Research Administration: Early Career and Key Skills to Development
There are key skills found in many research administrators, critical to success in the field. These skills centre around a passion for self-development, a desire for process improvement, and teamwork.
Passion and Self-Development
Passion is important in whatever role we are in. You may not be completely satisfied with the responsibilities of the role, but you can maximize the inherent potential in the role. This could only happen through passion. Passion is fuelled by the impact that you intend to have in the organization. Always ask what will I be remembered for in the role? Another way to fuel your passion is through professional development and career mentorship. Joining a professional society helps to identify various professional development opportunities including education. Passion will enable you to add value to whatever you are doing. My passion for understanding the impact of unsuccessful research funding enabled me to carry out a scoping review and identify the factors influencing and impacts of unsuccessful research outcomes on Australian researchers. The outcome of the scoping review has been presented both nationally and internationally. Continuous self-development fuelled by a growth mindset is important to excel. Self-development will help you prepare ahead of any opportunity. It also helps to acquire skills ahead of opportunities. Utilizing a reflective practice helps to identify areas for self-improvement.
Process Improvement
As the research enterprise keeps evolving likewise the need to improve the processes involved in providing excellent research support services to enable research impact and performance in our organizations. Process improvement helps research administrators provide seamless and streamlined services. In each of my roles, I try to identify areas of process improvement that will enhance my performance and advance the goals of my organization. While some processes may not need immediate improvement, these processes may need confirmation of currency if they are still fit for purpose. For example, in my former role as a research administration officer (research funding officer), I observed there was no real-time database of research funding opportunities, although we do have the Spreadsheet saved in a folder. I discussed with my line manager the need to have a real-time database that will enable researchers to be aware of funding opportunities ahead of time. This was accepted and a real-time database that can be used for forecasting funding opportunities was developed.
Teamwork
Another key attribute that has helped me as a research administration professional is to be a good team member. The research funding process could be very daunting especially for nationally competitive grants. A strategic teamwork is therefore required to ensure all the applications are successfully submitted. My three roles in the research administration profession have enabled me to know and appreciate the importance of teamwork. For example, during the funding application period in my institution, the pre-award team works collaboratively internally and externally to ensure all applications receive appropriate internal approval before submission. One of the strategies we employed was to have a leader among the pre-award team to oversee the application process for different schemes. Additionally, we have regular briefing meetings to carry everyone along. Due to this level of teamwork, we have not had any applications rejected for non-compliance.
Conclusion
Irrespective of how you get into the research administration profession either intentionally or unintentionally, you can still make any role worthwhile and rewarding as a career through passion and self-development, process improvement, charting your career pathway, mentorship, teamwork, open-mindedness, and genuine involvement, and bracing any challenge.
Authored by Dr. Olumide Odeyemi, Research Administration Officer
University of Tasmania
SRAI Catalyst Committee