Blogs

Note from the Editor | Farewell Summer

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Farewell Summer Hello September! This summer hit 90 plus degrees and high humidity with an alarming regularity, so I am especially thrilled with the recent drop in both. Walking around my neighborhood and gardening in my yard seem like actual options along with cozy indoor activities like baking that pleasantly heats up the house or reading under a cozy blanket. In fact, one of the points in this month’s Spotlight by Hanna Bates, “ Relationship Building: Communication Through Effective Storytelling ,” encourages just that – reading. I’ll admit, I’m already biased favorably towards this piece with the mention of Brene Brown and Anne ...
0 comments

Relationship Building | Part 2: Creative Communication Through Effective Storytelling

By SRAI News
Relationship Building | Part 2: Creative Communication Through Effective Storytelling Skilled and meaningful leadership draws upon relationships to help shape professional development expertise. Last month, techniques to promote leadership skills through active and engaged listening were presented . In Part 2 of the Spotlight’s relationship building series, another core competency – communication – is discussed. This month, strategies to encourage research administration leaders as they build and refine their communication skills are explored. Consider giving more than a perspective or a directive; share a story. Communication is not a transactional ...
0 comments

View from the Top | Enhancing Professional Development, Networking, and Collaboration

By SRAI News
View from the Top | Enhancing Professional Development, Networking, and Collaboration In the fast-evolving landscape of research administration, staying ahead of the curve requires continuous learning, networking, and collaboration. The Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Annual Meeting offers the perfect platform to achieve these goals. Scheduled to take place October 26-30, 2024, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, this year's event promises to be a milestone gathering for research administrators worldwide. With a theme that resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities of our times— "Breaking Barriers: Together ...
0 comments

Mission Possible: A Guide to Unlocking the Secrets of Effective Networking

By SRAI News
Mission Possible: A Guide to Unlocking the Secrets of Effective Networking Welcome to the thrilling adventure of networking! Picture this journey as an exhilarating detective story, with the ultimate reward being a goldmine of valuable connections. The SRAI Annual Meeting in Chicago is your chance to uncover the secrets of effective networking. So, grab your magnifying glass and prepare for an exciting quest to forge new connections! The Case Begins: Understanding Your Mission Every great mystery starts with a clear objective. In the world of networking, your mission is to build meaningful relationships that advance your goals and enhance your professional ...
0 comments

The Responsible Conduct of Research: Where Are We Now?

By SRAI News
The Responsible Conduct of Research: Where Are We Now? Last month we discussed the beginnings of the education and regulations surrounding the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Here we will discuss where we are now and where we seem to be going. When you google the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), every organization in the United States that receives Federal funding appears in the search with how they have determined to implement the regulations. Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and what they expect from their grantees, also appear. There is no doubt that RCR is more important than ever, ...
0 comments

Growing Beyond Technical Skills in Research Administration

By SRAI News
Growing Beyond Technical Skills in Research Administration During a recent group learning workshop involving research administrators, I presented my study on how research administrators can navigate their career spectrum. Given the diversity and wealth of experience among the participants, they were invited to share their insights on the knowledge, skills, and experiences essential for early career research administrators in the 21st century. It was interesting to see the diverse motivations of what led the research administrators to pursue a career in research administration. The reasons ranged from the love for research, working with different projects ...
0 comments

A New Approach to Career Paths: Career Latticing – What Is It? Part 1

By SRAI News
A New Approach to Career Paths: Career Latticing – What Is It? Part 1 Have you ever wondered how to avoid having to climb a ladder for career progression? Career latticing can help you meet your goals and still progress as a research administrator. This is Part 1 of a 2-part series and will focus on the definition of career latticing versus a career ladder. Have you ever been asked why you aren’t “moving up” in your career while taking on new opportunities? It seems that, for many managers and employees, the expectation that a career change should mean that you are seeking a higher managerial role with increased responsibilities. I have learned that understanding ...
0 comments

Your Questions Answered | What is the Best Advice You Received as Your RA Career Has Continued to Advance?

By SRAI News
Your Questions Answered | What is the Best Advice You Received as Your RA Career Has Continued to Advance? 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! This month, we asked our experts: What is the best advice you received as your research administration career has continued to advance? Jose Alcaine, PhD, Director of Research Services, Affiliate Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, SRAI ...
0 comments

HELP, I am Stressed – How to Manage Stress for the Research Administrator

By SRAI News
Research Administration is stressful. Add in a medical diagnosis that no one wants to hear and the stress can grow exponentially. Kia Reeves knows what that is like and provides some ideas on how we can lower stress in our profession, with or without outside stressors. We have all seen and witnessed the many changes that have occurred around us during the past few years: job changes and uncertainty, inflation, grief, natural disasters, loss, diseases…the list can go on and on. For the Research Administrator, stress is no different. With the ever-increasing competitive funding environment, it has become more difficult for Principal Investigators to obtain funding, ...
0 comments

The Art of Balance: Thriving in Work, Life, and Volunteer Roles

By SRAI News
The Art of Balance: Thriving in Work, Life, and Volunteer Roles In the post pandemic world, I keep saying life, work, and just everything will slow down. Yet, life keeps getting busier, rather than slowing down despite my best efforts. Working mostly remote since 2020, I have taken on more work and a promotion, all while managing home school, then in person school with kiddos and navigating the trials and tribulations of twin teenage girls. I enjoy my work as a grant and finance program manager, but I also love to volunteer to have influence in my community both personally and professionally. In September 2024, I started my fourth year as a girl scout leader, ...
0 comments

Building Your Personal Program at an SRAI Conference: What Are Tracks and How Can I Use Them?

