Research Administrators and Faculty Researchers: A Study on Relationships and Compliance Outcomes
As we consider relationship building in research administration, we must also consider the complex nature of the environment in which most of us work. The complexity of the structure dates back to when higher education was operated purely through a collegial model of self-governance; however, modern day regulations, statutes, and financial constraints have turned colleges and universities into more bureaucratic and political communities (Manning, 2018). The combination of the academic and bureaucratic structures within the university may seem at times tensive; however, their co-existence has a purpose (Harris et al., 2022). This structure allows for faculty to focus on their academic duties and research (Manning, 2018). At the same time, centralized administrative offices, such as Research Administration, navigate the policies, regulations, and laws governing faculty research. These sometimes conflicting, but necessary foci present a lingering question of how these separate, but interwoven groups must overcome institutionalized role differences and coordinate efforts for the success of the research enterprise within higher education institutions.
Such complexities were evident during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when a high-profile case involving a faculty researcher from a top research university in the United States illustrated the real-world impact of research administration and faculty relations. The researcher was sentenced to jail time in Spring of 2020 for falsifying documents submitted to the National Science Foundation regarding one of her research grants and lying to federal investigators (Rankin, 2020). The case was receiving national attention, as she had also been removed from her university position and was unable to access her research materials, which were of particular importance as many public health officials claimed her expertise and statistical programs were needed in the fight against COVID-19 (Mervis, 2020).
News coverage of the story revealed concerns from other faculty at that institution regarding the lack of administrative support for the researcher, noting assistance from research administrators can vary (Mervis, 2020). This context, however, did not stop prosecutors from pursuing the case and “her case is a sobering reminder to the community that, although institutions are responsible for ensuring that every grant they receive is properly managed, individual scientists may face serious consequences if they don’t follow the rules” (Mervis, 2020, para. 6).
At the time of this news story, I was a PhD student and a member of the Research Integrity team at a public R1 university. This scenario caught my attention as I was acutely aware of the what Schaller-Demers (2015) recognized as the complex balance of duties of the research administrator, as they navigate being both a facilitator of the research and a regulator of it. It also started guiding my focus for my upcoming dissertation research, noting the limited empirical studies on the relationship between research administrators and faculty, and connecting the topic with my compliance-focused career.
Now, as a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville, I am looking for central office research administrators to participate in my dissertation research study. In this study, I am examining perceptions of research administrators’ on how their professional relationships and interactions with research faculty impact sponsored project compliance outcomes in institutions of higher education or academic medical centers in the United States.
As research administrators, your role in ensuring compliance is both complex and critical. Your insight into how relationships with faculty impact these outcomes is essential to advancing our understanding. For those interested in contributing to this important research, please refer to my recruitment flyer here: https://louisville.box.com/s/g2ind2vlkklccp6po2qwsva13eq0b57q
Authored by Adrienne M. Lindsay, MBA, MS, PhD Candidate,
University of Louisville
#Catalyst
#October2024
#Featured