Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is my information secure?

Yes.  All information in RIMS is retained within the University and is protected by the IT Infrastructure.  Information that is transmitted by the system is encrypted using SSL.

 

Who can see my information?

 

You and other university investigators named in the list of research personnel on your proposal or protocol will have the same view access to the record.

 

Staff in Research Services who are involved in the administration of your grant or ethics applications, awards, etc, have full access to the respective proposals and protocols.  Other staff have edit or read only access as called for depending on their role in the administrative process, eg finance staff have access to proposals where funding is awarded.

 

You may also lodge a request at rims@newcastle.edu.au for an individual to have delegated access to your records.  This may be useful for researchers who employ project managers or research assistants who are not identified in the research personnel on a project.  It is the researcher's responsibility to manage the delegation and to advise the RIMS administrator when the delegation should be cancelled.

 

University personnel who are not listed as an investigator on any proposal or protocol, do not have senior administrative access, and do not have delegated rights, will not be able to see any records.

Can I access RIMS away from the University?

Yes, wherever you have access to an internet connection you can access RIMS.  However, because personal information about you is held in the RIMS system, you should ensure that the computer you use has adequate antivirus and malware software installed.

What web browsers can I use?

The preferred browser is Firefox.  However, you can also use Internet Explorer or Safari.  The minimum recommended versions are Firefox 3.0, Internet Explorer 7, and Safari 3.2.3. 

I use a Macintosh – can I access RIMS?

Yes, you can use either a Mac or a Windows PC.

Can I make changes to the information in my proposals and protocols?

No, you have read access only.  If you believe that any of the information is incorrect please contact the Support person for the relevant module.

Can I make submissions to grants and ethics online?

Online submissions for grants is not available at this stage.

However, from 24 September 2012 all applications for animal and human research ethics approval are submitted online.  Please refer to the Animal Ethics and Human Ethics web pages for more information.

Can I make an online submission on behalf of my CI or project supervisor?

The CI/Project Supervisor must submit the completed form, however another member of the research team can logon and contribute to the completion of the eForm (provided they are named in the personnel section on the protocol).

This page will be updated with questions and issues raised by users as they experience the system. If you have a suggestion for a FAQ, please email it to Susan O’Connor