Guide for Researchers and Research Administrators:
An Overview of Research and Research-Related Policies and Procedures

This is a Guide to research-related policies and procedures at the University of Melbourne. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of all research-related policies and procedures or to substitute for key documents such as Personnel Policies and Procedures or Finance Policy and Procedures. Rather it provides short summaries on key topics, references to more detailed sources, and links to useful publications and especially to other sources of information on the University's web site.

We welcome your feedback to further improve the Guide. Please email jane.pontikis@unimelb.edu.au.

Contents

Introduction

1. University Planning Context

1. Growing Esteem
2. University-level Plans
3. Faculty Plans

2. Academic Research Leadership and Management

1. Executive
2. Faculty and Department Leadership
3. University Committees
4. Academic staff and the definition of 'research active'

3. Chief Investigator's Responsibilities

4. Research Services

1. Melbourne Research Office
2. School of Graduate Research
3. Other Administration service providers
4. Melbourne Ventures
5. Curriculum Licensing Services
6. Melbourne Consulting and Customised Programs (formerly School of Enterprise)

5. Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research

1. Code of Conduct for Research
2. Research Ethics Sub-Committee
3. Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
4. Authorship
5. Conflict of Interest
6. Management of Research Data and Records

6. Ethical Review and Approval

1. Approval Required Before Work Commences
2. Research Involving Human Participants
3. Animal Ethics and Animal Welfare
4. Gene Technology and Biosafety
5. Licences, Permits and Permissions

7. Seeking Funding for Research

1. Types of Research Arrangements (Grants, Contracts, Consultancies)
2. Identifying Potential Sponsors
3. Trade Practices Compliance in Bidding for Funds
4. R&D Tax Concession
   
   

   4.1 The University of Melbourne is a Registered Research Agency

5. Tobacco Industry funding
6. Internal University grants

8. Budgeting, Costing and Pricing

1. The Basics
2. The Concept of Competitive Neutrality
3. Costing a Research Project
   
   
   1. Direct Costs
   2. Indirect Costs (Research Facilities and Administrative Services and Support Costs - RFASSC)
4. Pricing a Research Project

9. Governance and Business Arrangements in Major Initiatives and Centres

1. Centres - Structures, Governance and Incorporation

10. Submitting a Research Grant Application

1. Lodgement Process
2. Signatures

11. Accepting a Research Grant

1. Authority to Accept a Grant Offer
2. Review of Proposed Funding Contract/Conditions of Award
3. Documentation/Correspondence regarding the Research Grant

12. Research Agreements

1. Definitions
2. Review and Negotiation of Research Agreements
3. Submitting your Agreement to the Research Office
4. Authority to Enter Into and Sign Research Agreements
5. University Standard Agreements

13. Administering Research Funds

1. The First-named Chief Investigator
2. Opening a Research Account
3. Managing Research Expenditure
4. Employing Staff
5. Equipment
6. Invoicing External Parties
7. Transfer to/from Other Institution
8. Chief Investigator No Longer Working on the Project

14. Donations for Research

15. Access by Collaborating Partners or Third Parties to University Resources, including Space Allocations, for Research Purposes

16. Safety, Insurance and Risk Management

1. Assessing and Managing Risk
2. Responsibilities of Chief Investigators
3. Biological Materials and Quarantine

17. Intellectual Property

18. Reporting on Research Activity and Outcomes

1. Statutory Reporting Responsibilities
2. Reports Required by Research Sponsors
3. Reporting to Planning and Budget Committee for the Purposes of Resource Allocation
4. Research Income Grants, Contract Research and Consultancies: What Counts?
5. Research Publications Reported to DEST: What Counts?
6. Public Access to Research Information via "Find and Expert"

19. Commonwealth Block Grant Funding