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.
Upcoming Event: Australian Festival of Democracy & Human Rights (1–8 June 2025)
The inaugural Australian Festival of Democracy & Human Rights will take place from 1–8 June 2025. This week-long, nationwide event aims to celebrate, critique, and explore the contemporary state of democracy and human rights through a diverse range of perspectives and activities.
A highlight of the festival is the 2025 Democracy & Human Rights Conference, scheduled for 4 June at the University of Melbourne, with both in-person and online attendance options. The conference is hosted by Professor Winnifred Louis from the Social Change Lab at The University of Queensland, in collaboration with the Resilient Democracy Data and Research Network.
Additional festival events are being developed by various organisations and institutions, including:
• The Australian Democracy Network
• The Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies (South Australia)
• Amnesty International
• Political scientists at the Australian National University
• Legal scholars from the University of Tasmania and the University of Melbourne
Opportunities to Contribute
Researchers, educators, students, advocacy organisations, activists, and community groups working in relevant areas are invited to host events as part of the festival program.
Event formats may include (but are not limited to): seminars, panels, workshops, exhibitions, performances, or other creative engagements. Events may target a wide range of audiences including scholars, the general public, youth, culturally diverse communities, the arts sector, and participants from across Australia or internationally.
The festival is designed to be polyvocal, welcoming diverse perspectives and fostering dialogue around varied interpretations of democracy—its foundations, challenges, and future directions. Events may be in-person, online, or hybrid. Where possible, in-person events are encouraged to provide an online access option to increase accessibility.
AVERT-Sponsored Panel – Call for Presentations
Expressions of interest are also open for participation in an AVERT-sponsored panel exploring the relationship between violent extremism and democracy. Those interested in joining this panel are invited to submit a presentation title and abstract for consideration to adi-avert@deakin.edu.au
How to Submit an Expression of Interest
To propose an event for inclusion in the festival program, please email: socialchangelab.uq@gmail.com
Include the following details:
• Event title
• Description of activities
• Venue
• Date and time
• Intended audience
Participation from a broad and diverse range of contributors is strongly encouraged.
Request for Quote: Research Projects on Countering Violent Extremism and Social Cohesion
The Connected Communities team at the New South Wales (NSW) Premier’s Department is inviting organisations to submit a quote for the upcoming project, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and Social Cohesion Research Program: Emerging Trends and Threats.
Funding will be allocated for two research projects, with the Premier’s Department working closely with the successful applicants to support delivery. The program seeks to explore emerging trends and threats that impact social cohesion and contribute to violent extremism in NSW and Australia. The research will inform the development of evidence-based policies and programs. Each project is expected to be completed within 12 months of contract execution.
A Request for Quote (RFQ) document is available here, outlining the project scope, objectives, deliverables, and evaluation criteria.
Each research project will receive up to $75,000 in funding, and specific reporting and evaluation requirements are included in the RFQ.
Interested organisations are encouraged to submit a proposal detailing how they intend to meet the project’s objectives and deliverables, including strategies for engagement, implementation, and evaluation.
Kindly submit your quote to connectedcommunities@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au by 17:00 on Monday, 5 May 2025.
Lecturer in Social Psychology, Flinders University
The Flinders University is looking for a 3-year balanced Level B position of Lecturer in the College of Education, Psychology & Social Work.
Position Details
• Fixed term for 3 years from commencement | Full-time
• Academic Level B | $110,127 to $130,325 p.a. plus 17% super
• Location: Bedford Park / Kaurna Country
• Deadline for applications: 21 April 2025
Job criteria
To be successful in this position, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following:
• Completion of a PhD, or equivalent qualification in Psychology.
• Demonstrated evidence of a strong research track record (for career stage) in an area aligned with social psychology, including evidence of quality publications.
• Demonstrated evidence of, or capacity to, undertake high-quality teaching in a tertiary environment, including involvement in topic coordination and curriculum design.
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to establish effective relationships with staff, students and industry.
Any experience supervising honours and higher degree students as well as experience attracting external competitive grants would be beneficial.
