Education

This session will provide the latest updates from the National Science Foundation.

Content Level: Basic

Speaker(s): 
Jeremy Leffler, Outreach Specialist, National Science Foundation

In the fall of 2022, we conducted a study using the Delphi Method to help understand what competencies and characteristics of potential HRPP administrators are required and which of those can be taught versus which are inherent. Through this session, we will share our research methods that can assist programs in their recruitment and educational processes as well as share our findings from our study. 

Content Level: Intermediate

Leaning Objectives:

1. Understand the basic concepts of behavioral and social sciences research
2. Review a research project
3. Design a research project for their own organization

Speaker(s):
Alyssa McKinley, Compliance Administrator, Mississippi State University
Kacey Strickland, Director, Office of Research Compliance, Mississippi State University

This session will include the latest updates from the National Institutes of Health. 

Content Level: Basic

Speaker(s): 
TBA

Many research administrators have moved into new leadership or management roles at the department level and stepped into what sometimes appears to be a disaster by finding non-compliant practices, inefficient workflows and the lack of sound post-award and financial management practices. Gut instinct is to rush to the Director or high-level leadership, but without proper tactics and preparation, this could create unnecessary conflict, tension with team members and could potentially cause the director to have hesitation in building trust with the new incumbent. While the new role may be at mid-management level and can have several years of research administration experience, rushing to judgement without listening to the team and leadership to understand and acknowledge why the ways things are can prevent operations from changing and improving. This session will demonstrate, through discussion and role playing, the do’s-and-don’ts of communicating department level business operations issues and how to approach the team and leaders to form a consensus and fellowship for the desired changes. 

Content Level: Basic

Leaning Objectives:

1. How to convey to leadership and/or team members the need to kickstart process
2. How becoming an effective listener will better prepare you to effectively communicate the need for change and/or delivering bad news. 

Speaker(s):
Amanda Seymour, Senior Associate, Attain Partners

Closeouts, cost transfers, subcontract monitoring effort reporting, patents and intellectual – whose duties are these, the Central Office, Department, or both? The panel will discuss the different job duties that align with research administration and how both the Central Office and Department/College level can work together to accomplish a common goal. 

Content Level: Basic

Speaker(s):
Heather Wainwright, Assistant Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, University of South Alabama
John Hedberg, Senior Associate, Attain Partners
Georgetta Dennis, Senior Associate, Attain Partners

Discover tips on how to study and obtain certifications that will advance your career. 

Content Level: All Levels

Leaning Objectives:

1. Learn about the different types of certifications
2. Understand study tips for passing the certification examinations

Speaker(s):
Georgetta Dennis, Senior Associate, Attain Partners
Teresa Logiotatos, Director, Research Program Development and Grants Administration, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University

This session will provide an overview of EPSCoR-like programs across jurisdictions and discuss ways to leverage these programs to advance your jurisdiction’s research infrastructure. 

Content Level: All Levels

Speaker(s):
Katie Echols, PhD, Executive Director, Research Initiatives and Innovation, Office of Research and Economic Development, Mississippi State University