Pressure is building for the federal government to overhaul the way science is funded in Australia, with leading researchers describing existing arrangements as inadequate, inefficient and lacking focus.

Nobel prize winning astrophysicist Brian Schmidt described the government-funded Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, this year worth $75 million, as a ''bit of a lottery'' because bureaucratic rules meant judges, himself included, were not allowed to contact the researcher's supervisors.

Noble prize winner Brian Schmidt. Credit:Joe Armao

The Australian National University scientist said the awards, administered through the Australian Research Council, were oversubscribed by a proportion of 13 to one and designed for young researchers at the start of their careers, so it was impossible to sensibly assess proposals in the absence of background checks.

Professor Schmidt did not receive the ARC grant he applied for this year and said more money was needed through the council to support research.