Research Manager Intensive Training
Meet the Trainers
RMIT courses are designed and delivered by experienced research management professionals who combine practical insight with extensive training experience. Our goal is simple: to create courses that are relevant, engaging, and immediately useful for research managers working in complex environments.
Ellen Schenk
Ellen has over 23 years of experience in research management and has worked in public and private settings as an expert, strategist and leader. Today, Ellen is an independent research manager who supports researchers and research managers with research funding, proposal development and professional growth through strategic advice, hands-on support and training.
Teaching and training researchers and research managers
Ellen has a long track record in teaching and training professionals at all career stages on research funding and related professional skills, including communication, problem-solving and leadership development. Her approach is interactive and practice-oriented, with room for participants’ own cases, challenges and ambitions. Ellen’s leadership experience adds a practical perspective on guiding teams, developing people and navigating organisational priorities. During her time in academia and biotech, she also contributed to scientific courses and student supervision.
Professional development programmes
Ellen co-established the BESTPRAC network for knowledge and best practice exchange for research managers from widening countries as a core group member, now an EARMA Thematic Group. She also co-developed and delivered the EARMA Early-Stage Research Administrators Masterclass (ESRAM), mentored participants in the EARMA Certificate in Research Management programme and co-founded the Research Manager Intensive Training (RMIT) programme.
Read more about Ellen here...
Research Lighthouse
Olaf Svenningsen
Olaf has more than 40 years of experience in teaching, training, and course development across academia and research management.
Academic teaching
Olaf began teaching geology at Lund University in 1984, delivering courses in structural geology, tectonics, mineralogy, and geological mapping. He also contributed to the design of Lund’s Earth Science degree programme and participated in early digital learning initiatives.
Training researchers and research managers
After moving into research management, Olaf developed and delivered training programmes on grant writing, research funding, and research management across Europe and the United States. His work has included programmes at the U.S. National Science Foundation, Uppsala University, and the University of Southern Denmark.
Professional development programmes
Olaf has designed and delivered workshops and courses for professional associations including DARMA and EARMA, and co-developed the Early-Stage Research Administrators Masterclass (ESRAM).
Since 2021, he has delivered international training through Research Lighthouse, including the Research Manager Intensive Training (RMIT) programme.
Read Olaf's full CV here...