Behind the Scenes of a Research Project: What We Actually Do
- Tom Lingard
- Oct 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Flexible project support that helps higher education teams deliver at pace.
Running a research project involves far more than the research itself. For most Principal Investigators, the day-to-day reality means managing budgets, coordinating team members and liaising with partners and stakeholders - all while staying on top of their own academic work and looking ahead for the next funding opportunity.
That’s where we come in.
At The Remote Assistant, we work with PIs and research teams to provide structured, flexible support across the project's full programme of activity. From resourcing and finance admin to conference and event delivery, we help keep everything moving, without adding pressure to the team.
Here’s what that actually looks like in practice.
Supporting Research Teams in Action
Here are some of the research projects we've supported recently:
A £120k NIHR-funded workplace health initiative, six university partners and collaborators - project managing the WHISPAs research network, from website and webinar series to a virtual launch event with 150 attendees
The launch and delivery of the Birmingham Brain Tumour Network, including the concept and delivery of a 90-person symposium
For both projects, our role was to step in quickly and provide structured, practical support - from planning events and managing finances to building websites, coordinating stakeholders, and keeping teams aligned.
So… What Do We Actually Do?
We adapt to the needs of each project, but here are some of the common tasks we support academics with:
1. Project Planning
Working with the PI to develop a project map, define tasks, resources and budget
Liaising with Contracting, Finance and Research Support to ensure the project set-up phase is smooth
2. Project Coordination
Acting as the central point of contact for the project team and partners
Scheduling project meetings, keeping track of actions and maintaining momentum
Providing dedicated admin support to the PI
3. Finance Management & Budgeting
Managing budgets and tracking expenses
Reporting on finances and forecasting spend
4. Onboarding
Helping onboard new suppliers and managing invoices
Managing logistics for new team members
5. Dissemination
Building and maintaining the project website
Creating and managing the project newsletter
6. Conferences & Events
Organising online and in-person events for key stakeholders, partners and collaborators
Managing every detail from concept to delivery: venue booking, speaker coordination, delegate communications and on-the-day logistics
7. Travel Planning
Managing all travel logistics - flights, accommodation and itineraries - so your team can focus on the work, wherever the project takes them
Our Approach
We work as an extension of your team, which means:
Communicating professionally with funders, collaborators, and team members
Taking initiative, solving problems, and flagging issues before they escalate
Being flexible - whether you need light touch support or a more hands-on approach
“Thanks to Tom’s professional and proactive approach, everything - from our website to events, finance, and reporting - ran seamlessly and on schedule.”
Dr Laura Kudrna, Associate Professor, Centre Co-Director, University of Birmingham
When We’re Most Helpful
We’re often brought in when:
A new research project has been funded and you need a quick turnaround
Budget constraints make hiring a team member impractical
You need help managing an upcoming event or workshop
Learn more about how we support research teams
Want to talk through a project?
We’d love to hear about your upcoming plans and explore how we might support.
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