Blogs

Note from the Editor | Stay Healthy, Happy and Uniquely Yourself #InThisTogetherRA

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Stay Healthy, Happy and Uniquely Yourself #InThisTogetherRA Dear Readers, This month’s issue of the Catalyst features a very special article by Cary E. Thomas that pays tribute to the beginnings of research administration. Our current research funding avenues, the scientific community, progress, and infrastructure would not have been possible were it not for Vannevar Bush and his publication “ Science: The Endless Frontier .” For those of you who aspire to take the CRA exam, this article has some very pertinent information that can serve as a great resource for your studying.  During present times, we would not be able to work ...
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Science’s 75 Year Pursuit of the Endless Frontier

By SRAI News
Science’s 75 Year Pursuit of the Endless Frontier More than 95% of SRAI’s readers grew up in a world that has only known robust, continuous, vibrant funding mechanisms provided by the Federal Government to our scientists and institutions.  Seventy-five years ago, research funding was limited, the conduct of research was free-form, and the scientific community and infrastructure of today did not exist. This July 2020 edition of SRAI Catalyst arrives 75 years after the publication of a report that changed academic research in America forever.  We are speaking, of course, about Vannevar Bush’s masterpiece, “Science: The Endless Frontier”, published on July ...
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Perspectives from a Change Manager

By SRAI News
Perspectives from a Change Manager Months ago when we thought the worst thing we could be dealt was yet another government shutdown, I agreed to write an article for the Catalyst. I don’t recall  what was going on in my work life on that particular day, but I flippantly chose the topic of “drama in the workplace.”  I had no way of knowing how welcome, first, being in a normal workplace would be now; and second, how anything that might have driven that thought would pale in comparison to the drama we have all seen play out in our global lives these past few months. I present on a lot of topics with change management being one of those and consider myself ...
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Kudos Korner | Tonya Edvalson

By SRAI News
Kudos Korner | Tonya Edvalson SRA International is a professional networking community of learners. One way to gain knowledge and expertise is to share our stories of successful achievements with our peers and colleagues. Often research managers/administrators are cast in the role of promoting, supporting and applauding others. While this may be gratifying in many respects, it is also healthy to have pride in one’s own accomplishments. Kudos Korner offers SRA International members a wonderful and respectful venue for sharing and “bragging.” Have Something to Share in Kudos Korner? Submit your article here . Transitions/New Position: Tonya Edvalson, ...
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Grab a Coffee Talk

By SRAI News
Grab a Coffee Talk Mocha latte, extra foam, two pumps of syrup, espresso shot, fat-free whipped cream, coffee, please.   Are you missing your favorite afternoon coffee shop?  Need a break to re-energize yourself? We can help to fill your cup to the brim! Join us on your afternoon break for a casual conversation with your colleagues through SRAI Coffee Talks  to discuss and explore different topics from research administration. Coffee Talks are a series of one-hour virtual discussions and are a great place to earn CEUs.  We’re overflowing with Coffee Talk topics through the end of the year: August : Espresso Chat on Research Contracts; September: ...
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2020 SRAI Summer Board Meeting

By SRAI News
2020 SRAI Summer Board Meeting Registration to attend the SRAI Summer Board Meeting virtual meeting via conference call is now open. You must be a Full Member of SRA International to attend. Deadline to Register: July 13 Date and Time : Friday, July 17 | 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET & Saturday, July 18 | 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET (subject to change) Location : Virtual Call Agenda : Draft agenda to be sent to the participants directly (in-camera (closed) sessions length cannot be determined in advance, an update email for the pre-registered attendees will be sent to inform them for the end of the in-camera sessions) To register and for further information, ...
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Level Up Your Career with SRAI's NEW MODULE in Research Compliance Frameworks!

