Here's how you can effectively manage multiple projects with different deadlines in R&D.

Preparing and following new personal deadlines based on work difficulty, which will be relatively much earlier than real deadlines to achieve specific project milestones could be very helpful for handling unforeseen issues.

Example: In a pharmaceutical R&D department, you have multiple projects running simultaneously, such as developing a new antibiotic, optimizing a vaccine, and conducting post-market surveillance on a recently launched drug. Using a prioritization flow chart, you categorize the new antibiotic as high-impact and urgent due to a looming deadline for regulatory submission. The vaccine optimization is important but has a longer timeline, so it gets secondary priority. Post-market surveillance, while crucial, is ongoing and thus scheduled as a routine task. This prioritization ensures that the most pressing tasks receive the focus and resources they need.

According to my point of view, the following tactics can be used to manage several R&D projects with varied deadlines: project prioritization, planning, and project management tools. In my experience, by analyzing the project's urgency, establishing objectives, developing a road map, and communicating effectively. One thing I have learned is that regular project monitoring, efficient time management, and continual improvement are critical for good outcomes.

Taking help of freelancers such as graphic designer, social media content creator could also be helpful to accelerate the project work. This will help the researchers to invest more time in project experiments and innovation.

Example: You are managing several R&D projects, each requiring specialized skills. The new antibiotic project demands microbiologists, chemists, and regulatory experts. After testing the current workload, you realize that the microbiologists are overextended. To ensure timely progress, you decide to hire additional microbiologists temporarily and outsource some of the chemical analysis to a reputable external lab. Regularly reviewing resource allocation helps you adjust as needed, preventing bottlenecks and maintaining a balanced workload across the team.

Example: To keep track of multiple pharmaceutical projects, you implement project management software like Microsoft Project or Asana. Each project's milestones, deliverables, and potential roadblocks are logged into the system. For the vaccine optimization project, you set specific milestones such as "Phase I trial completion" and "regulatory documentation submission." Regular team meetings review progress against these milestones. When a delay is seen in the regulatory documentation due to unexpected data requests, you quickly reallocate resources and adjust timelines to mitigate the impact.

Honest and sincere conversations among the project team members must be encouraged and rewarded. This will help in enhancing the research quality, and an effective communication and outreach to all stakeholders.

Example: Effective communication is vital in managing the antibiotic, vaccine, and post-market surveillance projects. You establish regular weekly check-ins where team members update each other on their progress, challenges, and any interdependencies between projects. For instance, during a check-in, the regulatory team working on the antibiotic project might highlight a new guideline that could also affect the vaccine optimization efforts. Open dialogue ensures that everyone is aware of their responsibilities, project timelines, and how their work impacts other projects. This transparency helps in maintaining alignment and boosts team morale, having a culture of shared ownership and accountability.