Skills every research manager needs

By kiera.obrien, 30 November, 2023
A line drawing of a conductor leading an orchestra
From creating an inclusive research culture to landing funding bids
Skills every research manager needs
From creating an inclusive research culture to landing funding bids
A line drawing of a conductor leading an orchestra

Part-coach, part-CFO, part-wizard, a research manager’s role responsibilities are broad, but nonetheless essential to the business of academic discovery. From managing a diverse team of researchers to communicating results to taking risks for the sake of innovation, a research manager needs a strong skillset to be successful. Delve into this collection of resources offering advice on people management, communication, applying for funding and knowing what to do when research goes wrong – and when it goes right.

How to manage diverse teams
Resources
Communication goes both ways
An illustration of several people communicating with each other via emojis
By Eliza.Compton, 21 November, 2023

How to engage your staff in just 15 minutes

Illustration of internal communication
You need to get updates and other messages to faculty and staff, but they don’t have much time for internal communications. Here, Kelly Hibbs offers tips to reach a busy audience in a quick, engaging, accessible way
Reading time
3minutes
How to write successful funding bids
Resources
By Eliza.Compton, 13 November, 2023

How to lose a grant in 10 ways

Illustration of couple
Want your funding application to be rejected? Have we got some advice for you. But, seriously, don’t do these things and you might just find your perfect grant match
By Eliza.Compton, 23 February, 2023

How to add value to research and manage intellectual property

Files with tabs relating to intellectual property, law and copyright
Ensuring new knowledge has social, environmental or economic impact is an essential element of research – and of universities’ purpose. Here, Christophe Haunold explains the four steps to consider
Reading time
3minutes
Someone in blue puts a coin inside a white piggy bank
By Miranda Prynne, 27 June, 2022

A guide to writing grant proposals

Image showing two academics working together on a grant proposal
To write a successful grant proposal, academics need to focus on the relevant details that will help sell their research idea to the reviewer and this requires a shift of mindset, as Kaycie Butler explains
Reading time
3minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 30 November, 2023

Love and money: why the search for funding is like romance

Frog in crown on lilypad
Funding is a relationship of sorts. You and your research project funder will enter into a finite symbiosis. It’s a joyful, exciting, uncomfortable and occasionally scary co-dependency, writes Laura Berrisford
Reading time
3minutes
Know how to leverage technology
Resources
By Eliza.Compton, 4 August, 2023

Shifting landscapes of social media data for research

Young woman looking at data on a screen
What can researchers do in light of changes to social media platforms’ APIs that reduce and monetise access to data? In this uncharted territory, aspects to watch include new access routes and user protections
Reading time
3minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 13 October, 2023

Breaking academic barriers: language models and the future of search

search engine concept
The true potential of generative AI and large language models remains underexplored in academia. These technologies may offer more than just answers. Here’s how the insights they offer could revolutionise academic search and discovery
Reading time
4minutes
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Be an inclusive leader
Resources
By Eliza.Compton, 16 May, 2023

Questions to foster open and engaging research communication

Connected wooden markers on a blue background
Each stage of a research project comes with questions about what information to share and with whom. Richard Holliman offers practical advice on how to make your research communication more transparent and engaging
Reading time
4minutes
A figure, shot from above, leads a crowd into emptiness beyond
By Miranda Prynne, 1 May, 2023

A vision for graduate supervision

A man standing on a rock, staring out into the distance
Supervising graduate students is a responsibility and skill that goes far beyond the mere transmission of knowledge, as Daniel Jutras explains
Reading time
3minutes
Having the courage to be innovative
Resources
By Eliza.Compton, 14 November, 2023

HARKing forward: an argument for a polarising research practice

Detail of many drawing circle on screen around icons
Hypothesising (or proposing) after results are known is seen as going against scientific principles. Here, however, Yehuda Barach argues for its use in the name of unhindered enquiry and discovery when the scholarship is transparent and properly reported
Four screwed up bits of white paper and one yellow, in the shape of a lightbulb
By dene.mullen, 18 October, 2022

It’s high time we rethought policy impact

Knocking down the house of policy impact in higher education
The frameworks currently in use for rewarding policy impact are peppered with problems and pitfalls – here’s how to fix them, says Christina Boswell
Reading time
4minutes
Communicating research widely
Resources
By Miranda Prynne, 25 November, 2022

Five steps for engaging policymakers with research

Five steps for engaging policymakers with research
Five pointers to help researchers get policymakers interested in their work, based on a guide co-created by government and academics from the University of Leeds
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 16 October, 2023

How do you leap from research lab to Silicon Valley start-up?

Rocket launching from research concept
The good news is that times of turmoil are ideal for innovation – and far more skills are transferable from bench to IPO than you might imagine. Here are eight actions that will get your start-up off the ground
Reading time
4minutes
An illustration of a man balancing on top of a sign, using binoculars to look far in the distance
By Eliza.Compton, 26 October, 2023

Dealing with abuse after public commentary

Fingers on keyboard, trolling concept
Communicating to the public can result in abuse of academics. Here, University of Southampton staff describe their experiences and provide tips on anticipating and dealing with trolling