Office for Research

Managing Research Grants

Australian Rivers Institute - Supervisors’ Workshop11 March 2014

Kath Murrie-Jones Senior Research Grants OfficerOffice for Research

Email: k.murrie-jones@griffith.edu.au

Phone: 29107

Available for meetings at Nathan campus – third Thursday/month

Role of Office for Research

• Management of a grant from application through to close off but we rely on assistance from many areas of the University.

» Grant application review and submission» Account establishment» Processing/negotiating the contract» Ensuring we meet grant obligations» Progress/final report reminders» Ensuring financial reports are prepared by PFS» Process changes during the life of the grant» Close off projects

Office for Research

Office for Research

Post-award Issues

Contracts

Special conditions of funding

Tracking Expenditure

Milestones and Reporting

Final Reports

Contracts

A few simple rules:1. Read the contract / agreement 2. If you don’t understand it ask OR or LSU.3. Ensure the Schedule and the project specific details are correct.4. If any changes are needed ask OR to arrange an amendment.

Office for Research reviews the contract / agreement, making particular note of the following details:

» Ownership of IP» Researcher’s ability to publish» Project and payment schedules» Reports and milestone obligations

OR liaises with Legal Services if the agreement requires amendments

Important to protect the Researcher and the University from potential risk

Office for Research

Contracts, cont.

• Agreements and contracts must be signed by delegated authorities of the University, e.g. the Director, Office for Research.

• The larger the grant, the more parties involved, the longer it takes for final execution.

• Sometimes we are unable to change the terms of the agreement. Acts of Parliament may dictate the terms and conditions of funding bodies.

Office for Research

Setting up your grant

Establishing your project account

Once all agreements are executed and returned to the Office for Research, and ethics clearance has been provided, accounts are then able to be set-up

PFS will contact you with your account details

And then the real work begins ...

Avoid traps:

• Be aware of your responsibilities and obligations

• Ensure you are aware of any special conditionsOffice for Research

Milestones and Reporting

• OR provides email reminders to lead CI for progress/final reports due

• OR may be responsible for submission of reports

• Ensure provide copies of reports to OR for University records (payments may be linked to reports)

• OR organises institutional signature of progress/final reports if required

Office for Research

Office for Research

Managing Research Grants

Any questions?