060 - Researching Unhappy: The Harsh Reality of Research Funding in Australia | Dr Shane Huntington CEO of Australian Society of Medical Research

In this episode, Dr. Shane Huntington discusses the challenges faced by early career researchers in the health research sector, particularly regarding funding applications. He highlights the significant decrease in success rates for grants, the importance of communication skills in grant writing, and the need for more funding to support researchers. Dr. Huntington also emphasizes the importance of redefining success for researchers and raising public awareness about the achievements in research. The conversation concludes with a call to action for advocacy efforts to address the issues within the research community Keywords: mental health, research funding, ASMR, grant applications, early career researchers, communication in research, funding challenges, advocacy, PhD, success in research Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Research Funding 03:00 Shane's Journey to ASMR CEO 05:59 The Role of ASMR in Supporting Researchers 08:46 The Valley of Death: Early Career Research Challenges 11:56 The Changing Landscape of Grant Applications 14:56 Communication: The Key to Successful Grant Writing 17:58 The Importance of Clear Communication in Research 20:40 Reforming the Grant Application Process 23:40 The Need for More Funding in Research 27:00 The Impact of PhD Numbers on Research Careers 29:32 Redefining Success in Research Careers 32:56 Advocacy for Researchers and Public Awareness 35:47 Conclusion and Call to Action