About Research Support & Funding
The Research Support & Funding team (RSF) provides administrative support for research funding applications and awards and co-ordinates management information. RSF is located in Wessex House 3.43 and operates an open door policy from Monday to Friday, 9am until 5.20pm. To ensure that the person you need to see is available it is recommended you phone or email to arrange a time. Please see the staff list for the appropriate contact for your department.
Enquiries can be broadly split into pre-award and post-award categories.
Pre-Award Preparation of Proposals
RSF Pre Award staff advise academic staff on the preparation of research proposals with a particular focus on finance, including full economic costing and the use of the pFACT costing software package and internal and external procedures. All applications for external research funding are checked by RSF staff: most major funders now have electronic submission systems which route proposals via RSF Pre Award for checking prior to submission.
Acceptance of Research Awards
All research awards are received by RSF. Terms and conditions of contracts and other agreements are checked prior to signature or formal acceptance on behalf of the University. Budgets and project codes are set up on the University’s Agresso finance system so that expenditure can be charged to the appropriate project. All applications and awards are recorded on Agresso by RSF and form the basis of management information reports on research funding.
Post Award Financial Administration
Post award each project is monitored and checks made to ensure that funder regulations regarding expenditure are followed. Cost claims or invoices are sent to funders as necessary. When a project has finished final expenditure statements or reports are sent to funders and projects are closed down.
Record of Research Activities
Research Support & Funding (RSF) are responsible for maintaining a computerised database record which includes information about all applications for funding sent out by the University and offers of funding to the University.