Blogs

Volume LIV, Number 3 - From the Editor's Desk

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 From the Editor's Desk Author Jennifer E. Taylor, Ph.D., M.B.A. Rush Medical Center and University The Journal of Research Administration (JRA) is the premier scholarly publication in the field of research administration and management. We publish timely critical work that adds to the knowledge base for research administration and contributes to enhancing the work of research administrators across the globe. Through these contributions, JRA serves as an essential educational and career development resource for our field. Our contributors share best practices and innovative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities ...
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The Role of Research Units at Higher Education Institutions: Intention or Reality?

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 The Role of Research Units at Higher Education Institutions: Intention or Reality? Jo-Celene De Jongh, Ph.D University of the Western Cape Simone Titus, Ph.D University of the Western Cape Nicolette Roman, Ph.D University of the Western Cape José Frantz, Ph.D University of the Western Cape Abstract Higher education institutions are moving towards highlighting the importance of research. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa, the status of higher education institutions will be determined by the extent to which they are engaged in research and research-related activities. Higher ...
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Note from the Editor | Note of Thankfulness

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Note of Thankfulness Later this month will be Thanksgiving in the US, so I’d like to start on a note of thankfulness – for SRAI, our Catalyst Committee, our members, and the entire community that makes up research and research administration. It’s so easy to get hyper-focused on what is wrong or needs fixing and forget to celebrate what is working or the progress being made. It can be hard to be content and thankful while continuing to push forward. I hope you in turn have something in your work and personal lives you can take a moment to be thankful for. Perhaps after pausing for a moment of gratitude, you might consider reading Part ...
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View from the Top | SRAI Annual Meeting Opening Reception

By SRAI News
View from the Top | SRAI Annual Meeting Opening Reception The 2023 SRAI Annual Meeting Opening Reception was a vibrant and engaging event that set the tone for an intellectually stimulating gathering. Held in the Historical Museum of Flight and adorned with stunning architectural achievement full of aircraft that trace the history of the first century of flight, the reception provided a perfect platform for attendees to connect and network. Many thanks to our Platinum Sponsor Cayuse! The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as participants from diverse fields and backgrounds came together to socialize and dance the night away. The venue featured over 175 ...
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Spotlight: Team Development | Part Two: Restructuring Your Team

By SRAI News
Spotlight: Team Development | Part Two: Restructuring Your Team The Spotlight is exploring team development in the wake of the Great Resignation. This three-part series will present the concepts of building a team, restructuring a team to adapt to the changing workplace, and growing a team through traditional and/or novel methods. The Great Resignation has hit many institutions challenging entities to examine ways to retain, retrain, and rebuild their research administration teams. In October we talked about building teams . This month we move on to restructuring teams to reframe employee fallout into the development of strategic staff constructs that benefit ...
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Prioritizing Inclusivity

By SRAI News
Prioritizing Inclusivity Faculty who are classified as disabled or who are non-native English speakers may struggle to find a place in the United States’ academe, and when they do, their journey is often fraught with various roadblocks. These faculty are sometimes dismissed and overlooked, and the scholarship around this topic is reflective of this dismissal. Why is this topic important? Higher Education Scholars Adrianna Kezar and Julie Posselt note that in order to create a more equitable and just framework for our institutions, we must “routinize mindfulness” if we want to amend power asymmetries in higher education. Setting our intention to be anti-ableist ...
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Branding Yourself

By SRAI News
Branding Yourself We are all familiar with the power of the branding of products. Instantly, when we think of soda, Coca-Cola will immediately come to mind. When we think of online shopping, Amazon will immediately come to mind. And, when we think of research administration, SRAI will come to mind. However, branding is not an exclusive concept to organizations. Individuals consciously or unconsciously brand themselves through their actions, their experiences, and their interactions with others. Thus, branding becomes an important function in how one defines themselves and how others view them. It is therefore valuable to consider the power of branding ...
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Seattle-ing to New Heights: A “Research” Journey at the SRAI Annual Meeting

By SRAI News
Seattle-ing to New Heights: A “Research” Journey at the SRAI Annual Meeting From conquering stage fright to forging invaluable connections, come along for a behind-the-scenes look at this unforgettable experience! Stepping into the world of research administration can be an exhilarating yet daunting experience. One important key in this journey that I’ve learned, is to network and share your experience, tips and tricks, and best practices with others in the field. The Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Annual Meeting in Seattle provided the perfect platform – and it also provided me with the opportunity to present in front of an audience ...
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Your Questions Answered | Advancing Your Career

By SRAI News
Your Questions Answered | Advancing Your Career Each month, the Catalyst will feature a question posed to our panel of SRAI Distinguished Faculty members to get their take on all sorts of topics encompassing research administration. Do you have a research administration question for our experts? Send your questions to catalyst@srainternational.org ! What activities or strategies have you undertaken that has helped you advance in your career? Domenica G. Pappas, CRA, Associate Vice Provost for Research, Office of Research, Illinois Tech, SRAI Distinguished Faculty Education through professional development is essential. It’s easy to say “stay ...
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Welcome to our New Distinguished Faculty Members

