Office of Research

The OoR provides comprehensive administrative support to facilitate seamless research operations. The OoR plays a pivotal role in developing research management policies, implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), managing queries, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the efficient execution of research operations. By streamlining administrative processes, the OoR allows researchers to focus on their innovations while ensuring accountability and impact-driven outcomes.

The OoR offers end-to-end support in securing and managing external research funding from domestic and international agencies. The office works closely with faculty and researchers to ensure smooth submission and implementation of funded projects. These include internal funding (start-up research grant, seed support, lab funding, professional development allowance), external grants (government, private and NGOs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), consultancy, and executive education.

Pre-award support:
• Scoping and sharing funding opportunities
• Checking institutional eligibility and handling institutional registrations
• Providing grant proposal templates and hosting pre-proposal discussions
• Assisting in proposal writing, budgeting, and submission
• Coordinating legal and administrative aspects of grant-related agreements

Post-award support:
• Allocating and tracking budgets to ensure proper fund utilization
• Coordinating with finance for fund disbursement and utilization certificates
• Assisting in progress reports, financial statements, and compliance documentation
• Supporting faculty in grant extensions, modifications, and project closures

The OoR has established a streamlined process for the recruitment and management of research staff hired on internally and externally funded projects. The goal is to ensure consistency and transparency in research hiring while adhering to institutional and funding agency norms. Key activities include:

• Hiring research staff (assistants, associates and postdocs) as per project requirements
• Managing contracts, tenure, and service terms
• Conducting performance appraisals and periodic feedback reviews
• Processing renewals, extensions, and terminations of research positions

The OoR aims to highlight the research and innovation happening at Plaksha University, gradually building the visibility of the university’s research outcomes on national and international platforms. The office works closely with faculty and researchers to conduct the following activities:

• Revising and refining outgoing research proposals
• Promoting research through news and media platforms through articles
• Creating easy-to-understand audio-visual aids to depict Plaksha’s research
• Facilitating public interactions for faculty and researchers through talks and events

The OoR provides comprehensive support for research lab infrastructure to ensure well-equipped and efficiently maintained research facilities. The office oversees:

• Setting up new lab spaces
• Procuring research equipment while ensuring compliance with budgetary and technical requirements
• Lab management by establishing SOPs, ensuring adherence to safety and compliance protocols, and streamlining daily operations
• Equipment inventory management and regular maintenance
• Tracking equipment status and usage and extending access to other institutions

The OoR facilitates faculty members in establishing collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and funding agencies. The office plays a key role in:

• Evaluating collaboration proposals for alignment with university policies
• Ensuring compliance with research and funding guidelines
• Validating intellectual property (IP) terms to safeguard institutional and researcher interests
• Vetting agreements with legal advisors

By streamlining the Memorandum of Agreements (MoA) process and fostering impactful partnerships, the OoR strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration.

The OoR ensures adherence to institutional and national research regulatory frameworks, upholding the highest ethical and safety standards. Responsibilities include coordinating various regulatory compliance committees, such as:

• Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)
• Institute Ethics Committee (IEC)
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The OoR oversees the research compliance process, ensuring that all research conducted at Plaksha meets the highest ethical, safety, and regulatory standards for responsible and impactful research.

The OoR supports faculty and researchers in protecting and commercializing their innovations. With a dedicated Intellectual Property Cell, the office facilitates processing of all IP-related documents and ensures seamless coordination with the university’s IP policy. The OoR works closely with legal consultants to provide expert guidance on:

• Patent filing
• Licensing
• Technology transfer

By streamlining IP management and commercialization efforts, the OoR empowers researchers to translate their innovations into products and services while safeguarding intellectual property rights.