Project Summary
While research into collective mobilisation for progressive social change is well-established, significantly less attention has been given to understanding collective action aimed at resisting equality and inclusion. This project addresses that gap by employing innovative conceptual and methodological approaches to investigate when, how, and why individuals mobilise to oppose the inclusion of migrants and transgender people. It will examine the factors that drive some individuals to escalate their actions to political or physical violence and explore the role of online platforms in facilitating such engagement. The anticipated outcomes—identifying the social-psychological profiles of actors and mapping trajectories of mobilisation and radicalisation—will directly inform ongoing collaborations with national intelligence stakeholders, with the aim of supporting social cohesion and guiding de-escalation strategies.
About Flinders University and Adelaide
Flinders University is ranked No. 1 in South Australia for Psychology (2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities) and is currently in a period of significant growth, having recorded the fastest increase in research income among Australian universities since 2018. The campus is located in the scenic foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges and is frequently visited by native wildlife, including koalas. Flinders is committed to expanding its Social Psychology group, which currently includes Michael Wenzel, Lydia Woodyatt, and Annabelle Neall. Professor Emma Thomas leads a vibrant research lab comprising postdoctoral researchers, PhD and Honours students, and a steady flow of visiting scholars. She also plays a key role in interdisciplinary research on democratic resilience through the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies.
If you are interested in the position, please email Dr. Emma Thomas, Matthew Flinders Professor of Psychology (Emma.Thomas@flinders.edu.au). Applications close on Monday, 21 April 2025.
For more detail, please click on the job advertisement.
For a full list of the key position responsibilities, please refer to the job description.
The Program on Extremism at the George Washington University
Call for Papers 2025
The Program on Extremism at the George Washington University is launching a call for papers to explore the contemporary dynamics of terrorism globally. This thematic issue aims to address pressing questions surrounding the evolving nature of global terrorist threats, the integration of modern technologies into extremist activities, and the practical measures for countering violent extremism.
The George Washington University invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit original papers that critically engage with the evolving dynamics of extremism. Submissions may explore a range of pressing issues, including the resurgence and operational evolution of ISIS in Africa, Afghanistan, and the Middle East; patterns and prevention of lone wolf attacks in Europe and the United States; the role of digital platforms in radicalization and recruitment; and the potential terrorist applications of artificial intelligence.
Aligned with the Program’s mission, this call aims to generate actionable insights that enhance counter-extremism efforts and security policies. Through this initiative, George Washington University seeks to foster collaboration, advance research, and deepen collective understanding of contemporary extremism—ultimately contributing to a safer, more resilient global community.
Themes and Areas of Interest:
Original submissions addressing one or more of the following topics are encouraged:
1. ISIS and Terrorism in Key Regions
• The resurgence and activities of ISIS in Africa, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
• Strategies, operations, and regional impacts of ISIS affiliates.
• The current state of ISIS leadership and organizational structure.
• Systems of communication and coordination across ISIS leadership and regional branches.
• Lone wolf attacks, patterns, motivations, indicators/warnings, and prevention of lone wolf terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States.
2. Online Radicalization and Modern Technology
• The role of social media and digital platforms in radicalization and recruitment.
• Strategies for combating online extremist propaganda and radicalization.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Terrorism
• Potential terrorist applications of artificial intelligence.
• Countermeasures and ethical considerations regarding AI-driven terrorism threats.
Key Dates:
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 20 May 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: 10 June 2025
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: 1 September 2025
• Publication Date: November 2025
Submission Process:
Interested authors should submit an abstract (300–500 words) stating their research question, methodology, key arguments, and a brief biography (150 words). Full papers will be carefully reviewed and may be subject to editing before publication.
Please send submissions and inquiries to extremism@gwu.edu with the subject line: “PoECFP25 – Global Terrorism Dynamics.”
Upon approval of the abstract, George Washington University will seek to publish 10 scholarly papers, each between 4,000 – 5,000 words (excluding references and appendices). Papers must be original, unpublished, and grounded in rigorous empirical research, theoretical analysis, or policy-oriented assessments rooted in established academic traditions.
Authors of accepted papers will receive a compensation of USD 1,000 per paper.
To learn more about this opportunity, please visit the George Washington University website.