skip to content

Research Operations Office

 

Published on 27 January 2023


Opportunity for a Mid-Career Researcher to join the Research Culture Steering Committee

We are seeking a mid-career researcher to join the newly formed Research Culture Steering Committee and participate in the setting of strategy and priorities for research culture across the University.

The termly meetings are scheduled for

  • Tuesday 14 March 10:30-12:00
  • Tuesday 6 June 09:30-11:00
  • Tuesday 10 October 15:30-17:00 

The Research Culture Steering Committee is chaired by Professor Julian Rayner, Director of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research. Membership includes Heads of the six Schools, and a representative from each of the committees it reports to: Human Resources Committee and Research Policy Committee. Liz Simmonds, Head of Research Culture, provides support to the Committee and also manages the Action Research on Research Culture project.

If you are interested in joining the steering committee, please email Liz Simmonds elw27@cam.ac.uk by Tuesday 7 February 2023.

 

US Federal Funding - Single Audit Report

The annual audit of US Federal Funding (including NIH awards) for the Financial Year 20/21 is now available. The following issues were highlighted which you need to be aware of when managing US Federal Funding.

  • Salary costs: costs charged to the project must reconcile with time records.
  • Air Travel: There is no provision for using Business Class Flights (even though the University travel policy does allow this under some circumstances). The lowest reasonable commercial airfare must be used. As the UK is no longer a member of the EU, the Open Skies Agreement with the EU does not include the UK. Therefore, travellers must use a US Flag Carrier to travel from the US to the UK and not a UK airline (e.g. British Airways), unless using a different Fly America Act exception. Further details can be found in a previous bulletin.
  • Procurement: University Financial Regulations (Schedule 1 - Competition Procedures) must be followed unless prior dispensation has been granted in accordance with Regulation 18.3. Evidence needs to be documented.
  • Moving costs to and from US federally funded grants (including NIH): Any transfer of costs should be made within 90 days of when the error was discovered. Transfers must be supported by documentation that fully explains how and why the error occurred, as well as evidence of authorisation regarding the correction. An explanation stating that the transfer was made "to correct an error" is not sufficient. Any transfers beyond 90 days will be reviewed the auditors.

If you have any questions, please contact CROCompliance@admin.cam.ac.uk.

 

Research Grants User Group Meeting – 23rd February 2023

The next Research Grants User Group (RGUG) will take place on Thursday 23rd February at 11:15am as a Teams meeting. RGUG is led by the Research Operations Office and is a forum where research grant administration issues and developments are discussed. If you are involved in Research Administration you are welcome to attend. The agenda and meeting link will be circulated in the next bulletin.