Research Newsletter - Issue 61: Spotlight
The Research Development Team
In 2020, the Research Development team engaged with individual researchers with over 400 funding enquiries relating to more than 30 different funders, of which over 200 engagements resulted in submitted applications.
As we begin the New Year, the Research Development (RD) team continues to work closely with DCU researchers, providing guidance, support and resources to encourage and facilitate competitive funding applications across a broad range of funding calls. The supports provided by the RD team include developing individual researcher funding strategies, providing information and guidance on funders and specific calls and developing workshops, information sessions and application development materials. Additionally, the Research Development Officers (RDOs) provide in-depth review of grant applications with an emphasis on developing a clear, convincing and well-structured research proposal that aligns with the strategic requirements of the funder and call.
In the last year, the team also developed and presented a range of workshops and resources focussing on key elements of research applications and funding calls, both DCU-wide and tailored to individual Faculties. Over the coming year workshops and information sessions are planned for major calls from funders including SFI, IRC, ERASMUS and Horizon Europe and calls of specific relevance to individual Faculties. Additionally, workshops will be presented on application development topics including sessions on impact, gender in research, developing a research budget and grant writing principles.
In addition to these supports, the RD team are developing two application development resources as outlined below:
New Resources in Development:
In consultation with Faculty Associate Deans for Research (ADRs) and senior management, the RD team have proposed a process for internal peer review of funding applications. Internal peer review is a very effective support for enhancing the quality and competitiveness of research funding applications, by helping to share the experience of researchers on what makes a research proposal convincing and competitive. Informal solicitation of feedback on applications already takes place organically in DCU and it is planned that by introducing this more structured process, the benefits of such review will be more systematically available, thus improving the competitiveness of DCU research funding applications for a broader range of researchers.
The main goals of the internal peer review process are:
• To provide supports that will increase the extent of high-quality peer review of funding applications in DCU
• To increase the quality of DCU applications and, ultimately, success rates and overall draw-down
• To increase the ‘grantsmanship’ skills of both the applicants and academic reviewers
• To enhance collaboration and research mentoring activities between colleagues, benefitting overall research culture.
A pilot process for the implementation of an internal peer review mechanism of grant applications is currently underway, focussing on two current rolling calls, the EPSRC-SFI Joint Funding call and the SFI Frontiers for the Future awards. Upon the successful implementation of the pilot process, it is planned the process will be rolled out to fixed calls in line with the priorities of individual Faculties. When implemented, the RD team, in consultation with Faculty management, will manage a process of recruiting a cohort of reviewers in advance of a particular call. Applicants interested in participating agree to provide a draft in sufficient time to allow the review process to take place. The relevant RDO will coordinate the review process and provision of feedback to the applicant, and can input into the revisions prior to submission.
If you are interested in participating in the internal peer review pilot for the EPSRC-SFI Joint Funding call and the SFI Frontiers for the Future awards, please contact dara.dunican@dcu.ie or your Faculty RDO.
The RD team will also shortly launch a mechanism for providing access to exemplar grant application manuscripts to DCU applicants. RDO’s will secure permission from previously successful or competitive applicants to be able to selectively share anonymised versions of grant applications to individual researchers planning an application to that call.
Manuscripts (and where available reviewer feedback) that are made available will be redacted and stored on a secure grants repository. Upon request, they will be released on a confidential basis by the relevant RDO to individual researchers planning an application. This will be a helpful resource to provide applicants with examples of high quality grant applications and insights into how to structure applications for particular funding calls.
If you have any enquiries on any of the information provided above please contact dara.dunican@dcu.ie