Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research was established in 1968 under an Act of Parliament. It is the only national institute for public health and medical research in the southwestern Pacific. For more than five decades, PNGIMR has conducted research leading to significant breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of malaria, lymphatic filariasis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer. Research conducted by the Institute produces approximately 60 peer-reviewed papers each year. Approximately a dozen staff have completed PhDs and are leading small grants. PNGIMR researchers present their work at international conferences, national forums on health, and the Institute’s annual virtual symposium.

PNGIMR’s headquarters is in Goroka where approximately half of the 350 staff members are based. Most of the research on malaria and other vector-borne diseases occurs in Madang facilities on the northern coast. Research programs also operate from other sites across the country: Port Moresby, Kokopo, Wewak, Maprik and Mt Hagen. Goroka and the larger sites have good internet connections and videoconferencing equipment. IMR works within a MS 365 environment.

The Institute is led by the Director, Prof William Pomat, and two Deputy Directors. Research is conducted through four research units which, in collaboration with PNG and international partners, attract grants, conduct research and disseminate findings. Core funding comes from the Government of Papua New Guinea, supplemented by research grants from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and European agencies.

Project: Database of Research Projects

Summary:

PNGIMR has a growing number of early career researchers who are applying for small grants. The Institute encourages this because it helps them to develop as researchers and to gain the track record they need to be competitive for larger grants. PNGIMR is also the preferred principal recipient for funding agencies committed to development. These agencies require that researchers in low and middle-income countries lead projects and receive the funding directly. PNGIMR’s senior researchers usually prepare the budgets for these grants.

Budgeting the direct and indirect expenses for a project is a recognised weakness at the Institute. PNGIMR requires a budget template that assists researchers to include the full costs of conducting the project. For example, for salaries costs it should query the salary level for each position, whether certain benefits should be included and the amount of time on the grant. It should be promoted to include the costs of senior personnel who are often left out of budgets. After a series of questions, the template should be able to populate the budget from IMR’s existing salary and benefits schedule.

For other costs the template should prompt for items such as freight and customs duty, vehicle and equipment use charges, travel costs (including per diems), etc.

Finally, the template should include indirect costs as per the Institute’s research costing policy.

The template will be designed in close collaboration with staff at IMR to ensure that it is relevant and user-friendly. The template should be able to be updated at IMR by someone without advanced programming skills.

How to Apply:

To be eligible to apply, you must have a Distinction average in your program, have completed a minimum of 72 units, and have room in your program. Please email your resume and one-page Statement of Interest and Suitability to science.internships@anu.edu.au by 11.59pm, 16 July, 2023.

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