Annual Report 08 - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering ...

m implement the School’s operational and strategic research plan (and
update the plan annually);
m Maintain strong, well funded, inter-disciplinary research groups
focussed in the School’s two large research centres (Centre for
Infrastructure Engineering and Safety and Water Research Centre);
m concentrate research effort and resources by:- distributing
discretionary funds to priority areas; targeting staff recruitment to
research priority areas; attracting, developing and retaining leading
research staff; redeveloping and improving key research facilities; and
seeking external funds for targeted positions;
m improve staff performance (both group and individual performances)
by:- implementing a mentoring process for new and junior staff;
setting research goals for staff (grants, publications, supervision,
collaboration, SSP etc); identifying and collecting key performance
data and key performance measures; benchmarking individuals,
groups and School with competitors; and transforming the School into
a performance based meritocracy;
m effectively communicate research plans, results and outcomes to better
promote our research activities and achievements;
m introduce measures to increase research student numbers (target
100), including a School Research scholarship scheme
m continue to manage and monitor all aspects of the postgraduate
research degree programs, and actively engage postgraduate research
students in all School activities.
Postgraduate Research Student Program
An important aspect of the Committee’s work involves the management
of the School’s postgraduate research student’s program. In 2008, the
School had 77 postgraduate research students enrolled in either ME or
PhD programs. Management of this vital research activity within the School
involves the assessment of applications to undertake higher degrees
within the School, the formulation of specific research plans for each
student accepted into the program, the nomination of suitable supervisors,
reviewing the progress of students at regular intervals, making
recommendations on progress to the Faculty’s Higher Degree Committee,
and finally, nominating examiners when the thesis is completed and, where
necessary, following up on the examination process.
Each student is assigned a review committee of three academic staff
chaired by a member of the RMC. The review committee meets to
interview the student and supervisor(s) at 6 or 12 monthly intervals,
depending on the student’s progress, and, at these reviews, the student
is invited to present a brief seminar outlining progress since the last
review. Most academic staff and several research only staff participated
in the student review panels in 2008. Much of the work load in this area
is carried by the School’s Postgraduate Research Student Coordinator, a
position filled very ably by Associate Professor Ashish Sharma. The student
review process continued relatively smoothly through 2008 with excellent
administrative support provided by Pattie McLaughlin.
The RMC provided funds to support each research student, including a PC
at the commencement of their studies, photocopying and library charges,
and up to $1000 in each of the first three years of their program for
attendance at conferences or other project related expenses. However,
the bulk of the funding to support research student projects in most cases
comes from external scholarships and/or from research grants won by the
student’s supervisor.
Research Grants and Publications
The RMC also provides input to the preparation and coordination of
research grant applications. This includes ranking the School’s applications
for internal Faculty Research Grants (FRGs) and Early Career Research
Grants (ECRs) and UNSW Research Infrastructure Grants (RIBG/MREII)
and reviewing applications for competitive external grants. The School
has continued to be successful in winning external grant income in 2008,
particularly from the highly competitive funding schemes of the Australian
Research Council (ARC). With School staff involved in 8 successful ARC
Discovery Grants and 3 successful ARC Linkage Grants all awarded in
2008, it is by far the most successful School/Department in its discipline
in Australia. The School also continued to attract funding from industry,
largely through the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety and
the Water Research Centre.
For over a decade the School has led the Faculty in the number of DEST
recognised publications produced by its staff and students. In 2008, the
publication output continued to grow with many outstanding contributions
across the entire School.
Seminar Program
An effective seminar program is considered vital to communication
of research activity both within and outside the School and the RMC
has conducted such a program for many years. The seminar program
continued smoothly throughout 2008 under the direction of Ms Pattie
McLaughlin. Seminars typically involve at least two half hour presentations
by either research students and/or academic staff in a generally similar
discipline area or by a visiting researcher or external invited speaker.
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