The University adopted the KRIMSON system to manage external research and innovation grants in 2014. Here the Project Manager Renata McDonnell explains the current state of play. The process of adopting KRIMSON has been complex, and I’m grateful for all of those who have helped us in developing it, using it, and providing feedback on it. As a result we have seen real achievements and benefits arising from it: it has replaced the paperbased approval system, providing
FEEDBACK Research Services is committed to providing the best support possible in an ever-changing academic environment. As part of this commitment, we are implementing a system to gather feedback on an ongoing basis to assess the support received when submitting an application to a research funder. Once you have submitted an application an email will be sent to you the following week asking you to say whether you agree or disagree with a few statements about the support provided. It should take no more than a couple of minutes to answer. Feedback can be given anonymously and will only be shared with the Research Development and Grant & Contracts Officers named with your permission. Want to know more? If you wish to discuss this, have any other feedback or suggestions about how the support provided by Research Services can be improved; please contact Andrew Massoura, Research Grants and Contracts Manager (a.n.massoura@kent.ac.uk, ext. 3256)
KRIMSON the University with a more transparent and accessible application system with reduced processing timescales. However, the software provider has not delivered in certain areas, and as a result was unable to provide some of the functionality we had originally wanted. This includes integration with KAR and the possibility of a 'mini-CV' with details of
an individual's publications and funding track record. However, we will continue to use KRIMSON as the approval system for external research and innovation grants, and will seek to further improve the functionality and usability of the system. Want to know more? To find out more about the current situation and what the future holds, contact Renata on r.mcdonnell@kent.ac.uk, xtn 3190)
WELCOME!
Nine academics have joined Kent between April and July. Join with us in welcoming them to the University, and take a moment to find out about their research interests. Dr Gerardo Abreu Pederzini (KBS): the human side of work and organizations, and in particular organizational behaviour, especially leadership. Dr Robert Barker (SPS) Dr Jan Breitsohl (KBS): The dark side of social media - (Managing) Consumer Aggression in online communities. Dr William Gee (SPS): synthetic chemistry to solve real-world forensic problems, such as developing new chemical treatments to identify latent fingermarks on porous surfaces Ms Angela Harrison (Journalism): the practice of journalism. Dr Stella Koutsikou (Pharmacy): To determine how sensory information is weighted and integrated by the central nervous system, which in turn, shapes decision-making and helps guide aspects of natural animal behaviour. Dr Julien Lange (Computing, right): the verification of concurrent and distributed programs using mathematically rigorous theories, in partic-
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ular: behavioural types and automata theory. Dr Christopher Mulligan (Biosciences): the molecular mechanisms of transport proteins; how they recognise compounds, how they harness an energy source to pump compounds across the membrane, and how they move during transport.