Research Support
The Humanities Division’s research support teams provide operational and policy support for several streams of research-related activity, and works closely with the Division’s Associate Head (Research and Innovation) and the Director of TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre for the Humanities).
The Research Support and Engagement Teams in the Humanities Division comprises:
- Research Facilitation
- Impact
- Digital Humanities
- TORCH
- Humanities Cultural Programme
- REF Management and Support
The broad responsibilities of the team include:
- Developing and implementing policies for the Humanities Division concerning research, impact and knowledge exchange, including REF preparations, internal funding allocations, relationships with external funders, communication of opportunities, in consultation with relevant academic and administrative staff and Divisional committees;
- Monitoring and advising on the implications of relevant University and national policy developments as they apply to the wide range of research and knowledge exchange activities within the Division, and initiating the development of divisional policy or responses as necessary;
- Ensuring TORCH provides an effective environment to develop new interdisciplinary research and is integrated with the University and divisional strategic plans;
- Establishing, developing and nurturing sustainable relationships and networks with external organizations and funders on behalf of the Division and University and maximizing the communication of the Division’s research and its outcomes to a wide range of audiences;
- Assisting faculties in developing their plans in relation to research strategy, and ensuring that faculties and Divisional committees have the requisite data and management information to assist with academic and resources planning for research and knowledge exchange-related activity;
- Oversight, in close cooperation with Research Services, of assurance processes to ensure that, division-wide, research funding applications comply with funders’ terms and conditions and University policies and procedures;
- Management of the John Fell Fund, including the termly funding call, peer review of applications, and allocation of funds to the Division (c. £1.5M pa) and the Higher Education Innovation Fund, and supporting major bids for further funding;
- Servicing the Humanities Research Committee and John Fell Application Review panel and other research-related working groups as required.
- The Research Facilitation team consists of the Head of Research Facilitation, four Research Facilitators, a part-time research support officer, and two Project Support Coordinators.
- Their role is to support colleagues applying for external research funding, working closely with the applicant, the University’s Research Services, and faculties by providing timely management information, targeted support, and advice to the Faculty’s Head of Administration and Finance, Faculty Board Chair, and chair of the faculty’s research committee on research funding and support.
- The project support coordinator is responsible for post-award administration on specific large grants.
A number of Project Support Coordinators are located within the Research Facilitation team. They provide wide-ranging administrative services to larger scale projects, and are funded from the project grants. The areas of support include:
- budgeting
- funder compliance
- evidence collation
- funder reporting
- contract preparation
- website and social media management
- events planning
- recruitment administration
- project extension management
- travel arrangements
- preparation for audits, both interim and final.
- The Division’s Knowledge Exchange (KE) Champion promotes external partnerships, and leads the development of internal links and collaboration.
- Advice to individuals and faculties about how to take their research to new audiences outside the academy is provided through the Head of Impact.
Digital Humanities at Oxford is a network to:
- understand better the needs of individual researchers and students in relation to Digital Humanities tools, techniques and opportunities;
- enhance the provision of Digital Humanities training, advice and support to researchers and students;
- develop the academic content of the Digital Humanities Summer School, to complement the technical training it currently provides;
- run workshops to raise awareness of Oxford’s research leadership in Digital Humanities;
- facilitate new external collaborative links, and, as appropriate, new consortia and formal partnerships that will facilitate future funding bids;
- develop our capacity and capability for research projects using digital humanities approaches through the DiSc initiative
TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre for the Humanities) aims to stimulate and support research that transcends disciplinary and institutional boundaries, through funding networks, hosting visitors, and creating University-wide programmes showcasing research.
For more information, see the TORCH website
John Fell Fund
The John Fell Fund is an internal research fund financed by Oxford University Press, and many Oxford Humanities projects have successfully received grants through the Fund. We publish guidance on the Fund and how to apply here:
Applications are made through the IRAMS system.
Research Support Fund
The Humanities Research Support Fund (RSF) aims to nurture the research environment for academic staff. We would like to use this resource to support colleagues to initiate or bring to fruition ambitious projects which will significantly benefit the research profile and environment of the faculty and division. The RSF provides modest sums of money for buyout or research assistance so that researchers can:
A. Complete a significant or major output, such as a book or another high-quality long-form, collaborative, digital publication, film, exhibition, performance or recording
B. Prepare for the extension and / or expansion of research through writing ambitious research applications
Humanities RSF - Case for support template.docx
Applications are made through the IRAMS system.
Other Internal Research Funding
A full list of internal funding opportunities (including TORCH) can be found here:
Humanities Funding Opportunities
Overal management of the Division's planning and preparations for the Research Excellence Framework (REF2029) is undertaken by the Division's REF Manager, Tim Davies.