Note from the Editor | The Season of Light
Before I jump into this month’s note, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as your new co-editor for the Catalyst, working alongside the current co-editor Karen Bone. I’ve been a Catalyst committee member and author since June of 2020 and the Catalyst is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. As such, I’m honored to serve as your new co-editor, and I look forward to the journey ahead. Thanks for reading along with us!
As we approach the darkest day of the year, you might think of this as the season of darkness. Yet around the world, different cultures and religions find ways to celebrate the light this time of year. We brighten the darkness with strings of lights wrapped around trees and tacked to our houses. We light candles for the Advent, in the Menorah, in luminarias, and diyas. By whatever light you are reading this, we’re grateful that you’re here.
While you’re basking in the holiday glow, pause to enjoy Holiday Traditions that SRAI Leadership shared this month. And while we’re thinking about the benefits of soaking up that little bit of daylight we’re getting this time of year, read the article about Nature at Your Desk. We’re also excited for you to read Growing Your Team, Part 3 in the Team Development Spotlight Series. The month also features great tips about Business Process Improvements, a deep dive into the Differences in the US and Canadian Research Administration, and a very helpful article on something I think so many of us struggle with: Research Administrator on Leave: How to Manage Portfolio Coverage.
We’d love to add new voices to the Catalyst. If you’d like to write an article for the Catalyst, submit it here. Or, if you’d like help writing or thinking up an article, take advantage of our Contributor Assistance Program in which we pair you up with a committee member for anything from ideation to editing. You can request contributor assistance by contacting catalyst@srainternational.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Finally, be sure to take a look at SRAI’s Podcast: Shop Talk. The most recent episode, Meet a Principal Investigator talks about the collaboration between research administrators and principal investigators. If you missed an episode from this season, they’re available to listen to any time!
Authored by Heather Brown, Grants and Contracts Administrator
Duke Human Vaccine Institute
SRAI Catalyst Co-editor
#December2023