LDC FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ACTIVE STAFF NETWORKS
APPLICATION FORM
PART A
Details:
Name: Dr Frederik Dahlmann
Job Title: Assistant Professor Global Energy
Staff No: 1173665
Department/Centre/Unit/Faculty: WBS
Departmental Administrator (name): Jane Miller
Purpose / Objective of the Research Staff Network:
To encourage stimulation of debate and connectedness across Groups within WBS and to establish a
collegial and mutually supportive Assistant Professor/Early Career Researcher network within the
School.
Details of the Skills/ Development Activity(ies) (Max 500 words):
The plan is to convene voluntary monthly lunchtime meetings open to all Assistant Professors/Early
Career Researchers/Research Fellows within the School between December 2012 and June 2013 (7
meetings). There will be a number of inputs during these events ranging from individuals presenting
outlines of research work in progress/working papers (for discussion/constructive criticism from
attendees), some formal input from other colleagues within the School (for example from Ronni
Littlewood, Research Development Officer on external funding sources and grant proposal writing,
from Rochelle Sibley on academic writing, and from senior colleagues within the School for coaching
on journal submission) and some ‘themed’ discussions to stimulate debate (for which speakers from
across the University could be invited, for example a lead from a GPP).
Date of your activity/event(s), if known:
Wed 12th December 2012 12:30-13:30
Thurs 17th January 2013 12:30-13:30
Tues 12th February 2013 12:30-13:30
Wed 13th March 2013 12:30-13:30
Thurs 18th April 2013 12:30-13:30
Tues 14th May 2013 12:30-13:30
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
September 2012
Thurs 13th June 2013 12:30-13:30
If you have a website, please give the URL:
Not planning to have a stand-alone website, but materials from events can be posted on WBS staff
intranet.
Please state which events will be open to other University of Warwick research staff:
Colleagues from across the university would be welcome to join the network although we are not
planning to actively recruit from outside the School in 2012-13. Certainly, where appropriate, for
themed events we would advertise the opportunity to other dept’s in the university.
Is this a new network or existing network?
New / Existing
Scope/ Evaluation / Impact of activity(ies) proposed
(Please give us an estimate of the numbers of staff who will be involved and an indication of how you will measure the impact of the
activity/activities. If you intend to follow up the activity by disseminating information, or using the outcomes to support other staff
development activities, please also let us know this)
WBS currently has 39 Assistant Professors and 13 Research Fellows – these 52 staff are the
target audience for the Network.
How do you plan to let research staff know about your events/meetings?
By email, on the staff intranet and by word of mouth.
How do you plan to share the learning / best practice with other University of Warwick Research
Staff Networks?
This will be the first such formal network within WBS and the involvement of the Research Office will
ensure learning for the on-going support of this network or the establishment of other networks
within the School. We will actively search for opportunities to synchronize with other networks in
the University.
What is the benefit of your activity/activities to:

The University
The Network will provide support for the development of our Early Career Researchers
within the School, providing peer support, input from senior colleagues and some formal
training/development activities. We hope to encourage cross-group knowledge exchange
which has the potential to generate inter-disciplinary research collaborations, this feeds into
the University’s strategic aims.

Your department/organisation
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
September 2012
These kinds of activities will enhance the research environment within the School and
provide CPD opportunities for individuals which benefits the department in terms of staff
welfare, collegiality, performance and research output.

Research agenda
This network will directly support individual research plans which will hopefully translate into
improved success in highly ranked journal publications and in the development of grant
applications.
Total amount of funding requested:
£ 550.00
Administrative support for the network will be provided by the WBS Research Office, so we are only
seeking funds to help provide catering at the Network meetings. WBS will match-fund any monies
received from LDC.
Breakdown of funding requested (approximate):
Assumption is 20 people attending each network meeting. Basic working lunches with fruit @£5.25
per head plus tea/coffee @ £1.00 per head + 4 bottles of water @ £2.25 at 4 of the meetings (=20 x
£6.25 + £9 x 4= £536). Simple cold fork buffet @ £7.95 per head plus tea/coffee @ £1.00 per head +
4 bottles of water @ £2.25 at 3 of the meetings (=20 x £8.95 + £27 x 3 = £564). Total cost = £1100 50% funding requested from LDC = £550
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
September 2012