Department of CS newsletter

Information on the University’s policy on the retention and disposition of records and data is available through www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/igo/records-information-management/retention-schedule/. Please take a look to remind yourselves of the (mandatory) retention and disposition of records and data.

The schedule provides specific dates after which information should be discarded (confidentially where relevant). For example did you know for these recruitment documents and associated information the retention requirements are as follows:

• Unsuccessful employment applications - Completion of appointment + 6 months
• Successful applications - Termination of employment + 6 years

Sarah Chatwin (sarah.chatwin@manchester.ac.uk) is an Information Governance Guardian in FSE.

From 22nd July you can access a new Lifestyle Savings staff benefit from our partner Vivup. To access these savings, you must register.  Register at vivup.co.uk before midnight 30 September 2021 for your chance to WIN one of FOUR amazing tech prizes*. See details on StaffNet here.

• 5% off groceries at Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose†
• Save 4% at Tesco and Asda and 7.5% at Marks and Spencer stores†
• 8% savings at Currys PC World†
• 5% off your DIY essentials at B&Q†

The deadline for this light-touch expression of interest is Wednesday 4^th August. Please also disseminate through your networks as appropriate.

Jio Institute, India, is an under-construction multi-disciplinary university funded by Reliance Foundation, a non-profit organisation co-founded in 2010 by Indian businessman and philanthropist Mukesh Ambani along with his wife Nita. It has been reported that Jio Institute is in discussion with global educational institutions - such as MIT, Stanford University, and Nanyang Technological University - to bring onboard experts for various subjects. Discussions are underway between the University of Manchester and Jio Institute, to map mutual interest and priorities in artificial intelligence and data science, to be pursued in the first instance through co-supervised PhD projects.

We are calling on colleagues from across the University whose research areas are relevant to AI and Data Science, who wish to engage with this collaboration opportunity if it develops further, to submit their expressions of interest by Wednesday 4^th August via the attached form (also accessible via the following link: https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=56143).

This EoI stage is intended to help the University gauge the level of interest from our academics in these areas and help inform the best way forward in developing this collaboration.

We recognise that this request comes at a time when availabilities are limited. Therefore, all that is required at this stage is essentially 2-3 paragraphs providing a high-level summary of any research areas or topics you are interested in pursuing via co-supervised PhD projects. If you are interested but unable to complete the form in the link above in time please contact Shaden Jaradat (shaden.jaradat@manchester.ac.uk) and Alex Gaskill (alexander.gaskill@manchester.ac.uk).

 Survey: Understanding demand for a social media data archive

Discussions with various research groups and divisions has highlighted that there is growing demand for access to a social media data archive/repository and data collection and analysis tools at the University. A social media archive is typically used to store social media data and metadata (eg tweets, Facebook posts etc.)

As a result of this, the Research Lifecycle Programme (RLP) are undertaking an exploratory review to build a better picture of the use of social media across the University’s research community (including PDRAs and PGRs).

The RLP team have put together a short survey to understand how social media data is collected, curated, stored and analysed at the University, and to better understand the high level needs and requirements of those working directly or indirectly with social media data.

The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and will close on Thursday, 30 September.

• Take the survey
   

Your views on changes to REDCap 

The Research Lifecycle Programme (RLP) would like your views on something which is changing in REDCap. Currently REDCap is used by a small number of researchers across the University. It is anticipated that once the new service is rolled out and publicised to the wider University, there will be an increase in users. The RLP are exploring a cost model in order for us to sustain the effort to provide the requisite support.

The majority of UK Higher Education institutions already charge a fee for the use of REDCap (or in the process of doing so). If this is something that you have views on, the RLP welcomes them. Please get in touch with Carly Moseley (Business Change Manager, carly.moseley@manchester.ac.uk) to discuss further.

The project's recent update can be found below, including information on the launch date moving to early October.

• Project update: REDCap survey tool 

www.translation.manchester.ac.uk/funding/translation-manchester-funding-schemes/
•    Funding call opens                                           Monday 5th July 2021
•    Information Session  (watch back)                Wednesday 14th July 2021
•    Deadline for contacting RSMs                        Monday 26th July 2021
•    Application deadline                                       Thursday 26th August 2021
•    Notification of outcomes                                w/c 25th October 2021
•    Projects start                                                     November 2021

Every year Translation Manchester runs two translational funding schemes:
Access to Expertise (A2E) and Projects for Translation (P4T).
The overall aim of the schemes is to build better links between science, technology and innovation by removing barriers between disciplines and making it easier for researchers to take the first translational steps and successfully progress along the translational pathway.

Deadline: 02-Aug-2021

www.daad.de/en/the-daad/postdocnet/details-and-application/

Twice a year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) selects a group of outstanding postdoctoral researchers and experienced PhD candidates worldwide to participate in the Postdoctoral Networking Tour in Artificial Intelligence (Postdoc-NeT-AI, daad.de/ainet). The fellowship includes a Virtual Networking Week and a one-week travel stipend with plenty of opportunities to personally connect with leading researchers and research institutions from all over Germany. Fellows will also become part of the DAAD AInet Fellows and Alumni Network, thus expanding and strengthening the cooperation within the group and with the German research community.

If you have any question regarding the tour, contact us at ainet@daad.de.