Director, Research & Development Cell

REVA UNIVERSITY

Job Description – Director, Research & Development Cell

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2. Position Summary

• The Director, Research & Development Cell, The role demands visionary leadership to promote interdisciplinary and high-impact research, foster innovation, strengthen collaborations with national and international partners, and enhance the university’s research visibility and societal contribution. The incumbent will design policies, oversee compliance and ethics, mobilize research funding, and mentor faculty and scholars.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership & Research Policy Development

• Formulate and execute the university’s comprehensive research and innovation strategy aligned with institutional vision, UGC, NAAC, and AICTE standards.
• Establish policies on research ethics, intellectual property, data management, and technology transfer.
• Foster interdisciplinary and translational research addressing regional, national, and global priorities.
• Represent the university at national and international research forums, networks, and policymaking bodies.

B. Research Governance, Quality & Compliance

• Lead the University Research Council
• Ensure compliance with research quality, funding guidelines, and statutory requirements.
• Promote research integrity and responsible conduct among faculty and scholars.
• Develop mechanisms for periodic audits and impact assessments of research initiatives.

C. Sponsored Research, Grants & Industry Partnerships

• Identify and secure external research funding from government agencies, industries, and CSR foundations, ensuring active engagement with major funding bodies such as ICSSR, CSIR, DRDO, UGC etc, and other relevant international organizations.
• Mentor faculty in proposal development, grant management, and project execution.
• Build strategic partnerships for co-funded research, consultancy, and collaborative innovation.
• Strengthen linkages with national missions (Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India) and international frameworks (UN SDGs).

D. Internal Research Support, Capacity Building and People Management

• Introduce and monitor seed grant and internal funding schemes to promote faculty-led research.
• Develop infrastructure and central research facilities for multi-disciplinary research.
• Conduct workshops, FDPs, and research training programs for faculty, scholars, and students.
• Hire the top talent, train and retain the star performers

E. Doctoral Research Development

• Oversee the academic and administrative aspects of the university’s doctoral programs.
• Ensure adherence to quality and timelines in PhD supervision, evaluation, and completion.
• Facilitate cross-institutional and industry-linked research opportunities for scholars.

F. International Collaboration & Networking

• Develop academic and research partnerships with global universities and consortia.
• Facilitate faculty and student exchange programs, joint projects, and co-publications.
• Enhance REVA’s global research footprint through international conferences and collaborative centers.

G. Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization

• Collaborate with the University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell and Technology Transfer Office.
• Promote patents, licensing, start-ups, and incubation of research-based ventures.
• Encourage a culture of applied innovation through hackathons, ideation labs, and research clusters.