four research projects addressing critical challenges in countering violent extremism (CVE) and supporting Australia's counter-terrorism (CT) strategies. This call for proposals aligns with the AVERT Research Network's mission to share and promote opportunities for impactful research that informs practice and policy making in this critical field.

Phase 1 Literature Review

The recent literature review into radicalisation and violent extremism in Australia commissioned under Phase 1 of the National Research Project also assisted in determining these research topics. The report can be found here.

Priority Research Topics
Based on trends of radicalisation and violent extremism in Australia and Australian government P/CVE priorities, proposals should address one of the following topics:

1. What are international best practices or innovations for programmatic and frontline practitioner interventions in understanding and addressing new forms of violent extremism, including violent extremism fuelled by disinformation, social polarisation and/or grievances?

a. How can we best identify and counter disinformation fuelling violent extremism and what are best practices/innovations in addressing disinformation fuelled violence?

b. How does social polarisation contribute to violent extremism and what are best practices/innovations in addressing violent extremism fuelled by social polarisation?

c. How do disinformation, social polarisation and/or grievances contribute to radicalisation? How do they inform or make up extremist appeals and recruitment processes?

2. What does best practice support for the families or carers of young people who are identified as being at risk of radicalisation to violence look like?

a. What are the most effective ways of identifying the needs of families or carers of young people who may be at risk of radicalisation to violence?

b. What kinds of support are prioritised by families/carers of young people who may be at risk of radicalisation to violence, e.g. psychological, informational, logistical, other?

c. What can we learn from support mechanisms for the families or carers of young people who may be at risk of other forms of anti-social or harmful behaviour that may be applied to such support in the context of young people radicalising to violence?

d. How can we effectively monitor and evaluate support mechanisms for families/carers in real time in ways that do not ethically or practically compromise the quality, impact or nature of such support?            

3. What are effective CVE interventions for neuro-diverse clients (ASD and ADHD)?

a. How do elements of neurodiversity affect vulnerability to radicalisation? Do neuro-diverse clients engage with violent extremist content or individuals differently? What elements of neuro-diversity potentially lead to greater susceptibility to radicalisation? What elements of neurodiversity can potentially provide protective factors to radicalisation?

b. How can we gather more robust data regarding neurodiversity while respecting ethical boundaries?

c. What are the protective factors in neurodiverse populations? How can these inform tailored preventative measures?

d. How can we develop nuanced assessment tools to prevent misclassification between neuro-diversity and radicalization?

e. Are Australia’s current CVE interventions tailored to be sufficiently neuro-diverse conscious/aware? How can these programs be adapted to address specific communication and cognitive processing needs?

f. How can practitioners delivering such interventions best be supported, and what might effective evaluation measures for such support frameworks look like?

g. How can we effectively monitor and evaluate neuro-diverse client interventions?

4. What youth bystander approaches work in relation to violent extremism? Bystander behaviour and responses surrounding concern for someone who may be radicalising to violence have been covered in the research literature. However, our understanding of young people’s bystander perceptions and behaviours remains limited:

a. What do successful youth-focused bystander initiatives look like?

b. What might we learn from existing ‘active bystander’ programs surrounding youth and other social harms, such as bullying, that could be applied to dealing with violent extremism?

c. What knowledge of youth-based peer influence and networks are needed to help inform youth-focused bystander policy and programming?

d. What kinds of support do young people require to become effective bystanders in relation to peers who may be radicalising to violent extremism?

e. What risks need to be mitigated for young people in bystander programming around violent extremism?

For full details of the proposal, please read the Call for Proposals document.

Funding

The Department seeks to fund up to 4 research projects. Projects will be funded up to AUD$200,000 (GST exclusive). Funding will be administered by the Department of Home Affairs.

Eligibility

  1. Open to both AVERT and non-AVERT members.

  2. Australian and international applicants may apply.

  3. At least one team member must be affiliated with an accredited Australian institution.

    Reviewers and those involved in the administration of this call are ineligible to apply.

Key Dates

  • Call Opens: 20 December 2024

  • Deadline for queries: 15 January 2025

  • Proposal Submission Deadline: 5 February 2025

  • Notification of Application Outcome: 10 March 2025

  • Progress Report Due: 10 June 2025

  • Final Deliverable Due: December 2025

How to apply

  1. For submission requirements, please read the Call for Proposals document and Assessment Criteria.

  2. Prepare your application using the Proposal Template provided.

  3. Include a two-page CV for each applicant.

  4. Submit your full application to the AVERT Coordinator at adi-avert@deakin.edu.au by 5 February 2025 (Please note deadline for queries is 15 January 2025)

For proposal-related questions, please read the FAQ document here