My Journey in the Research Administration “Game of Life” | Part 2
At a crossroads in my career, I rolled the dice and entered into a new game of life – the research administration version! Last month I shared how I started playing the game of research administration. Jump back in the car with me as I start to ease the car back on the highway of research administration and take the exit for my next career move – a new university!
After many years at my first university, where my car hit the initial and many subsequent laps around the research administration profession, I navigated the car to a rest stop and reviewed the research admin landscape. I rolled the dice and took the exit to new stomping grounds – another institution. The terrain was slightly different (private vs. state sponsored, and de-centralized vs. centralized) and within six months of arriving, the terrain altered completely - COVID happened. This caused a slight shift in the course of all of our journeys. We drove home, wherever that was, and we worked there for years! We had to navigate the mountains and valleys of working remotely in all aspects of our jobs (and lives as well). And through it all, the overall research administration profession didn’t change. Regardless of the roles and responsibilities, we continued to do our jobs, proving it can be done from any corner of the atlas!
At the new institution, I continued in my profession of life-cycle management at both the department and service center levels. I put the new institutional policies, guidance, tips and tricks road atlases in my glove box, expanded my resources, and stayed the course of my grand adventures.
After a few years, I set the GPS coordinates for a new role at the university. I moved to Audit Town and became an auditor for sponsored research funds. This town was fascinating to work in. I took all of my years of life-cycle research admin skills, knowledge and expertise, and applied that to auditing sponsored funds. The audits were conducted from a 10,000-mile view – sponsor terms & conditions, institutional policies and procedures, to a “in the weeds” in-depth analysis of transactions – payroll, effort, purchases, cost transfers, etc. I wasn’t just looking for audit findings and issues or potential issues, I also looked for best practices in departments/centers/institutes for internal controls. This journey opened my eyes to looking at managing a portfolio from many different lenses. After some time at this destination, I yearned to take my new lenses and drive back to the “hands-on” highway and manage a portfolio. So back to the departments I went, and applied the stepped-up analysis in cradle to grave sponsored awards management.
Along this incredible adventure of my career, the dice roll had me take mini-detours into the world of local and national organizations. These pit stops provided conferences, training, certifications, and endless resources. For me, this was vitally important to my professional development, enhancing my expertise, and fulfilling so many goals – including speaking and publishing. I no longer roll the dice for these pit stops, I plan them, keeping their coordinates permanently stored in the GPS, driving to whenever and wherever to attend. I continuously fuel up with new knowledge and resources, kicking the tires with new skills, training, and accomplishments.
That brings us up to date on my journey so far. My most recent trek has me anchored in the central office of another institution for the last few months. I can’t wait to see where these roads are going to take me! Thanks for riding along for the story.
Authored by Betty Morgan, CRA, Pre-Award Analyst
The George Washington University
SRAI Catalyst Committee