By SRAI News
Welcome to our New Distinguished Faculty Members Join us in congratulating the following members who were recently inducted as Distinguished Faculty: Jose G. Alcaine Silke Blohm Gina Hedberg Courtney Hunt Kimberly Pratt Floris van der Leest Click here to learn more about our newest Distinguished Faculty members. You might be wondering, just who are the Distinguished Faculty? Members of SRAI’s Distinguished Faculty enhance the professional development of research administrators around the world by creating and presenting high-quality education and training content that adds to the body of knowledge in the research administration field. ...
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Throwback Thanksgiving

By SRAI News
Welcome to #ThrowbackThanksgiving! As the holiday season gets underway, we wanted to throw it back to some of our favorite recipes the Catalyst has shared the last few years. Holiday Drinks – December 2022 Holiday Recipes – November 2021 12 Days of Christmas Recipes from RAs for RAs – December 2019 What kind of fun recipes do you like to make over the holiday season? Share your favorites at catalyst@srainternational.org ! Authored by SRAI Catalyst #Catalyst #November2023 #Membership #ThrowbackThanksgiving
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Consider Writing for the Catalyst Today!

By SRAI News
Do you have a great idea for an article you’d like to write or co-author? Consider submitting to the Catalyst ! The Catalyst is SRAI’s monthly newsletter and features insights on hot topics from knowledgeable research administration professionals, information about SRAI’s educational offerings, recognition of member’s achievements, updates about SRAI membership, and more! The Catalyst is published the second Friday of each month. Article submissions are due the last Monday of the month prior to ensure consideration for publication in the following month’s issue. Read more about how to write for the Catalyst here . Need help writing an article or want ...
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Untapped Potential: A Critical Analysis of the Utility of Data Management Plans in Facilitating Data Sharing

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 Untapped Potential: A Critical Analysis of the Utility of Data Management Plans in Facilitating Data Sharing Jake Carlson University at Buffalo Abstract Many funding agencies require researchers to include a data management plan with their grant applications explaining how they intend to make the data generated from the research publicly accessible. University administration and campus service providers could potentially leverage the content of data management plans to facilitate compliance and reduce the burden on researchers. A case study at the University of Michigan demonstrates the promise of using data management plans ...
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Implementation of a Pilot Project Program to Expand Research on Alcohol Use Disorders in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 Implementation of a Pilot Project Program to Expand Research on Alcohol Use Disorders in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Jessica D. Hanson Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA Adam Livengood Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA, USA Cara Kulbacki-Fabisiak Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA, USA Kory Hardcastle Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA, USA ...
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Making Interdisciplinarity Concrete: Views from Leaders of Interdisciplinary Research Buildings in Higher Education

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 Making Interdisciplinarity Concrete: Views from Leaders of Interdisciplinary Research Buildings in Higher Education Kim Nelson Pryor* Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA Laura J. Steinberg Boston College, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA Abstract Among strategies that campus leaders and research administrators employ to spur interdisciplinary research in U.S. higher education, one of the costliest—and increasingly popular—is designated interdisciplinary research spaces and buildings. Yet while interdisciplinary research buildings, often focused on the sciences, stand ...
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Who are the Professionals at the Interface of Science Working at Research Funding, Science Policy Making, and Similar Organisations?

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 Who are the Professionals at the Interface of Science Working at Research Funding, Science Policy Making, and Similar Organisations? José M. R. C. A. Santos Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal Carolina Varela School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Simon Kerridge Research & Innovation Services, University of Kent, ...
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A Survey of Research Administrators: Identifying Administrative Burden in Post-Award Federal Research Grant Management

By SRAI JRA
Volume LIV, Number 3 A Survey of Research Administrators: Identifying Administrative Burden in Post-Award Federal Research Grant Management Jessica L. Schiller, EdD College of Education and Human Development, University of North Dakota; Notre Dame Research, University of Notre Dame Steven D. LeMire, PhD College of Education and Human Development, University of North Dakota Abstract Research universities and the federal government partner to foster societal, scientific, and technological advancements, but the federal research grant process is criticized for its procedural inefficiencies. Principal investigators and research administrators lament ...
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Note from the Editor | Redefining the Possible

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Redefining the Possible Research administrators redefine the possible on a daily basis, whether it’s coaching new professors on application requirements, negotiating with funders, introducing new service delivery models or leading teams. This month’s Catalyst is chockful of examples where we lead the way as thought leaders and practitioners. We kick off a new spotlight series on Team Development, with Part One on Building a Team . Melissa Karby, Nicholas Prieur and Pat Turnbull provide a research administrator’s view on service leadership . Fikria El Kaouakibi explores AI and its responsible use in research administration while ...
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Team Development | Part One: Building Your Team

By SRAI News
Team Development | Part One: Building Your Team The Spotlight’s fall focus turns to team development. Over the next three months, this series will explore the concepts of building a team, growing a team through traditional and/or novel methods, and restructuring a team to adapt to the changing workplace. The Great Resignation has hit many institutions resulting in entities examining ways to retain, retrain, and rebuild their research administration teams. Rather than view it as the Great Resignation, institutions should instead approach this phase as a Great Exploration, a period to reframe the needs of both employer and employees. This series will focus ...
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AI and Research Administration

By SRAI News
AI and Research Administration In the area of technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), a fascinating intersection promises to redefine the landscape of research and administration. We recently interviewed Dr. Milos Manic , Professor of Computer Science, and the director of Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Cybersecurity Center. Dr. Manic is an expert in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. We delved into the discussion on AI and its application in the research landscape and its administration. Milos Manic, PhD Professor of Computer Science Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Manic is frequently invited ...
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