ARMA Research Dev SIG - Possible themes/ questions/topics for future sessions by ARMA UK

Introduction

2024-10-11 11:56:34 UTC

This padlet is to collect ideas/themes/topics/questions related to research development (as understood broadly) for potential discussion at the next SIG Open Forum event. Larger/popular topics may be more suitable for sessions of their own.

Please add your own ideas (big or small, broad or niche) and upvote or like other people's ideas that you'd like to see discussed. The 'plus' button in the bottom right hand corner will start a new thread. Please use a fresh thread for each idea, and only use the comment function if you want to build on someone else's idea.

Has anyone used full or partial randomisation for internal sift processes, or to distribute internal or university-managed funding?

2024-10-11 11:59:12 UTC

Are there any research development relevant career development/CPD courses or sessions that you'd recommend? Obviously there's ARMA training, but is there anything else?

2024-10-11 12:03:37 UTC

Is anyone else having issues with the new UKRO role types?

2024-10-11 13:43:50 UTC

Approval of research funding applications

2024-10-15 08:04:50 UTC

Could colleagues please share information about the internal approval process for research grant applications?

1) Is the process centrally organised, with final approval from a research office or senior management?

2) Is there a value-based approach, such as requiring senior management approval for grant applications above £100,000?

3) Additionally, which department is responsible for drafting and approving budgets for grant applications - the finance department or a research finance officer/manager based in a research office?

Supporting External Applicants

2024-10-25 12:25:34 UTC

I'd be interested to hear from others what processes/approaches they have in place to support external applicants (typically fellowships to move to a new host institution). They often can't easily access internal guidance or systems (inc. costings tools such as WT) and are reliant on a contact at the lead institution (supervisor/host/mentor) to link them up with support teams or complete details on their behalf...great if the host contact is well-organised and has plenty of time to do so but often, we only learn of these bids at last minute or by chance and it becomes a very stressful experience all round!

TFS rejection for minor issues (no return for amendment?)

2024-11-01 14:53:41 UTC

The was a recent email with the above subject circulated to the RD SIG group. It would be interesting to hear what kind of issues/reasons TFS is rejecting applications for.

EDI Data

2024-11-15 09:08:17 UTC

Are research support teams looking to train staff to enable them to collect and store EDI sensitive data or will they use HR staff and systems?

Research management capacity strengthening funding

2024-11-15 12:42:47 UTC

The British Academy’s (BA) recent funding call ‘ODA research management capacity strengthening’ was aimed at research offices and research management functions. As stated in the call guidance: International research collaboration is a strategic priority for the BA, however, support for such collaboration is often focused solely at a researcher level without considering the wider context in which research and research collaboration take place, particularly within and between institutions involved in research projects. This can hinder effective collaboration and counteract equitability of partnerships.

At this year’s UKCDR’s Annual Stakeholder Event, Dr Joanes Atela, Founder and Executive Director of the Africa Research and Impact Network, highlighted that more funding was needed for the ‘software’ that enabled research. In his view, to build equitable partnerships, research was not enough, and building good relationships over time and trust was essential.

Views on the topic, experiences of professional services staff applying for funding in this area.

Spending reviews and UKRI

2024-11-20 10:07:15 UTC

It would be useful to gain insight into how government spending reviews 'work' and how UKRI plan their programmes accordingly

New Curiosity and Catalyst schemes - anyone has any successes and/or tips that they could share?

2024-11-20 10:40:02 UTC

Supporting Research Funding Applications

2024-11-28 15:30:10 UTC

I'd be interested to know what other institutions have in place to support researchers to apply for external funding. Do other institutions have a bank of resources to signpost to, tips and guidance documents, regular funding opportunity digest/newsletter, CPD sessions, research costing models, or grant finding software? What are the main challenges other institutions face in encouraging colleagues to be self-sufficient in leading applications?