Research Professional is a comprehensive online platform designed to support researchers, institutions, and research professionals in navigating the complex landscape of research funding, policy, and practice. Here is an overview of what the product does and its key features:
Purpose and Scope
Research Professional serves as a central hub for accessing and managing information related to research funding opportunities, policy updates, and sector news. It is tailored to help researchers, research administrators, and institutions make informed decisions and stay abreast of the latest developments in the research community.
Key Features
Funding Opportunities
- The platform offers a searchable database of open research funding opportunities, allowing users to search by various criteria such as sponsor, discipline, award type, closing date, sponsor country, and applicant nationality.
News and Updates
- It provides up-to-date news on international research policy and practice, curated by an editorial team. This includes coverage of government departments, funding agencies, and university activities, as well as emerging global research policy issues.
Funding Insight
- This feature offers additional news and data to help researchers decide which funding opportunities to apply for and how to make stronger applications. It includes information on previous award winners and insights from leading principal investigators and managers.
Personalized Alerts and Searches
- Users can set up email alerts for funding opportunities and research news, and save customized searches that automatically update. This ensures that users receive relevant information in real-time.
Awards and Success Stories
- The platform allows users to search for information on previous successful applicants to various research councils, the Wellcome Trust, and the Leverhulme Trust, providing valuable insights into successful funding strategies.
Guidance and Resources
- Research Professional offers guidance on developing winning proposals through features like “Know How,” which includes advice from leading principal investigators and managers.
Accessibility and Integration
- Users can access the platform through either campus access or self-registration, with the latter offering additional features such as saving searches and setting up email alerts. The platform is also optimized for mobile use, allowing easy browsing on various devices.
Benefits
- Informed Decision-Making: By providing authoritative news, analysis, and comment, Research Professional helps institutions make better decisions regarding research investments, hiring, and strategic planning.
- Time Efficiency: The platform collates and organizes a vast amount of news and information, making it easier for users to stay updated without being overwhelmed by the volume of data.
- Global Coverage: It covers research policy and funding activities globally, including the EU, Africa, and various national services, ensuring users have a broad perspective on the research environment.
Overall, Research Professional is an indispensable tool for anyone involved in research, offering a robust set of features that enhance the ability to find funding, stay informed about policy changes, and make strategic decisions in the research sector.