Research Project Management: Defining Roles and Responsibilities from Practice/Experience

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18552/jorma.v4i1.1196

Keywords:

Research Project Manager, Collaborative Research, Project Management, Research Administration, Project Leadership

Abstract

What is new?

There is a widespread lack of clarity and consensus regarding the role of Research Project Managers (RPMs) in collaborative research projects, which this paper aims to address. This is the most extensive attempt to define the role of a Research Project Manager (RPM) in collaborative research projects.

What was the approach?

The paper draws on the authors' combined experience managing collaborative research projects, synthesising insights from theoretical frameworks and practical implementations in diverse research environments.

What is the academic impact?

The paper provides a much-needed definition of the Research Project Manager's role, distinguishing it from related roles in the Research Management and Administration (RMA) field. It contributes to RMA and project management by offering a framework that clarifies the RPM's responsibilities, which have largely been underexplored in academic literature.

What is the wider impact?

For research and management practitioners, this paper highlights the critical role of RPMs in ensuring project success, from ideation to execution. It underscores the importance of well-defined project management practices in collaborative research to meet the expectations of funding agencies and ensure scientific outcomes.

Author Biographies

  • Cláudia Barbosa, Instituto de Telecomunicacoes & Digimedia, Universidade de Aveiro

    Project Manager – European Funding Programmes

  • Lorena Cebolla Sanahuja, University of Trento

    Research Grant Management Division, RMA &PM

  • Mirella Collini, Università di Trento

    Research Grant Management Division, Head of Division

  • Riccarda Moser, Eurac Research

    Institute for Renewable Energy - Research Project Manager

  • José Santos, Bragança Polytechnic University

    Assistant Researcher and Research Manager

  • Richard Twohig, Unaffiliated

    Former Senior Research Project & Programme Manager, various contract positions

  • Daniel Vare, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology

    Project Leader and Project Manager at Research Support Office, 
    Chair EARMA - Post-Award Project-Management

References

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Published

27-08-2025

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Journal of Research Management and Administration

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Cláudia Barbosa, Lorena Cebolla Sanahuja, Mirella Collini, Riccarda Moser, José Santos, Richard Twohig, Daniel Vare

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

Research Project Management: Defining Roles and Responsibilities from Practice/Experience. (2025). Journal of Research Management and Administration, 4(1), 2025082701. https://doi.org/10.18552/jorma.v4i1.1196