Advancing Your Research Administration Career: A Professional Growth Journey
Embarking on a career in research administration is a journey of continuous learning, relationship-building, and leadership. Like the lifecycle of a research project, your career unfolds in distinct phases—each offering opportunities to build new skills, establish meaningful connections, and grow into leadership roles. Let’s explore how you can advance your career at each stage of your professional growth journey by engaging in sessions at the 2024 SRAI Annual Meeting in Chicago, Oct. 26-30.
Building a Solid Foundation
Advancing your career starts with mastering the essential skills of research administration. You’ll need to be proficient in grant writing, compliance, and understanding institutional policies. However, helping researchers succeed in securing grants and building their research careers is just as important. A great session to kick off this learning is “Building Investigator Capacity through Research Development.” This session will give you practical strategies to guide investigators at different stages of their careers, helping them grow from individual projects to large-scale collaborations. By mastering these skills, you’ll become a crucial part of the research ecosystem, setting a strong foundation for your career.
Developing Key Relationships
As you gain experience, your success will increasingly depend on how well you work with Principal Investigators (PIs) and faculty. The ability to communicate effectively is critical in building these relationships. The session “Adaptive Communication: Growing Your Style for Enhanced and Flexible Connection with Faculty” will help you refine your communication approach to meet the unique needs of the faculty members you support. For a deeper dive, “Relationship Building between Principal Investigators and Research Administrators” explores the dynamics of these partnerships and offers strategies to build trust and ensure smooth collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. Strong relationships not only make your work easier but also elevate your role as a trusted partner in the research process.
Facing Challenges and Finding Mentorship
No career path is without its bumps, and at some point, you might feel unsure about your abilities—sometimes known as imposter syndrome. This feeling is surprisingly common not just among research administrators, but also among professors and others in academia, yet it shouldn't hold you back. The session “What Is Going On? Tackling Imposter Syndrome” will help you recognize and address these doubts, showing that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Another important step at this stage is finding mentorship, which can make a world of difference. “Navigating the Mentorship Journey through Calm and Rough Waters” offers valuable advice on how to seek out mentors and make the most of those relationships. Mentors provide guidance, support, and can help you navigate both the calm and challenging moments of your career.
Stepping into Leadership
As you become more experienced, the next step is to embrace leadership roles. Leadership in research administration goes beyond managing tasks—it’s about inspiring and empowering others while making strategic decisions that shape the future of your organization. The session “Transformative Leadership – Research Administrators Making a Positive Difference” is perfect for this stage. It will show you how to shift from a transactional leadership style—focused on day-to-day tasks—to a transformative approach that inspires your team and drives meaningful change within your organization.
Lifelong Learning and Growth
The world of research administration is always changing, and continuous learning is key to staying on top. As you evolve in your career, your learning should focus on refining your leadership, enhancing team performance, and adapting to new challenges. Consider attending “Building Successful Teams,” where you’ll gain insights into fostering collaboration, trust, and accountability within your team. By continually improving yourself and your leadership skills, you’ll ensure you stay ahead in the field and remain a valuable asset to your institution. By taking advantage of these sessions at the 2024 SRAI Annual Meeting in Chicago, you’ll be well-equipped to grow your career at every stage, from mastering the basics to becoming an inspiring leader who makes a lasting impact.
Authored by Evelina Brännvall, Head of European Office
Luleå University of Technology, Luleå University of Technology
SRAI Annual Meeting Co-Chair
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