By SRAI News
Level Up Your Career with SRAI's NEW MODULE in Research Compliance Frameworks! Continue your education from the comfort of your home with SRAI's LevelUP Micro-Credentialing Program . With each module, you will have an opportunity to complete on average 4 hours of CEU credit, download a digital badge to showcase your knowledge level, and LevelUP your career ALL within our flexible learning program. Continue your education from the comfort of your home with SRAI's LevelUP Micro-Credentialing Program. With the NEW Research Compliance Frameworks module, you will have an opportunity to complete 3.5 hours of CEU credit, download a digital badge to showcase ...
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WFH or not WFH | Monthly Poll

By SRAI News
WFH or not WFH | Monthly Poll Last month we asked you what you missed most about your office and here’s a look at the results: The write-in responses highlighted the value of interacting with our co-workers; whiteboards; scanners; the privacy provided by cubicle walls and office doors; as well as the coffee stands and office decorations that provide us with the motivation and reassurance we seek to succeed in our roles.  This month we want to know how the past few months have impacted your thoughts about working from home. This quarantine has given many of us an unprecedented look at what it would be like to work from home a majority of the ...
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A Message from the SRAI Board of Directors Regarding Recent Events

By SRAI News
A Message from the SRAI Board of Directors Regarding Recent Events We have seen the pain and grief that exists in communities across our country and are deeply disturbed and troubled by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other African Americans and people of color. The current actions of thousands around the world who have recognized pervasive institutionalized racism and are determined to effectuate substantial meaningful change make us hopeful. We realize structural, lasting change will not be accomplished through short-lived, public statements. All of us must share a commitment to change, matched by an even ...
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View from the Top | A Good Read

By SRAI News
View from the Top | A Good Read Like many of you I have been working from home. With all this “extra time” on my hands, I have been able to do a little more reading. I often try to read something on the best seller list. It dawned on me that if SRAI was a book, it would be an award winner. Perhaps the book review would look like this: The Society of Research Administrators International came onto the scene, slowly and resolutely in the ‘60’s. It was a lovely spring evening when a group of men created an organization to help their fellow colleagues weave through the complexity and regulations of applying for grants. They had no idea that they were entering ...
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Keeping Work at Work Even Though it’s in the Livingroom

By SRAI News
Keeping Work at Work even Though it’s in the Livingroom Working from home has brought us challenges and opportunities. Some may even liken it to the title of the Catalyst April blog, “ Out of the Office: Teleworking in Research Administration is Here to Stay .” Given that, how do we keep up this balancing act while protecting our mental health and avoiding burnout? Here are a few tricks that have helped me maintain balance while my laptop is staring at me in my living room. Making physical space is critical to keep work at work. Many of us are finding unique ways of working at home, but don’t adopt unique solutions like keeping your laptop on a nightstand ...
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The Secret Life of a Research Administrator | Paper Pusher by Day…Glass Artist by Night

By SRAI News
The Secret Life of a Research Administrator | Paper Pusher by Day…Glass Artist by Night Greetings to all my colleagues and I hope you are all surviving in this age of COVID and working remotely. Personally, I am LOVIN’ working from home—it allows me to more freely alternate between my “RA Self” and my “Artist Self” and to devote the necessary and desired attention to both parts of what makes me “me!” I began my career in Research Administration in 1993 as a “one-woman show” at a small PUI and worked at a major research institution and a university-affiliated children’s hospital before arriving at my present and final career position as Director of Research ...
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Implications to IRB Operations Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

By SRAI News
Implications to IRB Operations Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic What is the impacts of human subject protections and IRB operations during a time of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic? This has been a question at the top of the minds of anyone conducting clinical and translational research over the past three months. What can and should be done? Nearly a month ago, we joined a Society for Research Administrators International (SRAI) “virtual happy hour” to discuss with colleagues the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Institutional Review Board (IRB) operations. We not only wanted to help and offer advice, but also wanted to learn and hear from others ...
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SRAI Intensive Training Programs Re-invented

