Abstract

The role of research managers, including funding advisors and project managers, has undergone significant transformation over the past few decades. Driven by professionalization, specialization and personality, as well as the dynamic landscape of technology and global shifts, we think that this role will evolve further. Just as the concept of responsible innovation guides researchers, we also must be mindful of how we shape our roles within these evolving circumstances.

The EARMA conference offers a unique platform to engage with colleagues from across Europe to discuss critical questions: Will research managers specialize further, for example, adapting to the increasingly complex funding landscape and the specialized needs of researchers? What lies ahead in the next stages of our careers? What drives our passion for this work?
We address these questions by examining how individual expertise, preferences and talent may influence the evolving role of research managers. Moreover, we will discuss the impact of technological advancements, such as AI-tools, and the changing global context on the nature of our work. How will these external forces reshape our role, and how can we proactively prepare for this?

Beyond the professional sphere, we will also look into personal aspects of being a research manager. How our work ethic and values, personal preferences and talents intersect with our role? What are our perspectives on maintaining a healthy work-life balance? How do we get satisfaction from our work?

By surveying and interviewing TU Delft research managers, we explore how they perceive the changes ahead, and predict how these changes will impact their professional and personal experiences. We will also complement this data, with findings from a comprehensive meta-analysis of presentations and discussions held at the EARMA conference in Prague, 2022. This data will shed light on the future perspectives and opportunities for our profession.

Authors: Jaga Schreiber, Jessica Vargas, Fleur Vermeulen-Duijndam