Research Newsletter – Issue 69: Information and Updates
Please click on the headings below to access further information:
DCU Library began a major project in August 2020 to replace its current Library Management System (LMS). The current LMS implemented in 1998 provides the systems for acquiring, describing and making accessible to users library print and online collections. Over time the world of Libraries and information management and accessibility has been completely transformed. The single biggest change has been the move away from a print dominated environment to one that is increasingly, if not predominantly, online. This change, allied to their mission to provide a seamless user experience when searching collections, was the catalyst to the selection, purchase and implementation of Ex Libris’ Alma library services platform (LSP) and Primo user interface.
The new platform will give users an integrated and unified search tool providing access to a wealth of scholarly content – all via one single search, anytime and on any device. The platform will also offer a next generation interface for seamless user services with a personalised experience.
The Library’s LSP Working Group along with all library teams have been working intensively over the past six months on the planning, implementation, configuration and training required to deliver this new platform.
DCU Library are excited to provide the community with an improved discovery experience and increased level of functionality. The new platform and discovery interface will go live on Thursday, January 6th 2022. Following Go Live, they will commence the second phase of the project, which will involve user acceptance testing, where they will actively consult and seek feedback to ensure they provide the optimum discovery interface for DCU.
The Research Project Administration (RPA) team is open for pre-award funding application support for Principle Investigators (PI’s) who intend to coordinate Horizon Europe, MSCA, ERC and COST projects. RPA assists in preparing the application for Enterprise Ireland (EI) Coordinator Support and the support is paid for from this funding.
RPA looks after the administrative aspect of the process, allowing the PI to focus on the technical aspects of their research proposal - they work with the PI, their team, the relevant Research Development Officer and Research Support Officer to prepare and submit the proposal.
For further details, email rpa.enquiries@dcu.ie or please click here for more information.
First come, first served - enthusiasm is infinite but capacity is not!
The new version of the Research Integrity Online Training Course is now live on LOOP and is available for researchers to access at a time that is convenient for them to do so. This new and improved version of the training has been specifically tailored to the Irish research context and is the result of extensive feedback from Irish researchers, higher education institutions and research funders. The course includes interactive learning activities, discipline specific activities, and realistic scenarios researchers may encounter.
If you have already taken and completed Research Integrity training via the Epigeum platform, then you are not required to take this new version of the course.
For all new staff, and staff that haven't yet completed Research Integrity training, there are two separate courses available:
- Concise (Experienced Researchers): The concise course should only be taken by Principal Investigators and experienced researchers (e.g. those who have had prior training). Modules 1 and 2 and their associated quizzes are mandatory for course completion. Modules 3-8 are optional, although we would encourage you to explore that content as time permits.
- Comprehensive (Early Stage Researchers): The comprehensive course should be taken by early stage researchers (e.g. graduate research students, early career postdocs, research assistants, etc.). Modules 1 to 8 and their associated quizzes are mandatory for course completion.
In addition to the mandatory course content listed above, both versions of the course include Specialist Modules:
- Specialist Modules: The Specialist Modules are optional for both versions of the course. However, please note that some of these modules will be available as standalone LOOP courses, and may be required training for those undertaking research relevant to those areas (e.g. Research involving Human Participants, Export Controls etc.)
If you have any questions regarding Research Integrity training, please contact research@dcu.ie.
The financial guidelines for Enterprise Ireland’s Horizon Europe supports (Travel, Coordinator and ERC) have been updated with some small changes including:
- Daily rate calculation: The IUA Salary scale must be used to calculate the daily rate for Research Assistants (RAs) – other salary scales cannot be used. Note also that the salary scale at the time of application also applies (not a future salary scale). To get the daily rate, divide the salary scale by 252 (previously 254) – an example is given in the updated guidelines.
- An additional note to clarify that travel outside of Europe is ineligible. Note also that in the case of the Coordinator Support, only one person will be supported per visit.
- A note on resubmissions: In the case of resubmissions for Enterprise Ireland support, a 50% reduced rate must be applied to travel costs. This previously also applied to staff costs, but this has been updated in the guidelines.
The updated guidelines and application forms are available at the EI Horizon Europe website here.
Successful applicants for Horizon Europe grant awards will be guaranteed funding regardless of the outcome of the UK’s efforts to associate to Horizon Europe, under a new scheme announced recently by the UK government. The UK government’s decision originates from continuous delays in the country’s association to Horizon Europe, resulting in uncertainty and confusion regarding the UK applicants’ status. To provide reassurance, the UK government has guaranteed funding for the first wave of eligible, successful applicants to Horizon Europe, but who have been unable to sign grant agreements with the EU. The funding will be delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
For more information please visit the UKRI website here.
The European Commission is looking for experienced and motivated specialists in soil-related fields to evaluate and select the best innovative ideas that could advance the protection and restoration of soils in Europe and beyond under the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe.
Expert evaluators should be specialists with relevant professional experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Drivers and indicators of soil health and land degradation;
- The co-creation of public and private solutions for protection and restoration of soil health;
- Soil health co-benefits;
- Innovative finance options to promote soil health, sustainable land use and soil practices, as well as new value chains and products;
- The relationship between safe food systems and soil health;
- Earth observation and digital technologies, including knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT);
- Soil literacy and citizen science;
- Social innovation including knowledge transfer and educational strategies.
Experts will assess proposals submitted to Horizon Europe funding to advance the goals set up by the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe. The selected experts will work individually and in teams, remotely or in person. Register in the European Commission's expert database and make sure to complete all sections of the online application form. It is important to specify your expertise and to add relevant keywords describing your field/s of expertise and background.
“Opportunities for Researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Horizon Europe- SSH Opportunities” is a document designed to help potential proposers to find SSH related topics across the different parts of Horizon Europe 2021-2022 work programme.
The document was prepared by APRE (Agency for the Promotion for European Research) and was published by the Bridge2HE project.
'Introduction to SciVal' training videos are now available on the DCU SciVal homepage.
The videos provide an overview of the functionality available across the Overview, Benchmarking and Collaboration SciVal modules.
Requests for dedicated training sessions, meetings to discuss use of the tool, or queries on analysis can be directed to Isabel.Hidalgo@dcu.ie (Research Support Office) or Fran.Callaghan@dcu.ie (DCU Library).