Blogs

Volume LII, Number 2, From the Editor's Desk

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Author Jennifer E. Taylor Tennesee Tech University The Journal of Research Administration (JRA) is the premier scholarly publication for the field of research administration and management. We publish timely work that covers all facets of our discipline. The journal is an important education and career development platform. Our authors share best practices and innovative means of performing research administration and management work in our fast-paced, ever-changing environments while also enhancing their own careers through the process of publishing peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles. As we have moved toward the ...
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Overview of University Finances: Accounting and Budgeting Principles for Higher Education

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Overview of University Finances: Accounting and Budgeting Principles for Higher Education Dean O. Smith Professor Emeritus University of Hawaii During the past ten years, I have attempted to retire three times and written four books on university administration. Right after my first attempt at retirement, I wrote the first book, Managing the Research University (Oxford, 2011). I had served in research administration in one capacity or another for more than half of my academic career. Surely, I thought, I learned something during all of those years, something that might benefit younger colleagues in the field. So, I wrote the ...
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Managerial Framework for a large Multi-centre Clinical Trial within an EU-funded Collaborative Project – the “PREVIEW” Case Study

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Managerial Framework for a large Multi-centre Clinical Trial within an EU-funded Collaborative Project – the “PREVIEW” Case Study Laura Pastor-Sanz, PhD University of Copenhagen Prof. Michael Fogelholm, PhD University of Helsinki Prof. Edith Feskens, PhD Wageningen University Prof. Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga, PhD Maastricht University Prof. Wolfgang Schlicht, PhD University of Stuttgart Prof. Jennie Brand-Miller, PhD University of Sydney Prof. Anne Raben, PhD University of Copenhagen Abstract A multi-centre clinical trial involves the implementation of the same clinical protocol at several independent ...
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Strategies to Obtain Research Funding for Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, a Rural Medical College in Japan

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Strategies to Obtain Research Funding for Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, a Rural Medical College in Japan Amano-Ito Yuko Hamamatsu University School of Medicine  Abstract Japan’s operating budget for its national universities has been reduced since 2004 year by year, leaving a tight competition among universities in securing research funding. Urban universities with several prominent researchers can operate by securing competitive funding, joint research with companies, and donations, whereas small rural universities struggle with finances. How should small rural universities survive in the future? The vision and mission ...
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Examining Employee Retention and Motivation Trends in Research Administration

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Examining Employee Retention and Motivation Trends in Research Administration Loralin Welch, MS Ed., CRA Virginia Commonwealth University Noorie K. Brantmeier, Ph.D. James Madison University  Abstract The current study examined retention and voluntary turnover intention trends among university research administrators, as well as motivational factors contributing to both retention and voluntary turnover intentions using a mixed-methods survey. The online survey was administered to research administrators using a national listserv and included both qualitative and quantitative questions to explore participants’ intent to remain ...
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A Proportionate Peer Review Service

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 A Proportionate Peer Review Service Charles Mackworth-Young Professor of Practice and Director of Peer Review Service, Imperial College  Abstract Background: The peer review of clinical research projects is an essential step in project preparation. While some projects undergo rigorous review by grant-giving organizations, this does not apply to all clinical research. In many cases, peer review, if undertaken at all, is not rigorous, fully independent, or timely. Depending on their department or institution, many researchers do not have easy access to such review. This can result in delay to ethical and institutional approval, and ...
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A Social Innovation Model as Bridge-Builder Between Academia and Research Management

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 A Social Innovation Model as Bridge-Builder Between Academia and Research Management Charmaine Williamson University of South Africa Christina Shuttleworth University of South Africa  Abstract Institutional research management (RM) is increasingly seen as a strategic force, not only to raise the research output per academic, but also the quality thereof. RM, therefore, has to attend to researcher development (RD). How RD is achieved, as part of RM, is still viewed as an embryonic field with attendant calls for additional research. Often, criticisms of RM’s researcher support efforts come from the academy itself. These drawbacks, ...
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Overhead Rates: Impact on Research Applications Success

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Overhead Rates: Impact on Research Applications Success Lisa A. Boyce University of Surrey Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of overhead rates on research application award success. The pressure to maximize overheads to fund the indirect costs associated with operating a research- intensive university and the perception that higher overhead rates disadvantage research proposals create an unhealthy tension between research administrators and faculty. Statistical analyses of four years of banded overhead rates and publicly available funder award data across seven UK universities identified no significant ...
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Development and Implementation of Work Engagement Strategies in a Clinical Research Consortium During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Reflective Inquiry

By SRAI JRA
Volume LII, Number 2 Development and Implementation of Work Engagement Strategies in a Clinical Research Consortium During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Reflective Inquiry Marcus R. Johnson, MPH, MBA, MHA Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA Gillings Global School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University  Aliya Asghar, MPH, CCRC VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA, USA Kandi Velarde, MPH, CCRC VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA  Marti Donaire, RN Minneapolis VA Health Care ...
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Holiday Recipes

By SRAI News
Holiday Recipes From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, we’ll be spending a lot more time in our kitchen soon! This month, the Catalyst asked SRAI members to share some of their favorite holiday recipes. From the “ I am a food blog ” https://iamafoodblog.com/sweet-side-dish-holiday-quinoa-recipe/ From allrecipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/161869/shannons-smoky-macaroni-and-cheese/ From www.thekitchn.com/recipe-pecan-pie-bars-thanksgiving-recipes-from-the-kitchn-212748 Image credit: Leela Cyd ...
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Note from the Editor | Thankfulness and Food for Thought

