Dr Peter Hedges
Dr Peter Hedges took up the post of Head of the University Research Office at the University of Cambridge in January 2014. The Cambridge Research Office includes the Research Strategy Office, whose primary role is to support the work of the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, and the Research Operations Office, whose role is to support the administration of the life cycle of research at the University. The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s oldest universities and leading academic centres, and a self-governed community of scholars. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges. Cambridge has more than 18,000 students, nearly 9,000 staff, 31 Colleges and 150 Departments, Faculties, Schools and other institutions and the University Research Office supports an annual research turnover of the order £400 million.
He was previously Director of Research Support Services at the University of Warwick which he joined in 2008 following a long career in UK Research Councils – notably, the Science and Engineering Research Council and subsequently the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) serving in a variety of roles and disciplines. At Warwick, he managed the full life-cycle of research operations covering research development, pre-award management of grants and contracts, international and innovation programmes, research ethics and governance, post–award finance and research operations, including research administration systems. However, he is probably best known within the academic community as a key member of the EPSRC Programme Management Team in Engineering for most of the period 1999 to 2008.
Since joining the higher education sector, Peter is a regular contributor at research administration professional development training events and conferences and has a particular interest in research information management and research governance issues. He is an active in a number of research administration networks including the Russell Group, IARU, LERU and ARMA.