UHH
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AARHUSUNIVERSITY
RESEARCH MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH SUPPORT
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
A SINGLE UNIFIED MANAGEMENT WHERE DEANS HAVE THREE RESPONSIBILITIES
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
THE NEW RESEARCH COMMITTEEManagement Group Dean of Science and Technology as chair Four vice-deans for research Director of Research Support Secretary
Meetings every two weeks
Mission Handling of all strategic/political university issues (including
national/international issues) Deal with interdisciplinary issues Selection and funding of interdisciplinary centres Preparation of items for university management board
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
STRATEGIC WORK
Internal funding: Interdisciplinary centers, ideas programme
Research strategy: Funding, Research Management, Excellence, Visbility, Research Environment
Support strategy for researchers
AU Research Forum
Funding initiatives and links to (international) recruitment
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
STRATEGIC WORK MATRIXResearch Strategy Parties
Categories President and research dean
Research Committee as coordinator
PIs Administrative support
Research policy High level meetings
Position papers, appoint represen-tatives, coordinate across schools
Representatives in expert groups after briefing
Screening and analysis of political documents, drafting position papers etc.
Visibility and lobby Network meetings External meetings, encourage PIs, lobby
Representatives in expert groups after briefing
Identify crucial players, analysis and dissemination of information
Internal mapping Mapping of aca-demic strengths, facilitate interdisc., manage working groups
Participate in local, disciplinary and interdisciplinary networks
Screen for relevant funding and future possibilities, manage networks
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
HORIZON 2020 EXAMPLE• 6 expert groups were established a year ago in a bottom-up process reflecting the societal challenges
• Group chairs report to Research Committee
• Mapping of expertise
• Selection of AU members in committees in Ministry of Research etc.
• Supported by staff in strategy team and pre award
• Direct contacts to mapped staff (have declared EU interest)
• Direct link between briefing in general and targeted information
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
BUILDING INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERT GROUPS• Dialogue with heads of departments, deans, vice deans, president
• Analysis of external grants
• Detailed bibliometric analysis
• Open call for invitation to all researchers – all were welcome to join
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
HORIZON 2020 PATHWAYS
AU Research Community
Horizon 2020 Expert groups
TG
Horizon 2020
RGM
Brussels office
AG
RGResearch Committee
EIP JPI
PC
AU Strategy Team R & T
O.G.
EC DG
EP Council
EP: European ParliamentEIP: European innovation PartnershipJPI: Joint Programming Initiative
TG: Task group RGM: Reference Group Member
O.G. : Other GroupsAG: Advisory GroupRG: Reference GroupPC: Programme Committee
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
EXAMPLE: AU RESEARCH AND TALENT
Administrative Center,
AR
Administrative Center, ST
Administrative Center,
HE
Administrative Center,
BSS
Back-office: Research Support
Back-office: Talent Development
Back-office: International Center
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Director(1 AU/AUH)
IT/library (3 AUH)Secretary (1 AUH)
Strategy(3 AU)
Post Award(5 AU)
Manager of Pre Award(1 AU/AUH)
HEALTH(4 AUH/2 AU)
ARTS+ BSS(5 AU)
Science & Technology(3 AU/1 AUH)
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
FACTS ABOUT RESEARCH SUPPORT
Started April 2002 with one person and focus on pre award
29 staff servicing the university and hospitals and including strategy and complex post award
External funding level: 15% of total university budget – 40-50% of total research budget
FP7: +260 projects, 29 ERC grants, success rates – 20% ERC, 40% cooperation, 50% Marie Curie
Strategic focus from the start on ERC
Attracts 25-30% of all national funding
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
PRE AND POST AWARD MATRIXCategory 1 projects Category 2 projects Category 3 projects
Proj. examples Major infrastructures Complex national/international multi partner projects
Standard research council, private foundations
Idea Project team set up by president and research committee
Committee encourages applicants
Applicant decides at department level
Pre award Pre award team supports process
Maximum service from pre award team, internal peer review
Full support by pre award team to junior PIs. Senior PIs only get help with budgeting
Post award Project management offered
Project management offered
Finance and secretaries assist PIs
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
PRE AWARD WORK
Funding opportunities (database)
Application strategy
Brain storming with researcher
Proof reading and helping with proposal
Forms
Budgets
Dialogue with funders
Handling partners
Templates
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
POST AWARD WORK
Handling funder
Handling partners
Budget control
Reporting
Homepages
Advisor to coordinator
Coordination with other administrative units
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013
SUCCESS FACTORS
Heavy focus on users – RSO seen as team member
Training of young and experienced staff
Pro-active contact to researchers
Experienced and highly professional staff
Knowledge of local expertise
Focusing of application effort – fewer proposals and more grants
Close link between strategy, proposal and project management (project life cycle) – kind of one-stop-shop
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 201316
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONJohn Westensee, Director, AU Talent and Research, Research Support
E-mail: [email protected]