Brotherton Fellowship

Call for applications for the 2026 Brotherton Fellowship

The Patricia Lesley Brotherton Bequest

Dr Patricia Lesley Brotherton, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology until her death in 1979, bequeathed the sum of $20,000 to the Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, to be used at the discretion of the Professors of the Department for the work of the Department.

The Brotherton Fellow

During their period at the University, Fellows will be expected to present:

  1. The Brotherton Lecture, a public lecture for a community audience. This lecture will be promoted in the press and to the University more widely, and will be associated with a reception after the presentation.
  2. A specialist research seminar to researchers within Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. This presentation could be part of the Colloquium series, or within one of the School’s research hubs.

Fellows should also be available for consultation with staff and students and, if possible, to be engaged in research.

Duration of the Visit

It is expected that the duration of the Fellow’s visit would be between three and six weeks in duration and occur in 2026.

Level of Funding

The Brotherton endowment will meet expenses incurred in travel and during the stay in Melbourne. The actual value of the award will depend on the proposed length of stay, the cost of the airfare, and associated expenses. The maximum funding available per Fellow is $12,000 and is limited to:

  • Economy or premium economy return airfares to Melbourne
  • Accommodation and transfers
  • Daily meals and local travel expenses

Please note, the Brotherton Lecture and Brotherton Reception will be costed separately with assistance from the MSPS Engagement Team.

The Nominating Academic(s)

Nominating Academic(s) must be MSPS staff members. Please note that if the application is successful, the nominating academic is required to liaise with the Fellow to finalise their visit. The nominating academic is also responsible for managing the details of the visit (in consultation with their hub/centre coordinator) and arranging an office space and security/library pass (by contacting enquiry-psych). The Brotherton Lecture and reception will be organised by the Engagement Team.

Application Procedure

Members of the School are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2026 Brotherton Fellow. Fellows should be of exceptional international distinction in a field of study of interest to the School.

Applications should be submitted using this link by 5 pm AEST on Friday June 27, 2025. The application will require:

  • a brief statement (no more than 500 words) about the distinction of the proposed fellow and their fit with research interests in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
  • a current curriculum vitae of the proposed fellow
  • a working title and brief summary (no more than 150 words) of the proposed public lecture
  • a working title and brief summary (no more than 150 words) of the proposed research seminar
  • information on when the visit is likely to occur
  • an itemised budget with indicative quotes for flights, accommodation, and any other expenses. This budget cannot exceed $12,000.

Selection

Selection of the Brotherton Fellow will be undertaken by a committee appointed by the Head of the School of Psychological Sciences, consisting of members representing each of the hubs and centres.