By SRAI News
Building Your Personal Program at an SRAI Conference: What Are Tracks and How Can I Use Them? A wonderful benefit of being an SRAI member is the wide range of available educational opportunities, both online and in-person. These opportunities are offered in many different formats throughout the year, allowing flexible access to exemplary continuing education regardless of time constraints and budget. When faced with so many different opportunities for ongoing learning, it can be confusing to figure out the professional development program best for you. One way SRAI helps research administrators navigate the sessions at their conferences is through tracks. ...
0 comments

2024 SRAI Election Results

By SRAI News
2024 SRAI Election Results SRA International (SRAI) holds annual elections for positions on its Board of Directors, The Board is composed of a diverse group of SRAI members who devote time and effort throughout the year to enhance the organization through the service of governance. In accordance with the Bylaws of the Society Article 5.35, the candidates for the positions of Secretary and At-Large Members for the Board of Directors have been informed of the election results. On behalf of the Board of Director’s Nominations Committee, it is my pleasure to officially announce the election results. Artisha Wright was elected Secretary, and Pamela Montgomery ...
0 comments

2024 Award Winners

By SRAI News
2024 Award Winners Being recognized by your peers is a great honor. Let’s come together to celebrate this year’s SRAI award winners! SRAI acknowledges individuals who inspire others and serve as models for the profession of research administration. The Awards Committee was excited to consider so many worthy nominees this year and the winners are truly top of their field. Click here to read more about this year’s winners and what this honor means to them. Please plan to join us at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago to help us celebrate the honorees! The Herbert B. Chermside Award for Distinguished Contribution to Research Administration This award is ...
0 comments

INORMS Award for Excellence in Research Management Leadership 2025

By SRAI News
INORMS Award for Excellence in Research Management Leadership 2025 At the 2025 INORMS Congress in Madrid, Spain, each sister society can put forth one candidate for the INORMS Award for Excellence in Research Management Leadership 2025. For details click here . The award recognizes outstanding examples of research management leaders who have made substantial contributions to the research management profession internationally. All SRAI members can suggest candidates by submitting a recommendation letter which must include the required criteria. The maximum length of the letter is two pages. The criteria are as follows: • Be a current member of ...
0 comments

Note from the Editor | Summer Games

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor | Summer Games As the Olympic Summer Games garner the attention of the world, we bring you a new slate of gold medal worthy articles in this month’s Catalyst. Light the flame by reading the first article in our new Spotlight Series focused on Relationship Building: Leadership through Listening written by Hannah Bates. Dive into the Featured Articles Section to find contributions from Jose Alcaine and Tamara Ginter with Developing a Project Management Plan for New Principal Investigators , as well as Rashonda Harris’s article on Empowering Diversity: The Positive Impact of AI on DEI in Research Administration . From there you can ...
0 comments

Relationship Building | Part 1: Lead by Listening

By SRAI News
Relationship Building | Part 1: Lead by Listening Relationship building takes the Spotlight on a new three-part journey that showcases how distinctive relationships shape professional development expertise and career progression for research administrators. Effective and meaningful leadership draws upon relationships. Developing leadership skills starts with being a good listener – a core competency of relationship building. This month, strategies to help research administrators build and refine listening skills as leaders are considered. Professional and leadership development in higher education institutions is often characterized by efficiency, strategy, ...
0 comments

View from the Top | The Importance of Checking on Your Remote Staff at the Start of the Fall Semester

By SRAI News
View from the Top | The Importance of Checking on Your Remote Staff at the Start of the Fall Semester The Fall Semester marks a time of new beginnings, fresh faces, and renewed goals. Amidst this flurry of activity, leadership must remember an essential aspect of their workforce: the staff members working remotely. With many schools continuing to embrace remote work, ensuring the well-being and productivity of these employees is more critical than ever. The start of the school year brings unique challenges for remote staff. Unlike their on-campus counterparts, remote employees may feel isolated from the hustle and bustle of the campus environment. This unique ...
0 comments

Developing a Project Management Plan for New Principal Investigators

By SRAI News
Developing a Project Management Plan for New Principal Investigators When it comes to post-award and project management, there is a question that newly-minted principal investigators (PIs) may be thinking about (if not asking) when it comes to award and project management– I just got my PhD, so why are you trying to make me an accountant? Unless of course their PhD is in accounting or project management, this can be a common sentiment with many investigators, especially when they are new PIs or new to agency accounting practices, systems and/or reporting. PIs should not be expected to be accountants or even project managers, in large part thanks to project ...
0 comments

Empowering Diversity: The Positive Impact of AI on DEI in Research Administration

By SRAI News
Empowering Diversity: The Positive Impact of AI on DEI in Research Administration Explore how AI revolutionizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Research Administration. Discover its potential in mitigating funding biases, enhancing proposal development, and ensuring inclusive post-award management. Dive into the transformative role of AI in fostering a more equitable research environment. Welcome to the first installment of our series on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research Administration focusing on its potential impacts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This article will explore how AI can be a powerful ...
0 comments

Generative AI Can Revolutionize Higher Education’s Research Enterprise

By SRAI News
Generative AI Can Revolutionize Higher Education’s Research Enterprise Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is on a trajectory to transform the academic landscape through strategic, cutting-edge technologies. As more universities explore GenAI’s capabilities its impact and potential will help inform and shape innovations across all research enterprise divisions. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and applications are at the forefront of revolutionizing operations in high-tech industry, healthcare, finance, and higher education institutions. Recently, generative AI (GenAI), a type of AI that learns patterns and styles from existing data, then ...
0 comments