Research Services

About Research Services

Based at ECU’s Joondalup Campus, Research Services provides strategic and operational support to the University’s research program and plays a crucial role in facilitating research outcomes.

We help to build ECU’s research profile and provide strategic and operational links to a range of agencies, including funding bodies.

Funding and administration

Research Services is responsible for administering all externally funded research awards, as well as ECU research funding schemes.

We are the first point of contact for staff seeking assistance with identifying funding opportunities. We advise on applications, review and arrange submissions to funding agencies.

We also manage the administration of awarded grants, including contractual requirements. We deal with funding bodies on all pre- and post-award matters, including progress and final reports.

Core areas

The Research Services is organised around four core areas with the following broad responsibilities:

Directorate: Key role in building ECU’s research profile, establishing strategic partnerships, identification and development of research opportunities.

Research Administration: Pre- and post-award administration of research grants and internal and external awards, ensures compliance with funding guidelines and ECU policy, provision of advice on contractual aspects of funding arrangements and researcher development.

Research Governance: Provides support and guidance in the area of research ethics and integrity, compliance with the Australian Code and management of research misconduct. The Research Governance team also facilitate researcher professional development.

Research Analytics, Systems and Performance: Captures, reviews and analyses research performance data for internal and external reporting requirements. Provides business process support services for ECU’s research administration systems.

Our services

Research Services supports ECU's research program through a comprehensive range of services.

Researcher development
The Researcher Capability Development Coordinator managers the researcher development program in partnership with other key providers of research training at ECU.

External research funding
Research Services supports researchers in their funding application preparation at all stages, including coordinating budget review with School Finance teams and obtaining relevant approvals.

Post-award assistance
Research contracts are negotiated by Research Services, who also provide advice on contractual matters and grant management including reporting requirements, and managing drafting of contract variations.

Research performance reporting
Research Services is responsible for the collection of institutional research performance data for internal and external reporting to the Federal Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) and Engagement & Impact (EI) initiatives.

Research community communications
We provide regular online communications across the ECU research community to ensure researchers are continually aware of funding opportunities, conferences, seminars and other issues.

Research ethics and integrity
We provide advice and support to staff and students in relation to the ethical conduct of research at ECU, including administrative support for the Animal Ethics and Human Research Ethics Committees and reporting to the University and national research bodies. We oversee the implementation of a research integrity framework for ECU to ensure compliance with the Australian Code and manage research misconduct.

Industry liaison and promotion
Research Services actively promotes and markets ECU’s research capability through the management of publications and events, and by strengthening existing links and developing new ones with research partners and sponsors.

Administration of ECU funding schemes
- the ECU Industry Engagement Scheme provides funding towards research collaborations with external organisations; and
- the Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme provides an opportunity for new researchers to gain experience in grant application, research methodology, project implementation and reporting.