The 2026 Forrest Postdoctoral Fellowship application window has closed, with the next round confirmed to open in May 2027. Treat this post as your preparation framework because the single action that will determine whether you ever receive this fellowship has nothing to do with filling out a form. You need to identify and contact a faculty mentor at one of the five eligible Western Australian universities before the portal opens, and if you haven’t started that process, start now.
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Funded entirely by Andrew and Nicola Forrest through the Minderoo Foundation, this award selects just four researchers per round from a global, all-discipline applicant pool, and backs each of them with a salary of $112,371 per year, a $25,740 annual accommodation supplement, a $12,000 research and travel allowance, and up to $10,000 in relocation support including economy airfare to Perth. Where most postdoctoral grants evaluate GPA benchmarks and publication counts alone, this fellowship assesses academic achievement relative to opportunity and career stage — meaning a researcher in the humanities is assessed on the same footing as one in the sciences, with no disciplinary hierarchy applied.
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About the Forrest Research Foundation and the Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Forrest Research Foundation was established in 2014 at the University of Western Australia, following a $130 million, ten-year donation from Andrew and Nicola Forrest through the Minderoo Foundation. The goal was specific: make Western Australia a world-class centre for research and innovation by attracting outstanding early-career researchers who might not otherwise consider the state. The Postdoctoral Fellowship is the Foundation’s flagship instrument for doing that, and it has been running annually since 2018. Fellows are not simply placed in a lab and left to work independently — they are expected to live at Forrest Hall, a dedicated residential research community, and to take on mentoring, ambassadorial, and leadership responsibilities within that community alongside their research. This dual expectation of research excellence and community contribution is what distinguishes the Forrest Fellowship from a standard postdoctoral grant. For more on the Foundation’s governance and strategic plan, see the University of Western Australia’s senate governance page.
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Summary of the Fellowship 2027
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Forrest Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | Perth |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowship |
| Benefits ⇒ | Salary of $112,371/year + 17% superannuation, $25,740 accommodation supplement/year, $12,000 research and travel allowance, up to $10,000 relocation allowance |
| Funded By ⇒ | Andrew and Nicola Forrest through the Minderoo Foundation |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All nationalities, all disciplines |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not specified. Application Opens in May 2027 |
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet every condition below to be eligible to apply:
- Your PhD must have been conferred on or after 1 January 2024, or you must have successfully completed all requirements for your PhD by 31 December 2026
- You must be intending to reside at Forrest Hall in Perth for the full duration of the fellowship. Exemptions may be considered by the Foundation’s Governors in specific circumstances such as having a young family or conducting the majority of your research outside Perth
- You must have identified and contacted a proposed mentor at one of the five eligible Western Australian universities before submitting — applicants without a confirmed mentor are not considered
- You must be willing to meet all reporting obligations to the Forrest Research Foundation Director and the Minderoo Foundation each year
- You must take up the fellowship and begin employment at the relevant university within 12 months of being awarded it
The five eligible universities are:
- Curtin University
- Edith Cowan University
- Murdoch University
- The University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle Campus)
- The University of Western Australia
There are no restrictions on nationality or discipline. The Foundation actively encourages applications from fields not currently represented in the Fellow cohort. If you have had a career interruption such as maternity leave, illness, or a period of unemployment, you can submit a supplementary document explaining its impact — but note that the Forrest Fellowship eligibility window remains two years post-PhD regardless of interruptions, unlike some other schemes that extend eligibility under similar circumstances.
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The Mentor Requirement — What to Do Before May 2027
This is not a step you can defer until the portal opens. The Foundation is clear: applicants who have not contacted and confirmed a mentor before submitting will not be considered.
