Investigator Grants – what do successful researchers look like at Emerging Leadership and Leadership level?

2026 Investigator Grant applications are expected to open in June, so it is timely to profile the attributes of recent successful researchers at each level in the scheme.

For each level, we start by examining the Statement of Expectations provided by NHMRC (shown in the blue boxes) that help guide applicants’ choice of level at which to apply. We then present information to show the type of content that applicants might be expected to present and distinguishing features of successful awardees at each level. As a bit of bonus information, we have collected the publication metrics of successful awardees upon announcement of Investigator Grant outcomes. While this is not assessed within the applicant track record, it gives you a flavour of the calibre of researchers at each level to add to the broad overview we have provided below.  

Emerging leadership levels

Researcher expertise

A common question we are asked is what type of researchers have the best chance of success? Do I need to be a practising clinician? Below we present a snapshot about the expertise of 2023-25 Investigator Grant Emerging Leadership recipients based on their public profiles (Fig. 1). The same information is provided for Leadership recipients in Figure 2. While research clinicians and biomedical researchers are the dominant categories captured here, this snapshot cannot begin to capture the range of expertise and background of successful applicants in recent years – ranging from researchers with expertise in physics/mathematics, healthcare sustainability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, statistics and modelling, health promotion and preventive healthcare, through to nuclear medicine, fundamental biology and evidence synthesis, to name but a few. 

Leadership levels 

Leadership level applicants encompass a trajectory from national to international authorities in their field and with experience ranging from 10 to >20 years post-PhD. We have grouped the descriptions here for leadership level applicants as the characteristics are similar across levels but amplified from L1 to L3 in terms of the significance of their research contributions, leadership and reach and significance of their research influence and impact in their field. 

So what themes have emerged from this exploration of successful researchers at each leadership level?

Top 10 in 10 – Demonstrate your leadership through authorship (first or senior on most of your top 10) or a detailed explanation of your role if you were not a lead author. Include strong field weighted metrics if available. Provide excellent articulation of the groundbreaking or seminal finding and its importance to your field. Provide a detailed description of your contribution to each of your top

10 in 10.

Research impact – We know from the NHMRC Research Impact Track Record Assessment (RITRA) Framework review (see our previous blog here) that >90% of applicants choose knowledge impact, so it is likely that you will too! Successful research impact sections provide a good balance between a strong, coherent research program that has had great impact through use/adoption/adaption by other research end-users and where the applicant led/initiated (Leadership levels) or provided significant contribution to and developed independence (Emerging Leadership) during the time of the research program.

Leadership – Look closely at the Statements of Expectations for your level and choose your best examples of leadership in each category accordingly. Aim to provide examples that showcase the unique positive contributions you made in the role through initiating, leading, founding, directing or chairing to promote positive change. Look outwards, beyond how it helped progress your career, and think about what your actions have done to support, mentor, promote inclusion, and deliver improvements to those in your institution, society or research team.

Knowledge Gain – Work to your strengths. The Investigator Grant is designed to support you, an emerging leader or an established leader in your field, to build on the significant research you have conducted to date and pursue important new research directions through innovative and creative research. Present a strong vision of what you see your research achieving within the next 5 years and how that will support you to deliver significant new knowledge and/or policy/practice change to enable positive outcomes for research end users. Ensure your research program is coherent and that each element works together to support your ultimate vision. Ensure it is feasible and scoped to the RSP for your level and if additional funds are required, show how you will secure those funds and how your Investigator Grant funding will support your innovative aims that go beyond the current research for which you already have funding.

Look to successful researchers from the previous round at your target level that are in your field or in a closely-related field – this will give you a good idea of the calibre of researchers who may be applying in the same cohort as you – and put the fire in your belly to ensure that your application has the competitive edge to ensure the best chance of success!

If you’re planning on submitting an Investigator Grant in July and would like some advice from our team of NHMRC experts, then drop us an email at hello@thegrantedgroup.com.au.