Funded Research Visiting Academics
Overall
Operation Wallacea operates a Visiting Academic programme for academics interested in using our sites to conduct their own research. Currently Operation Wallacea works with over 130 such academics from institutions all over the world and is eager to increase its research and conservation programmes by working with new academics. The Visiting Academic programme runs from the start of our survey season to 31 July each summer and is available at all of our sites. Academics participating in this programme will be designing a long term research programme which can be carried out by the academic themselves, postdoc students or eventually turned into a part funded PhD. The programme is intended to let the academic come to the research site or sites for a short period to observe the area and facilities available, meet with the other participating scientists and design a research project for future years. If the submitted project is accepted as part of an Operation Wallacea research programme for future years then the costs of the research including full or part funding of travel costs are paid.

On site expectations
On site the Visiting Academic will be designing a proposed research project in consultation with the Senior Scientist at that site which fits within the themed research programme. By the end of the stay a brief research proposal needs to be drafted and submitted by the 31 July of the same field season. This research proposal should include a description of why such a research project is being proposed, the hypothesis being tested, outline of the methodologies and analysis techniques to be used, how students can be involved as research assistants and/or to gather data for a dissertation/thesis, and a timetable for outputs. This document is then reviewed by an Operation Wallacea research committee and academics informed of the outcome by 31 August, so that accepted projects can be included in the research programmes for the following years.

Funding of research projects
The project as part of the overall research programmes will then be advertised to students around the world at over hundreds of academic institutions either by direct presentations or via email contacts. Note the academic does not have to bring their own students to participate in the research (although this does of course help to increase numbers) and students from many different academic institutions will be participating. Also the project will run irrespective of the numbers of students booked onto that particular option. Operation Wallacea funds entire research programmes for a site, not individual projects. To date all research programmes advertised have been funded The academic will be expected to run the research project themselves in future years or to organise for a postdoc as a replacement.

Data ownership
All data collected is joint property of Operation Wallacea and the academic. It is expected that the academic will be producing peer reviewed publications from their research and Operation Wallacea will be acknowledged and the senior scientist included as a co author. Thesis/dissertation students are also often named as authors although this is more to the discretion of the academic. Operation Wallacea can also use the data in grant applications towards establishing sustainable conservation initiatives in the area although this will not compromise the ability for the data to be used in peer reviewed publications. The academic is also expected to produce a yearly report into the research conducted which will be placed within the yearly science report created at each site, again this will not compromise any future publication of the data in peer reviewed papers.

Logistics and costs
The visiting academic program costs $500 a week, with flights not included. This cost covers all food, accommodation and transport from the start point of each expedition within the country, use of equipment, vehicles, boats etc and medical and evacuation insurance. This cost is for the first summer only with the majority of future costs subsequently covered by Operation Wallacea. After the initial visit in the first summer it is expected that an academic will be on site for a minimum of 4 weeks each summer to run the project each year, however each project is flexible and often an academic will establish the project and run it for a few weeks and then have a postdoctoral student running it for the rest of the summer. Funding for such arrangements where two people run the project is done on a case by case basis. Increasingly after a few years the commitment from the academic is expected to drop off to be replaced by a new academic who can step into the role or by a postgraduate student who works with the original academic.

Exceptions to the cost
Existing projects - Once a project is running it is the intention of Operation Wallacea to keep it running indefinitely every summer, however it is not expected that an academic will commit to come out for an indefinite number of summers. For this reason there are occasions when a project requires a new academic to lead it. If such a project arises then the visiting academic program is not required and a new academic will be funded to come and take over the project in their first year.

Exceptional academics - Occasionally we will be approached by an academic with a highly desirable and unique research program, in such cases the cost of the visiting academic program is waived.

Application and further information
To apply for a visiting academic programme or if you have any questions about the sites and potential research interests please email Dr James Saunders (James.Saunders@opwall.com). Allocation of visiting academic positions is done throughout the year but for logistical reasons they are rarely accepted for a summer after the end of February of that year.

Class Group Visiting Academics
To come to a site with the intention of either developing a course for your university, or in advance of a potential class group booking is possible at any point during the expedition season. While on site you will be able to meet with the senior scientist, research academics, staff and existing students as well as assessing the sites and facilities.

Application and further information
Costs for the Class Group Visiting Academics are $500 a week, with flights not included, although this does include all food, accommodation and transport from the start point of each expedition within the country. To apply for a space on an expedition or if you have any questions about the sites and potential research interests please email Dr James Saunders (James.Saunders@opwall.com). Allocation of visiting academic positions is done throughout the year but for logistical reasons they are rarely accepted for a summer after the end of February of that year.