DECRA success for 2021
Dr Julie Miao, Senior Lecturer in Property and Economic Development at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning has received a 3-year Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) commencing in 2021.
Funded by the Australian Research Council, the DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions.
The scheme recognises research excellence and supports national and international research collaboration, with a view to promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways in early career researchers.
The DECRA was awarded to Dr Miao in relation to her project ‘Innovation infrastructure planning: future-proofing Australia’s growth’, which examines the role of planning in future-proofing Australia’s economic growth. It focuses on innovation infrastructure, that is, facilities integrating hardware, software and cultural support in one place to support innovation activities.
“This project brings the two strands of my research interests on ‘innovation infrastructure’ and ‘urban entrepreneurialism’ (or ‘intrapreneurial state’) together, but also extends my geographical coverage to Australia and the United States by adopting a comparative approach between Melbourne, Shanghai and Boston” explains Dr Miao, who was delighted to learn of her DECRA application success.
The project responds to the urgent need for Australia to transit towards an innovation-based, economically robust, socially coherent and environmentally sustainable growth model. It will provide evidence to support informed public investment decisions, enhanced economic base, and sustained social and economic progress for citizens.
“With this generous financial support, I will be able to systematically map out how planning tools could be effectively used in supporting the property design and functioning of innovation infrastructure” says Dr Miao. “Through delivering this project, I am hoping to further strengthen my research profile, widely broadcast my research outcomes and broaden my research impact and networks”.
For those interested in learning more about Dr Miao’s research and topics of interest, please visit her google scholar profile and our MSD website for a full list of publications.