Rouages: “Being where research projects are developed”
Émilie Domanico is the European and International Projects Manager. As head of the Engineering and Project Support Department, she works with Professors them develop their projects and assists the university administration with key initiatives for the University of Montreal. She carries out this strategic role within the Innovation and Partnerships Department and discusses it in the video series “Rouages,” produced by the University of Montpellier.
Partnership and innovation are key pillars of the University’s overall strategy to strengthen its ties with the socio-economic sector on the one hand and its institutional partners on the other. This is the mission that Émilie Domanico is dedicated to as the European and International Project Manager and Head of the Project Engineering and Support Department (SIAP) located on the Triolet campus. “There are seven of us project managers in this department. Yes, all women! We report to the Directorate of Innovation and Partnerships (DIPA), which employs 25 staff members, divided between my department and the Contracts and Commercialization Department.”
About project research…
It’s no secret anymore: the job ofProfessor EC) isn’t always carried out in exotic locations or behind a lab bench. Project management—whether for research or education—now accounts for a significant portion of their work, and a helping hand is always welcome. Especially when it comes to handling legal, administrative, and financial matters.
“There’s the research project itself, but surrounding it are all the cross-cutting issues: the link to regional, national, and/or European policies and strategies; gender; open science; ethics; communication and dissemination of results; intellectual property… Research coordinators don’t necessarily have the expertise to handle all of these. We also ensure that the project meets the funder’s eligibility criteria and complies with national and European regulations, not to mention the institution’s guidelines,” explains Émilie Domanico, who herself holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations, earned in Finland.
Monitoring trends is also part of the project manager’s responsibilities. Local authorities may approach SIAP with a specific funding need but without having identified any calls for proposals. “In such cases, we first help them find funding that matches their needs and then assist them in putting together the application.” We operate at the regional level by interacting with local governments, as well as with national, European, and international donors—in other words, all types of funders, ” explains the department head.
… To the research project
Once a project proposal has been submitted and if it is approved, SIAP continues to support the ECs throughout the contract negotiation and project implementation phases: “We act as a liaison between the various departments and divisions of the University that will be involved: the HR Department if there is hiring, the Finance Department for budget allocation and justification, the General and Institutional Affairs Department if there are contracts, and so on.” And the SIAP can also step in during the project’s lifetime if amendments or modifications are needed .
It’s not just the ECs that can benefit from the SIAP’s expertise. Vice-presidents can also turn to Émilie Domanico for help in setting up major projects that shape the University. “There was the I-siteMuse, the Charm EU European University , the SFRI ‘UMGS’ project , the renewal of the Labex programs , and so on. “We support all the projects in which the University of Montpellier is involved.” In 2019, the SIAP helped UM secure over 32 million euros for 155 approved projects, “and many more proposals were submitted,” notes the project manager.
Teamwork and Networking
To provide the best possible service, the project managers divide up tasks based on their areas of expertise. Three of them focus on regional and national funding programs, while three others handle European and international projects, including one who is responsible for implementing the ERC action plan, which is being rolled out as part of the I-site Muse initiative. However, “it’s important that they know how to do everything, ” insists Émilie Domanico. “I make sure information flows smoothly and that they all have access to training that enables them to handle any project.”
Professional networks such as Cap ANR or the European liaisons of the Conference of University Presidents also enable SIAP staff to maintain constant contact with teams working at other institutions in France or Europe. Émilie Domanico co-chairs the Europe Committee alongside the CNRS and Paul-Valéry-Montpellier 3 University. “You need expertise and technical know-how to understand the rules imposed on us. Training, the exchange of best practices, and collaboration with other departments within the UM or in other networks are essential to continue driving innovation. You can’t do this job in isolation; you have to work as a team.”
“The ability to work as part of a team is essential for this job,” says Émilie Domanico, adding that “active listening, attention to detail, and responsiveness are also key .” “Our schedules are tight; deadlines are absolute—once they’re missed, the project falls apart. We’re the first line of defense; if we make a mistake, it will ripple out to every level.” It’s a demanding job, then, but one that in no way dampens the project manager’s motivation—for her, the lack of routine and the stimulating exchanges with the ECs are powerful drivers. “I wanted to be connected to the field. To be where research projects are developed, where they are implemented. And at a university like ours, there are always great projects to build,” she concludes.