Research Development and Support team

Our ambition

To provide an integrated, cradle-to-grave support service to our science and projects teams. Our expertise includes identifying and developing new business and research opportunities, supporting the pre- and post-award stages of research grants and postgraduate study, managing large European funded projects, and managing science facilities & laboratories in the UK and the Polar Regions.

Our activities are designed to meet our strategic priorities to grow and diversify research income, to support the effective allocation of science resources and enable access to scientific facilities.

We undertake outward-facing activities to promote our facilities and support capabilities to UK researchers. We guide the development of national and international partnerships for delivering UK polar science. We support the UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership to provide strategic leadership in polar science.

Team priorities

Seeking Opportunities and Developing Partnerships

• Seek opportunities to increase and diversify our funding for research and innovation
• Guide the development of national and international partnerships for delivering UK polar science
• Manage national and international programme coordination offices, such as the NERC Arctic Office and Antarctic Funding Office
• Provide advice and guidance on how researchers can access NERC/BAS polar facilities
• Administer and support pre- and post-award stages of research grant proposals

Supporting and Coordinating Research in the Arctic – NERC Arctic Office

• Guide and support the UK Arctic science community in developing national and international partnerships and scientific collaborations, and in accessing polar infrastructure & logistics
• Represent UK in international Arctic forums and promote UK Arctic research
• Manage, with BAS Operational Teams, the UK Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard
• Manage NERC’s Arctic Research Programme

Managing Research Projects

• Manage European funded Programme and Project offices
• Provide resource management information and tools to meet our requirements for research portfolio management, planning and financial reporting

Supporting Postgraduate Research

• Manage our Postgraduate Research Programme
• Administer our NERC-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs)
• Organise transferable skills training for students, and training for supervisors

Supporting Science Teams

• Provide administrative support to our science research teams
• Provide support and training in using the UK Shared Business Services (SBS) and Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) systems for travel, procurement, expenses and staff management activities
• Assist in organising and running meetings and scientific conferences

Managing Science Facilities and Providing Technical Support

• Manage a range of BAS science facilities, laboratories and specimen collections in Cambridge UK, Antarctica and on NERC/BAS ships
• Provide a range of analytical and technical services, health & safety guidance and best practice to support our science research teams, students and collaborators