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The letter from David Booth (April ) regarding job titles made me chuckle, having once been a fuel-injection engineer (aka petrol-pump attendant).

Does he not realise that research administrators are an integral part of the research process in a university? Many funders now consider the ability of an applicant's institution to manage the non-scientific aspects of research grants when deciding who gets what.

I have worked in research administration in a number of universities and have always tried to act as a team player, and I know this to be true of many colleagues in research support offices.

What some academic colleagues perceive as administrative bureaucracy is our attempt at managing the risks associated with research for the institution, individual and funder.

I suggest he visits his research support office to apologise.

Colin Cooper
First-rate university administrator
Liverpool University