By SRAI News
SRAI Intensive Training Programs Re-invented Not many people embrace change. It can be scary and overwhelming. One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that nothing stays the same and that to survive we need to be flexible, open-minded, and embrace new ideas. As a result, SRAI has had to make some hard decisions and quick changes to the way they have presented content in the past. Many of SRAI’s long-standing in-person training programs and meetings have fallen victim to the global pandemic and world-wide shut down. Yet our members are still in need of networking support and high-quality professional development. In April, instead of the Northeast/Midwest ...
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Congrats to Floris Van der Leest: New International Section President

By SRAI News
Congrats to Floris Van der Leest: New International Section President My warmest congratulations to Floris Van der Leest who was elected as International Section President, and will formally take over in October, hopefully at the Annual Meeting in Boston, which we are still planning for. You don't need me to tell you that the world is a different place since we last met in San Francisco last year and we don't know how it will look come October 2020, but SRAI HQ, my Annual Meeting Co-Chairs, along with very much hard work from the Track Co-chairs have put together a fantastic program for the annual conference . Rest assured, it will take place, even ...
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Explore the Educational Programming for SRAI’s 2020 Annual Meeting!

By SRAI News
Explore the Educational Programming for SRAI’s 2020 Annual Meeting! We at SRAI are very excited for this year's 2020 Annual Meeting program ! For over 50 years, the SRAI Annual Meeting has offered the opportunity to research administrators from the US, and around the world, to participate in one of the most influential events for the  research administration and management community . While we are still moving ahead with plans for our annual meeting to be held in person in  Boston, October 17-21 , we know that times are still uncertain and are prepared to make contingency plans to offer our program virtually or as a hybrid combination of an online ...
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"The Very Best Section Meeting Ever" | 2020 NE/MW Section Meeting in Philly

By SRAI News
"The Very Best Section Meeting Ever" | 2020 NE/MW Section Meeting in Philly There were a lot of people on a lot of committees (Planning, Hospitality, Marketing, Program, Boots on the Ground, Newcomers’ Reception, Round Tables, Silent Auction and more) that put in a lot of work getting ready for what would have been the very best Section meeting ever in Philadelphia in April. Unfortunately, COVID-19 derailed many of those plans and forced the cancellation of the conference. Those volunteers are truly the backbone of SRAI. Fortunately, a lot of the planning and effort that was put into the program helped SRAI to successfully conduct our first ever virtual ...
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Kudos Korner | David Mineo

By SRAI News
Kudos Korner | David Mineo SRA International members rock! As research management and administration professionals, they never stop improving, learning, achieving, or earning new heights of success. We love sharing good news and offering a well-deserved slap on the back for recent personal and/or professional achievement. In keeping with that sentiment, please join with us as we congratulate David Mineo on his latest certification success! SRA International is a professional networking community of learners. One way to gain knowledge and expertise is to share our stories of successful achievements with our peers and colleagues. Often research managers/administrators ...
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iSRA Summer Webinar Series

By SRAI News
iSRA Summer Webinar Series SRAI is excited to announce the iSRA Summer Webinar Series event to take place in July! The iSRA Summer Webinar Series will offer webinars almost daily for the month of July, and attendees will be able to purchase an all you can learn pass for the full month. This format gives participants the opportunity to choose their own education and pace. With a purchase of the full pass, you will be able to reserve your spot in hot topic webinars. All of the webinars are presented by speakers from the cancelled Section Meeting in Savannah. This program has been thoughtfully selected by the leadership and program committees of the ...
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2020 Call for Nominations | SRA International Board of Directors

By SRAI News
2020 Call for Nominations | SRA International Board of Directors Deadline to submit nominations is Friday, June 19, 2020 Help SRA International develop excellence in research administration, management and development of our profession by submitting a nomination to serve on the Board of Directors! Nominations are now open for the following positions: Secretary (2-year commitment) At-Large Board Member (2 Positions – 3-year commitment each) Click here for position descriptions and nomination information . As a member of the Board of Directors, you will volunteer with a diverse group of leaders who will make decisions on SRA International’s ...
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