Dean: Professor Conor Long
Unit Report

• 100+ postgraduate students move into new Postgraduate Centre.
• DCU unsuccessful in attracting funding under Cycle 2 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) co-ordinated by the Higher Education Authority.
• National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology shortlisted under Cycle 3 of the PRTLI.
• Construction work begins on Research and Engineering Building, funded under Cycle 1 of the PRTLI.
• New University Strategy prioritises a focused research strategy.
• Research Advisory Panel and Research Committee established to advise and oversee research policy at DCU.
• Research Support System launched to provide information on DCU research and researchers to the public.
• Dean of Research gives details of new annual Research Seminar Series.
• Office of the Dean of Research website launched at www.research.dcu.ie
• Professor Conor Long announces the completion of his tenure as Dean of Research.

The Dean of Research has continued to successfully support investment in the research enterprise at DCU over this reporting period. The result is the further development of DCU's research infrastructure and enhanced opportunities to attract and employ research postgraduates and research staff. The Dean of Research, Professor Conor Long is pleased to report on the following Office initiatives in particular.

100+ postgraduate students move into new Postgraduate Centre.
The excellent quality of the accommodation has helped to ensure that the newly completed Postgraduate Centre has achieved 100 % occupancy rates since it opened in 2000. We acknowledge with thanks the efficiency of the accommodation managers, Campus Residences Ltd. for successfully moving over 100 postgraduate students into their new apartments before Christmas 2000.

The Office of the Dean of Research has also been part of this great migration. Having taken up residency in the Centre in December 2000, the team is benefiting from members working together for the first time, in a dedicated suite of new offices located on the ground floor of the Postgraduate Centre.

DCU unsuccessful in attracting funding under Cycle 2 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI).
DCU was informed in this reporting period that it has been unsuccessful in achieving funding under Cycle 2 of the PRTLI. The lessons learnt from the process and indeed, from the previously successful Cycle 1 bid have, however, supported preparation of a highly focussed proposal submitted under Cycle 3 of the Programme also in the reporting period. See the following section for more details.

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology shortlisted under Cycle 3 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.
The proposal to establish a National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology at DCU submitted under Cycle 3 of the PRTLI, has been shortlisted by the Higher Education Authority for assessment under Phase II of the Programme. If successful, the NICB programme will investigate the molecular functions of human cells in order to discover and develop new treatments for a variety of human diseases, with particular emphasis on cancer, diabetes and infections. The proposal is based on DCU's well established reputation in biotechnology and is led by Prof Martin Clynes, currently Director of the National Cell and Tissue Culture Centre. DCU introduced the first undergraduate programme in biotechnology in 1982 and since then has developed teaching and research in biotechnology as a core focus. News of awards will be announced by the Higher Education Authority by the end of 2001.

New University Strategy prioritises a focused research strategy
The DCU Strategic Plan 2001 - 2005: 'Leading Change' was published in 2001, following intensive consultation with University staff. The Plan incorporates a clear commitment to the research undertaking at DCU, to be realised through 6 cross-disciplinary academic themes. These 6 themes offer a framework for prioritising strategic development of research resources and investment in the future, which will be further detailed in a companion implementation document.

Research Advisory Panel and Research Committee established to implement research policy at DCU.
In February, 2001, the Dean of Research reorganised the decision-making structures for research at DCU, in order to maximise opportunities for the strategic development of research and to ensure the widest possible representation by researchers in institutional decision-making. The new organisational structure consists of two integrated bodies, the Research Committee and the Research Advisory Panel. The role of the Research Committee is to formulate and implement research strategy. Membership consists of senior University managers, including the DCU President and is chaired by the Dean of Research. The representative Research Advisory Panel consists of Research Convenors from each School, as well as representatives of University Designated Research Centres and National Centres. The role of the Research Advisory Panel is to represent the interests of the research community in advising the Research Committee and to stimulate research in the prioritised areas of the Leading Change themes.

Research Support System launched to provide information on DCU research and researchers to the public.
In an exciting new development, the Dean of Research has launched a research support system, designed to match expertise in the university with the requirement of multinational and national concerns. The DCU Research Support System, developed by Infoed (Europe Ltd.) will present the research information of faculty members on the DCU web, to promote DCU research globally. As a further integrated feature, Individual researchers will benefit from the system's capability to access funding information, based on self-selected preferences. The University will accrue additional benefits from the potential for using system to generate annual report data in the future. Training on the new system is ongoing, however a number of researcher profiles are already on the system and available via a number of search options. The Research Support System can be accessed through the Office of the Dean of Research website at www.research.dcu.ie and has also been registered with a number of internet search engines, as appropriate.

Construction work begins on Research and Engineering Building, funded under Cycle 1 of the PRTLI.
Construction work has begun on the Research and Engineering Building, which will accommodate the National Centres funded by the Higher Education Authority under Cycle 1 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and incorporating the Faculty of Engineering. Due for completion in 2002, the building will provide over 5,000 square metres of dedicated research space to some 300 researchers working in the National Centres and represents an important landmark in the development of the physical research infrastructure at DCU. The National Centres funded under Cycle 1 of the PRTLI include the National Centre for Sensor Research, the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology and the Research Institute for Networks and Communications Engineering.

Dean of Research gives details of new annual Research Seminar Series.
In February 2002, The Dean of Research launched a new annual Research Seminar Series to showcase the research of Albert College Fellowship award recipients. Albert College Fellowships are given each year for the outstanding research achievements of a small number of academic researchers, including both established researchers and researchers at the start of their research careers. The series represents the first time that these researchers have an opportunity to inform a campus-wide audience about the work which lead to their award. The seminars take place at lunchtime every alternate Thursday throughout the second semester.

Office of the Dean of Research website launched at www.research.dcu.ie
The Office of the Dean of Research has launched a new website at www.research.dcu.ie. The website provides information on DCU research to members of the public, potential postgraduates and DCU staff members. The website, which incorporates the new Research Support System, will also permit electronic delivery of many of the Office services in the future.

Professor Conor Long announces the completion of his tenure as Dean of Research.
Following completion of two terms as Dean of Research, Professor Conor Long has announced that he will return to academic teaching and research at the end of 2001. The Office staff add their congratulations to those of the President in acknowledging Professor Long's many successes and invaluable leadership as the first ever Dean of Research at DCU, in a period of unprecedented growth in the national research environment. We wish Conor every success in the future!