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Research Administration: Building on Your Skill Set

Many of us in Research Administration found this profession by chance. This article discusses some avenues in which research administrators can build knowledge and break silos by becoming a part of the RA community.

Are you new to the field of Research Administration? How can one gather skills and knowledge to build expertise to succeed? This article discusses some of the ways that are worth exploring.

• Reading the Uniform Guidance as a reference guide: Referring to 2 CFR 200 to find acronyms and definitions commonly used in this profession to understand pre-award costs, internal controls, cost principles (Allowable, Allocable, and Reasonable), and more.
• Using Sponsor resources:
  • Signing up for a Sponsor’s newsletter is a great way to keep up with policy updates. Attending National Science Foundation (NSF) conferences is a valuable source of information on proposal application and award management for NSF awards. Reading sponsor policies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants Policy Statement (GPS), or NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) helps build knowledge base important for proposal preparation and award administration.
  • Attending National Science Foundation (NSF) conferences is a valuable source of information on proposal application and award management for NSF awards.
  • Reading sponsor policies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants Policy Statement (GPS), or NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) helps build knowledge base important for proposal preparation and award administration.
• Learning from your institutional training materials: Institutes often have workflows and processes specific to them, such as proposal submission and award management systems. Gaining institution-specific system knowledge through institutional training is essential. Look for these resources by talking to your team members and browsing the institutional website.
• Joining professional organizations: Consider exploring resources from professional organizations such as National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) recordings on YouTube, and Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Catalyst blogs that are free to non-members. Joining a professional organization can be valuable for building deep expertise through their professional development opportunities.
• Using Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) as a resource: This is an association of over 200 public and private U.S. research universities and institutes. Employees from COGR member institutions are eligible to request an account. It is a good resource to keep informed of changing federal policies.
• Consider joining the Research Administration Discussion List, as this discussion list has a wealth of information on day-to-day topics that affect our work. Administrators could also post questions or work challenges to this group of experts. This community provides quick and helpful answers. Sign-ups are available at https://lists.healthresearch.org/
• Taking the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam: Studying for a CRA exam can bring in new knowledge even for more experienced research administrators. This is a good way to build on expertise, not just in your specific role but also in the general field.
• Connecting with fellow Research administrators on professional social platforms such as LinkedIn and learning from your peers at other institutions.
• Attending Research Administrator (RAD) series: This is a series of free seminars for knowledge sharing hosted by New York University. This is a good resource for new as well as seasoned research administrators to learn about current relevant topics in research administration. 

There are likely other resources to develop a deep skill set in Research Administration. These activities beyond the regular workday responsibilities can help build a professional network and foster a strong sense of community.

References

Council on Governmental Relations. (n.d.). COGR's Purpose. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.cogr.edu/cogrs-purpose 
HealthResearch.org. (n.d.). HealthResearch Listservs. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://lists.healthresearch.org/
National Council of University Research Administrators. (n.d.). NCURA. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.ncura.edu/default.aspx 
National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Notices of NIH Policy Changes. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/notice-of-policy-changes 
National Science Foundation. (n.d.). NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 24-1). Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1
NYU Research Administration. (n.d.). NYU Research Administration. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://wp.nyu.edu/nyuresearchrad/ 
Society of Research Administrators International. (n.d.). SRA International. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.srainternational.org/home 
U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). e-CFR :: Title 2 - Grants and Agreements. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2

Authored by:

Shipra Mittal, MS, MBA
Senior Grants Manager
New York University

Disclaimer: Opinions and views presented in this article are of the author's and do not represent New York University.

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