Pre-Award Support

RKE can assist you with all aspects of submitting a funding application; the sooner we can start working with you, the better! 

As well as ensuring that you meet funder/institutional requirements, we want to help you submit the highest quality proposal possible, including all sections of the application.

RKE can provide advice on the potential fit of your proposal to the funder and identify any specific funder requirements that you need to be aware of when making an application. We can also comment on an early draft of the application, liaise with Finance regarding costings and recommend internal peer reviewers. As part of the University's planning to address the financial challenges posed by COVID-19, we have adopted a more active approach to managing our research bids, covering both volume and financial parameters.

Key Contacts

Key RKE, Finance and College contacts. 

Business and Social Sciences 

Strategic Funding Manager: Ronni Littlewood

Grants and Contracts Officer: Ruth Davies

Finance: Daniel Piggot

Business Development Manager: Zaheda Teladia

Deputy Dean Research: Professor Mark McCormack

Associate Deans Research: Professor ALi Bigdeli (ABS) Dr Balazs Szent-Ivany (SSH)

Executive Dean: Professor Zoe Radnor

Research Donations: Christiane Dickens, Director Of Advancement, Alumni Relations And Development

 

Engineering and Physical Sciences 

Strategic Funding Manager: Dr Purbani Chakrabarti

Grants and Contracts Officer: Dr Angels Odena 

Finance: Matthew Cooper and Hafsa Ghuman

Business Development Manager: Andrea Fotticchia

Associate Dean Research: Professor Tony Dodd

Executive Dean: Professor Stephen Garrett

Research Donations: Christiane Dickens, Director Of Advancement, Alumni Relations And Development

Health and Life Sciences 

Strategic Funding Manager: Dr Jen Whale

Grants and Contracts Officer: Dr Karina Tveen Jensen

Finance: Michael Jones and Kate Jones

Business Development Manager:  Matthew Vassey 

Associate Dean Research: Professor Claire Farrow

Executive Dean: Professor Anthony Hilton

Research Donations: Christiane Dickens, Director Of Advancement, Alumni Relations And Development

Aston University Pre-award Processes for Research Funding and Research-Related Funding

The University Research Committee and Executive Academic Group have approved a Governance Framework that covers all aspects of the pre-award workflow for research funding. This includes: costing of bids, key decision-making points, expert support from Professional Services (RKE, Finance and DARO). Key Policies can be found below:

Peer Review Policies and Processes

Peer Review Policies and Processes

The research funding environment is highly competitive. Funders, and particularly Research Councils, are increasingly requiring internal peer review and in some cases are expecting internal selection processes

Policy for Approval of Industrial Funders and Donors

Policy for Approval of Industrial Funders and Donors

University guidance on ethical challenges and/or potential reputational risks that can arise when considering whether to accept external funding.

Match Funding Policy

Match Funding Policy

The broad principle governing match funding of research proposals can be found here and applies to all research and research-related funding (including EU and ERDF.

Due Diligence

Due Diligence

Guidance on conducting research with or accepting research funding from overseas partners. 

Research England and HESA only permit us to class income as ‘research’ if it conforms to the Frascati definition of research (Frascati Manual 2002). This is the internationally recognised methodology for collecting and using R&D statistics. It defines research as follows: Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. This includes Basic Research, Applied Research and Experimental Development. Capacity building funding schemes such as Research England’s E3 and Strength in Places are normally categorised as research-related, not research. Similarly, Centres for Doctoral Training and Doctoral Training Programmes are also categorised as research-related.

Competitive Research Funding and Research-Related Funding

Guidance on applying for competitive research funding and research-related funding, including Aston University policies and procedures. 

Find out more

Collaborative contracts with third parties

Guidance on applying for Industrial/corporate funding of research, including Aston University policies and procedures. 

Find out more

Research Related Donations

Guidance on accepting research-related donations

Find out more

Research Funding FAQs

A selection of frequently asked questions covering a wide range of funding-related topics. 

Find out more

Specific funders and funding arrangements may require specialist Professional Service support, see below for details. 

EU and International Bids

Key Contact:

Eu And Large Projects Partner: Paul Knobbs

Innovate and KTPs

Key Contact:

Director of Knowledge Exchange: John Richards

Direct Industrial Funding 

Key Contact:

Director of Knowledge Exchange: John Richards

Research-related bids

Key Contact:

Director of Strategic Regional Projects: Angela Jeffery

Research-related Donations

For donations from an individual or a Foundation, contact College Strategic Funding Manager or Business Development Manager (see Key Contacts above)

For donations from industry, contact John Richards

Please copy (cc) Christiane Dickens, Director Of Advancement, Alumni Relations And Development