Research Committee funding
Research-incentive scheme
The research-incentive scheme rewards those successful in obtaining research contracts or grants that carry overheads. The scheme permits the lead investigator of such grants to spend a percentage of the overheads earned on those contracts or grants. The scheme is administered by the finance team.
Research-incentive funds may be used by the lead investigator for academic expenses.
Balances of up to £10,000 are carried between financial years. Where balances exceed £10,000 at the end of a financial year, amounts over £10,000 revert to the department and residual balances are carried between financial years.
Lead investigators: funds are allocated to the lead investigator (or co-lead investigators, where identified and agreed) named on the application or contract, which is taken to mean the scientist-in-charge for the project, or the lead scientific member of the research project and team.
Non-permanent faculty and research fellows with independent funding: research-incentive funds accrued on independent fellowships or on contracts or grants held by non-permanent faculty, are allocated to the faculty member who sponsored the application.
Departing faculty: where a lead investigator leaves the employment of the department but the grant, or a portion thereof, remains, half the research-incentive allocation will be allocated to the replacement lead investigator in the department, with the other half reverting to the department.
Research-active emeriti: research-active emeriti may continue to accrue research-incentive funds in retirement. Research-active emeriti who retain full scientific responsibility and leadership of a project of which they are lead investigator, will receive the whole research-incentive allocation.
Where a grant was obtained by someone who retires before the grant ends and scientific responsibility for the grant is transferred to a new lead investigator, the research-incentive funds accrued on that grant after the date of retirement of the original lead investigator should split evenly between the research-active emeritus and the new lead investigator on the grant, on the grounds that the new lead investigator will assume full scientific responsibility for, and leadership of, the project. Uneven splits may be negotiated, but should be agreed in writing before the change in lead investigator takes effect. Where a retiring lead investigator on a continuing grant does not remain research-active, half the research-incentive funds from the continuing grant will be allocated to the new lead investigator, and the remainder will revert to the department; funds accrued before the date of retirement revert to the department.
Non-departmental staff: research-incentive funds are disbursed only to salaried members of the department.
The terms of this policy are subject to review.
Seminars, colloquia and other events expenses
Seminar organisers should take maximum advantage of external sources of funding. Visit costs should be split between the seminar budgets and research grants, where appropriate; permission to charge excess costs to the visitors' fund may be sought from the committee chair.
There is a limit of £1,000 on the contribution of Committee funds to any single event to support honoraria, speaker travel, subsistence and any post-event reception for attendees and the speaker.
Accommodation for speakers for not more than one night may be charged to the department. Visa costs may not be charged to the department.
The Committee chair must approve requests for events other than colloquia and seminars, with the understanding that this is last-resort funding to be granted if support is not available from research grants, research groups' own funds or otherwise from external sources.
The terms of this policy are subject to review.
Junior seminar series expenses
Each research group may spend up to £200 per financial year (08-01/07-31) supporting a junior seminar series organized by the group.
The terms of this policy are subject to review.
Travel expenses of members of faculty
Members of faculty in the department are permitted to spend up to £1,000 per financial year (08-01/07-31) on research-related travel costs. Funds may not be carried over from one financial year to the next. Visa costs may not be charged to the department. Where possible, faculty that benefit from funded research projects are expected to charge research-related travel costs to funded projects.
The fund is open to all members of faculty employed by the department, with part-time employees able to draw a pro-rated amount per financial year.
The terms of this policy are subject to review.
Visitor expenses
Funds for long-term visits to the Mathematical Institute are available at the discretion of the committee chair. Members of faculty in the department with funds to host visitors should ensure the correct procedures are followed and departmental approvals are obtained in advance of any visit.
The terms of this policy are subject to review.