The Future Fellowships Scheme was introduced to promote research in areas of critical national importance by giving outstanding researchers incentives to conduct their research in Australia. The aim of Future Fellowships is to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers.

John Rathjen won an ARC Future Fellowship in 2009: FT00992129 'Plant immunity to fungal and bacterial pathogens'. 48 months, $788,800. 09/09/09 CSIRO support for ARC Future Fellowship. 48 months, $200,000.