Dipti Pandya, Senior Manager, Research Programmes, UCD Research, was elected Chair of the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) by EARMA members at the General Assembly in Prague this April. 

The 400+ EARMA community is composed of institutional and individual members from 47 countries. Members are research managers across the breadth of the research ecosystem in higher education, industry, the public and private sectors. Working with the EU Commission, national and international funding agencies, EARMA provides a networking forum, a learning platform, and a place to share experiences and best practice among RMAs throughout the wider RMA community.

As a Board member and Chair of the EARMA Policy and Representation Standing Committee since April 2022, Dipti worked with the Committee’s members and executive office to coordinate the response to the European Commission’s public consultation process on the European Research & Innovation (R&I) Framework programmes 2014-2027. 

Beginning her term as Chair at the beginning of September 2023, Dipti is committed to further advancing strategic priorities, to strengthen EARMA’s position as a key stakeholder and recognition of the Research Manager and Administrator professions.

At the 2023 General Assembly in Prague she said, “As EARMA Chair, I will continue to engage with European Research Area policy agenda Action 17 to enable upskilling and development of career pathways for research managers while deepening our network. I want to see EARMA build on what we do well as a community of practice that is committed to sharing our learning through our continuing professional development activities, peer-to-peer mentoring initiatives, thematic groups and our conferences. As a testament, this year alone 1,400 of us have come together as a community of practice to support and learn from each other.“

“I am also very passionate about what we, as research managers and administrators do, the value we bring and the role we implement in the research ecosystem across Europe. As Chair, I will direct that passion to further advancing the EARMA strategic priorities.”

Representing the community of Research Managers and Administrators in Europe, EARMA members work at the forefront of building the European Research Area. The Association forms the interface between research funding organisations and the scientific community, bridging cultural and legal differences between countries, and between academia and industry, contributing to policy consultations, and managing the smooth running of research projects. 

Visit the EARMA website to learn more.