Readership Survey
BY REBECCA KENDALL
U of G is ranked among the most research-intensive universities in Canada, and Dave Reinhart,director of research accounts and infrastructure programs in the Office of Research, is one of the people who has helped make that happen.
Reinhart spends his days working with researchers and sponsors to help garner millions of dollars in financial support for the University each year and to make sure the awards are being spent in compliance with the intentions set out by the sponsors funding them.
This year alone, he'll manage well over 1,000 project accounts, with funding sources including the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada Research Chairs, the Ontario Early Researcher Award, Tri-Council and a variety of industry partners.
“These awards allow us to push the boundaries of research and attract new researchers to U of G,” he says.
Reinhart steps into the picture to work with the researchers in the post-award phase to make sure their original proposal is still on course. He's responsible for signing off and giving final approval of each account, and credits his team of six staff for their expertise in financial administration, infrastructure programs and the protection of intellectual property.
“They really are my front line and do an amazing job of managing an exceptional amount of work.”
He's also responsible for the financial accountability of University research projects and for ensuring that research awards are in accordance with U of G and sponsor policies and procedures.
“I'm a gatekeeper and risk manager in a sense because I don't want to jeopardize our relationship between the sponsor and the institution,” he says. “We have to balance both sides.”
Reinhart studied business at Wilfrid Laurier University and was a tax consultant for Ernst and Young before becoming an accountant for a property management company. He joined U of G in 2000, initially hired by Alumni Affairs and Development as treasury manager. He moved to the Office of Research as manager of infrastructure programs in 2001 and into his current position three years later.
Ever-increasing accountability in terms of documenting research dollars is a reality, says Reinhart, adding that although researchers are required to do far more paperwork than ever before, he works to make that process easier for those who may be developing their first infrastructure proposal or those who have had lengthy research careers but haven't had much involvement in the administrative work surrounding their awards.
“It can be a challenge, and it can be frustrating because the paperwork needs to match every single dollar spent, but we have to work through it,” he says.
Educating researchers about the different kinds of awards available and which ones are eligible for matching or in-kind funds is another important element of his work.
Reinhart says the most satisfying part of his job is navigating the system with researchers and finding solutions so they can proceed with their projects.
“We want everyone who's eligible to apply for these awards, and we want to share our knowledge to make the process more manageable.”
