My Journey in the Research Administration “Game of Life” | Part 1
At a crossroads in my career, I rolled the dice and entered into a new game of life – the research administration version! Join me as I recount my journey, thus far!
As another trip around the sun occurred in my research administration career, more than 20 trips now, I sat down to reflect on my career. Looking at my resume, my eyes now covered in glasses, widened as I reviewed the variety of titles, departments, and universities that I have worked with. Whenever I think about the twists and turns of my career in Research Administration (RA), I can’t help but compare it to playing the Game of Life. Oh, what a journey in my game of life I thought! So, let me pull the car over, pick you up, and you can take a ride as I share where the road has taken me so far!
Way back in the early 2000’s, I was at a crossroads in my career. So I rolled the dice in my game of life and landed an accounting job at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Great news! It was a full-time position as an Accounting Technician (post award manager), a job right up my alley! 1+2=3, all day long – I’ve got this! As I was being onboarded into the position, I was “introduced” to my RA portfolio. The car came to a screeching halt: “what did you just say, research huh?” I tightened my seat belt, put my training gear, guides, and tutorials into the trunk, and started driving on this new highway.
As I learned more about RA, I became more intrigued by it. I learned that research scientists and professors at universities received funding for specific goals and gains. I already knew what clinical trials were and their aim to make improvements, cures, and advances in human health. What I didn’t understand is how this happens. Who manages the “pot of money?” Who oversees/governs how the money is spent, how the scientists actually conduct the research, and how am I involved? The journey was becoming a great adventure – and I was starting to enjoy the ride!
The early days turned into a few years. I became more and more seasoned in managing a post-award portfolio. I would pick up a proposal specialist here or there and we would consult on what was needed for the next leg of the journey. Occasionally, as needed, I would pick up someone from a central office (purchasing, accounting, sponsored projects) and take them a few blocks or miles down the road. All the time, learning as much as I could about the profession.
Sometimes, I would need to stop for car maintenance or directions, as something new or an advancement in the career field, would show up on highway signs and billboards. As you may have realized, there is a vast map of direction that the RA field can take:
As I carefully studied the map, delving into each area, my eyes grew wide with delight, intrigue, and amazement as to just how many destinations this career had to offer. And so, I would toss the dice, fill up the car with fuel, input the coordinates into the GPS, and set a new course.
After staying in post-award for several years (the journey did take me through a few different departments, centers at that initial university), I took a right turn on the highway for “life -cycle” administration township. Some of you would recognize the scenario at this resort as the cradle-to-grave version. This was actually multiple destinations over the years, some towns offering proposal to award management, non-financial. Others added the proposal to award management, including closeout views.
The life-cycle journey also included stopovers at the departmental and central office locations. Now, that was a real adventure, chartering between the two dynamic scenic views, switching hats and layers of review, compliance, submission status (AOR), negotiation and acceptance of awards, the roadside attractions were layered with roller coasters, last minute change of plans, negotiations, awards, and occasionally a wrong turn or flat tire.
Look out next month to learn about pit stops taken in other universities and a detour into sponsored projects auditing!
Authored by Betty Morgan, CRA, Pre-Award Analyst
The George Washington University