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Thankfulness and Food for Thought Since traditionally November is a month of thankfulness here in the US, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to my fellow co-editor, Terry Campbell, SRAI Headquarters liaison, Debbie Appler, all our Catalyst committee members, our writers, and you, our readers. The Catalyst couldn’t exist without you, and it is made better by your engagement and contributions. Thank you.  I am also thankful we have such an active membership in other aspects of SRAI, such as our Distinguished Faculty Members , LevelUP Learners , and the Odyssey Program . We have an article pertaining to each of these so don’t ...
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Monthly Poll | Taking Annual Leave

By SRAI News
Monthly Poll | Taking Annual Leave My recent experiences with taking annual leave and struggling to disconnect during my time away led to the series of questions we asked last month. We asked you to tell us how frequently you actually utilize your vacation time. Among respondents, the most common answer was that 37% of you occasionally take time off while 33% of you take vacation leave annually. And 20% of us only take vacation time when we’re going to lose it. I fall into this category too! The vacation days I recently used were going to expire at the end of the calendar year. Our next question asked how you utilize your sick leave. The most common response ...
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View from the Top | A Season to Give Thanks

By SRAI News
View from the Top | A Season to Give Thanks November is typically the time of year in the US when we come together with family and friends, over wonderful food, and give thanks for our blessings. This year, we have even more to be grateful for as we were finally able to gather in person in New Orleans for the 2021 SRAI Annual Meeting.  This was my first air travel experience since February 2020. I was both exhilarated and apprehensive as we endeavored to hold a “Safe and Clean” meeting experience. I am happy to report that the meeting was a wonderful return to in-person professional development. Everyone I met was so happy to be back. The program, expertly ...
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Operational Challenges & Opportunities of Remote vs. Onsite vs. Hybrid Work

By SRAI News
Operational Challenges & Opportunities of Remote vs. Onsite vs. Hybrid Work As we all begin the fall quarter or semester at our institutions, we struggle to learn the new paradigm of varying workforce engagement. The new models being developed create challenges and opportunities. This creates options to develop a new truly 21 st century workplace.  As we all begin the fall quarter or semester at our institutions, we struggle to learn the new paradigm of varying workforce engagement.  While the past year has been one of remote work, multiple options are available for employees moving forward.  Some institutions are requiring a return to fully onsite work, ...
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SRAI Odyssey: London – Seattle – Ann Arbor

By SRAI News
SRAI Odyssey: London – Seattle – Ann Arbor Corinna, a Research Administrator at the University of Michigan, Katie, Business Process Analyst at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle and Silke, Director at 4Sciences Group Ltd in the UK talk about their first group mentoring experience with the SRAI’s Odyssey program .  What was your motivation for participating in the SRAI Odyssey program? Katie Prior to entering SRAI’s Odyssey mentorship program, I had never had a formalized mentorship relationship before and did not know what to expect. After nearly a full year working from home, I was eager to find additional avenues to ...
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See You Later Alligator: Closing Out the 2021 SRAI Annual Meeting in New Orleans

By SRAI News
See You Later Alligator: Closing Out the 2021 SRAI Annual Meeting in New Orleans Thank you SRAI members for making the 2021 Annual Meeting in New Orleans a success! The events of the past year have been nothing short of challenging, but we all know Research Administrators are resilient. Our program this year was a shining example of just how amazing each of you are. We were able to present 15 workshops and over 100 expert talks through concurrent sessions, learning cafes and quick talks! We hope that everyone who participated enjoyed the educational offerings, Keynote presentations, the Bayou Bash opening reception and special events.  The human interaction ...
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Experiencing the New and Unknown

By SRAI News
Experiencing the New and Unknown I was new to the Society for Research Administrators International as a whole.  Until January 2021 the most I had heard was that they were a professional organization in my industry. After a Training Intensive and being supported by a mentor to submit a presentation for the annual meeting, I knew I was in for a treat. Fast forward seven months, I was named a Future of the Field and the John Robinson Travel Award winner for early-career presenters.  I was off to a land I had never seen, New Orleans, LA, for the 2021 Annual Meeting.  I went to the registration table early Sunday morning and was greeted with a delightful ...
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Board of Directors Update

By SRAI News
Board of Directors Update The SRAI Board of Directors met twice during the Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Read on for a peek behind the curtain ...  It was with much anticipation that SRAI once again met in person in New Orleans, Louisiana and attendees were not disappointed. The conference was smaller than our previous journey to the deep South, but it was nonetheless an unqualified success. Of note, this meeting was not only SRAI’s return to in-person education, but we were also the first conference for the hotel in more than 18 months. But I digress. The Board of Directors convened twice, as it usually does, during the Annual Meeting. President Debra ...
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SRAI 2021 Symposium Spotlights Research and Process Development in Action

By SRAI News
SRAI 2021 Symposium Spotlights Research and Process Development in Action Professional poster presentations at the SRAI Annual Meeting highlight the work research administrators across the globe are doing to create innovation and new ideas for the profession.  This year at the SRAI Annual Meeting in New Orleans seven individuals presented posters at the 2021 Poster Symposium. The contributed professional posters are designed to advance and enrich the body of knowledge of research administration and management as an art and science. Selected published posters represent contributions to the field of research administration and advance our body of knowledge, ...
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The Secret Life of a Research Administrator | Tyler Tulloch

By SRAI News
The Secret Life of a Research Administrator | Tyler Tulloch “The Secret Life of a Research Administrator” column is meant to facilitate more personal connections between SRAI members through the Catalyst newsletter. If you would like to share with the community or know of someone who will, please submit your article here .   Do you ever feel like you’re going around in circles trying to get people to meet deadlines or adhere to policies? Do you ever feel like there are innumerable twists, turns, hills, and valleys that you must navigate to get the right answer? Sometimes research administration can feel like an endless loop of those twists, turns, hills, ...
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