Investigating eResearch disciplines in the Australian eResearch context; (b) to discuss researchers' needs for eResearch services and support and their vision about the role of collaborative eResearch for future progress of their research field; (c) to explore some existing coherences and differences between `top-down' collaborative research visions expressed in `grand' eResearch strategies and projects on the one hand, and `bottom-up' researcher experiences and views of effective collaborative practices on the other. This exploration is both distinct and limited in several specific ways. First, it is based on em- pirical data collected in the Australian eResearch context, which has been little explored in main- stream sociological eResearch literature. Second, it provides an account of eResearch potential and challenges from an ordinary `ICT user-researcher' perspective. This perspective is quite distinct from the accounts of eResearch developers and early adopters, which are more often reported in similar literature (e.g., Barjak, et al., 2009), yet this user perspective is fundamental for developing productive ways forward (Ribes & Finholt, 2009). This chapter is structured as follows. The following two sections introduce the Australian eResearch context and review ICT-enhanced collaboration practices and challenges reported in the literature. The next section describes the approach and procedure of the empirical study. The following results section provides a snapshot of researchers' answers about their collaboration and distributed practices, and explores some dif- ferences between the practices of academics and research students, researchers from different dis- ciplinary domains, and those already involved in various kinds of research collaboration. The final section discusses key findings and major implica- tions. Among key insights are some noticeable discrepancies among current researchers' ICT- enhanced collaboration practices, their short-term needs for eResearch services and support, and their thinking about eResearch potential in their research domain. Further, the section highlights a noticeable discrepancy, in researchers' thinking about eResearch roles and challenges between two distinct modes of distributed research: (a) `team-based' collaboration that extends possibili- ties, but comfortably fits with familiar research routines; and (b) `grand' distributed collaboration that requires new coordination practices and ad- ditional efforts. AUSTRALIAN ERESEARCH CONTEXT The use of ICT in research is not a new phe- nomenon--in fact the development of academic networks and ICT infrastructures for research and education has been part of international and national strategies in many countries, includ- ing Australia, for several decades (De Roure, et al., 2003; Korporaal, 2009). eResearch as an independent initiative in Australia emerged in the background of similar international develop- ments, in the mid 2000s (Paterson, et al., 2007). This development was marked by the launch of an eResearch Coordinating Committee that released an Australian eResearch Strategy and Implementation Framework, which outlined an eResearch vision and its key elements (DEST, 2006). As this document states: "The vision for eResearch in Australia is that Australian researchers will enhance their con- tribution to world-class research endeavours and outcomes, through the use of advanced and innovative information and communications technologies. The vision encourages researchers to participate in the technological revolution that offers the power to undertake research on a scope previously unattainable--to work collaboratively and globally and improve their research as a result." (p. vii). This strategy resulted in a number of programs outlined in the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy's Roadmap (NCRIS Com- 3