Research Office
The School of Physics & Astronomy Research Office has responsibility for all operational aspects of research-related activity within the School and offers support, advice and guidance to academic staff in relation to the research funding cycle. We manage your research grant application processes from initial enquiries through to successful award status. Areas where we can provide support include:
- advice on funding opportunities and provision of funding intelligence;
- preparation of research funding applications;
- provision of detailed costs and advice on application budgets;
- advice on Full Economic Cost (FEC) issues;
- advice on funding body rules and regulations;
- the co-ordination of cross-School/Faculty applications;
- liaison with external partners/co-applicants;
- advice and support on the use of external e-application systems (JeS, eGap, EPSS,etc)
- application approval and submission processes;
- initiation of contract negotiation processes, liaising with external partners/central University offices;
- liaison with funding bodies regarding funding opportunities, application process queries and issues;
- checking of research funding offers and acceptance of funder offers, creation of research accounts and initiation of award procedures;
- maintenance of electronic/hard copy records for all applications, awards and
related correspondence for management information and audit purposes; - assistance with advertisement, recruitment and appointment processes of staff
on research grants in line with University policies and procedures; - communications with external funding bodies in relation to post-award issues, including project extensions;
- checking and submission of final reports.
We also support the work of the School Research and Enterprise Committee, contributing to the agenda and providing the Head of School and Director of Research with management information arising from our research grant and contract applications and awards, such as application rates and success levels, to aid progress with University, Faculty and School key performance indicators.
We undertake projects arising from the Research and Enterprise Committee, such as Research Away Days, Postdoc Forum, administration of internal/external assessment exercises (RPE/RAE/REF) and data return, External Affairs and promotion of School research activity.
For all new academics to the School, we welcome them and invite them to contact the Research Office and meet with us, as part of their induction, to be informed of our internal procedures and the support we can offer them, particularly for those who are new to funding application processes.
The Research Office is managed by Senior Research Administrator Sabina Hawthornthwaite and supported by Research Administration Assistant Thomas Wise.
Contact us:
Research Office
School of Physics & Astronomy
Room 2.51, 2nd Floor Schuster Building
Senior Research Administrator
sabina.a.hawthornthwaite@manchester.ac.uk
Research Administration Assistant
thomas.wise@manchester.ac.uk