Terms of reference

Terms of reference

The committee is responsible for the allocation of two sources of support in relation to the pump priming of research:

• Devolved fund
  The committee will allocate research priming funds to departments following receipt of a report detailing how the previous year's funds have been distributed, and the outcomes of earlier projects. Departments are strongly encouraged to match, from their own resources, any funds devolved in this way. Departments decide on which projects the funds should be spent, but these must fulfil the RPF eligibility criteria.
• Central fund
  The committee will allocate sums of money via an application process to support projects in any area of research which are novel, innovatory or of an unestablished nature and which are either interdisciplinary in nature or which cannot be funded from the devolved departmental funds due to the scale of support required.

Funding available

The total Research Priming Fund amounts to approximately £170,000 annually, of which £100,000 is devolved to departments according to a formulae of £2000 per department, plus an extra amount (approx. £65) per FTE staff member.

Membership

Membership

• Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) ex-officio (Chair)
  • Professor John Local
    Pro Vice Chancellor (Research)
• three members appointed by the research committee from among its own members, comprising one member from each of the three main subject areas
  • Professor Edwin Hancock (until 31 July 2010)
    Computer Science
  • Professor Gillian Parker (until 31 July 2010)
    Social Policy Research Unit
  • Professor David Attwell (until 31 July 2010)
    English
• three members, comprising of the academic coordinators
  • Professor Patricia Sloper (until 31 July 2010)
    Academic Coordinator (Social Sciences)
  • Professor John Local (until 31 July 2010)
    Academic Coordinator (Arts and Humanities)
  • Professor Andy Tyrrell (until 31 July 2010)
    Academic Coordinator (Sciences)