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 weeksMission 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,

ARAdministrative Center, ST

Administrative Center,

HEAdministrative Center,

BSS

Back-office: Research Support

Back-office: Talent Development

Back-office: International Center

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SUPPORT JOHN WESTENSEE DECEMBER 2013

RESEARCH SUPPORTDirector

(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 SupportE-mail: jwe@adm.au.dk