Research Development Advisor
Yesterday (late last night, actually), I applied for a job as a Research Development Advisor. Basically a glorified grant writer, helping researchers to find funding.
If by chance I get selected, I'm in two minds about whether I should take it (so don't freak out yet, morsla).
This post is just to jot down some ideas, just in case I get an interview.
Grant writing workshops
There are too many people in the school for me to effectively review every draft grant application. Moreover, most of them come in too late to do anything useful except checking for eligibility and spelling errors.
So how about if I set up grant writing workshops. These would work something like fiction writing workshops. People would commit to come together once a month to review each other's drafts and provide constructive feedback.
If I ran one a week (maybe Australian Research Council, Australia Council, industry-linked and philanthropic), then people could come once a month. It would give people a structure throughout the year, so that they wouldn't face the dreaded last-minute rush.
Groups would be pretty small (maybe 5 to 8 people), so that there might need to be a selection process.
Failed applications
Failed applications are basically the trigger for my work. They indicate that people are willing to write applications and they indicate that people need help.
Statistics
If I get an interview, I am going to need to know:
Strengths and weaknesses
My main strengths are:
If by chance I get selected, I'm in two minds about whether I should take it (so don't freak out yet, morsla).
This post is just to jot down some ideas, just in case I get an interview.
Grant writing workshops
There are too many people in the school for me to effectively review every draft grant application. Moreover, most of them come in too late to do anything useful except checking for eligibility and spelling errors.
So how about if I set up grant writing workshops. These would work something like fiction writing workshops. People would commit to come together once a month to review each other's drafts and provide constructive feedback.
If I ran one a week (maybe Australian Research Council, Australia Council, industry-linked and philanthropic), then people could come once a month. It would give people a structure throughout the year, so that they wouldn't face the dreaded last-minute rush.
Groups would be pretty small (maybe 5 to 8 people), so that there might need to be a selection process.
Failed applications
Failed applications are basically the trigger for my work. They indicate that people are willing to write applications and they indicate that people need help.
Statistics
If I get an interview, I am going to need to know:
- How many applications were submitted from College of Design and Social Context last year.
- How many staff have PhDs.
- A bunch of stuff about RMIT's research targets.
Strengths and weaknesses
My main strengths are:
- Editing draft applications and providing feedback.
- Networking between academics and spotting links between their research.
- I helped to write Developing Academic Research Potential, which provides a model for this work.
- I've been out of research administration for years.
- I don't have a PhD (and I don't intend to get one).
- Developing Academic Research Potential was written 16 years ago.