Here is what you need to do now:
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- Browse the research group and faculty pages of all five eligible Western Australian universities. Identify two or three academics whose current work overlaps meaningfully with your proposed research — not just thematically, but methodologically
- Write a specific, concise email introducing yourself, summarising your doctoral research, and explaining why you believe a collaboration would be productive. Attach your CV
- Confirm that your chosen mentor is willing to support your application and is not already committed to two other applicants in the same round. From the 2026 round onward, each mentor can support a maximum of two applications per cycle
- Review the Forrest Postdoctoral Fellowship Mentor Guide so you understand what the Foundation expects your mentor to provide — including a statement on the research environment and a commitment to developing you beyond the fellowship period
What the Forrest Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Covers
Each fellowship package includes:
- Salary at Level A Step 8, set at $112,371 per year based on University of Western Australia rates in 2026, plus 17% superannuation. Salary on-costs are paid by the Foundation to the employing university. If your university wishes to employ you at a higher level (Level B), the university covers the difference
- Accommodation supplement of $25,740 per annum in 2026, paid toward living expenses and contribution to Forrest Hall accommodation costs. This is subject to your marginal tax rate
- Research and travel allowance of $12,000, paid as a once-off amount for approved research expenses, overseas travel, and conference attendance. Administered by your employing university
- Relocation allowance of up to $10,000, available to interstate and international Fellows, including economy airfare to Perth for you and your dependants. Discussed directly with the Foundation Director after a successful offer
Beyond the financial package, Fellows gain access to a structured researcher development programme that includes exposure to world-leading researchers, mentoring connections with Australia’s learned academies, and leadership roles within the Forrest Hall residential research community.
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At least 80% of your contracted time (0.8 FTE) must be dedicated to research. Teaching and other university activities are permitted in the remaining time.
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Required Application Materials
Your application must include:
- A completed online application form, submitted through the Forrest Research Foundation application portal — the link is only active when the round is open
- A Curriculum Vitae, maximum 4 pages
- A publications list
- A grants and awards list
- Contact details for three referees, at least two of whom must be academic. List them in order of preference since not all three may be contacted. A personal referee is optional and must not be a family member
- A research proposal written in plain English that emphasises impact and explains why the research should take place in Western Australia. References are not required, though you can cite specific authors or figures in the text
If you experience technical issues submitting through the portal, contact the Foundation at [email protected] as early as possible — do not wait until the deadline day.
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How to Apply for the Forrest Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship – Step by Step
- Identify and contact a mentor at one of the five eligible WA universities before the portal opens — this is mandatory, not advisory
- Prepare your CV (4 pages maximum), publications list, grants and awards list, and research proposal in plain English
- Line up your three referees and inform them they may be contacted in early September if you are shortlisted
- When the portal opens in May 2027, log in at forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/ and complete the online application form
- Submit before the June 2027 deadline. Subscribe to Foundation updates at the bottom of the fellowships page now so you receive an alert the moment applications open
Application Deadline
Applications open May 2027 and close in June 2027. The exact dates vary each year. Subscribe to alerts at forrestresearch.org.au/fellowships/ to be notified the moment the round launches. Based on the 2026 round timeline, shortlisted candidates were contacted in early September, with interviews in late September and outcomes in mid-November. Expect a similar schedule for the 2027 round.
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Frequently Asked Question
Is the Forrest Postdoctoral Fellowship fully funded?
Yes. It covers a full salary at Level A Step 8 ($112,371/year in 2026 figures) plus 17% superannuation, a $25,740 annual accommodation supplement, a $12,000 research and travel allowance, and up to $10,000 in relocation support including airfare to Perth.
Can international researchers apply?
Yes. The fellowship is open to applicants from any country and any discipline, with no nationality restrictions.
Do I need to contact a mentor before applying?
Yes, and this is mandatory. Applications without a confirmed mentor will not be reviewed. The Foundation will not assist with finding one — you must identify and contact a mentor yourself before the portal opens.
How many fellowships are awarded per round?
Four fellowships are typically awarded per round, drawn from a global applicant pool across all disciplines.
Can I defer the fellowship if I am successful?
Not normally. You are expected to commence before September of the award year. A deferral may be considered by the Foundation’s Governors in exceptional circumstances, but it is not guaranteed.
Does the fellowship cover my family’s relocation costs?
The relocation allowance of up to $10,000 includes economy airfare for the Fellow and dependants. Family members beyond that are the Fellow’s own responsibility.
Can I teach while holding the fellowship?
Yes, but at least 80% of your contracted time must be dedicated to research. Teaching and associated university activities are permitted in the remaining time.
What if my PhD was completed more than two years ago?
You are not eligible unless you can demonstrate a justified career interruption — such as maternity leave, illness, or unemployment — of a length that brings your effective post-PhD time below two years. Contact the Foundation at [email protected] to discuss your situation before applying.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified directly from the official Forrest Research Foundation website as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Forrest Research Foundation or any of its partner universities.
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