Blogs

The 2025 Research Admin Superlatives: A Lighthearted Look Back at the Year

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement The 2025 Research Admin Superlatives: A Lighthearted Look Back at the Year Spotlight Story In the spirit of appreciation — and a little well-deserved humor — we present the 2025 Research Administration Superlatives, honoring the skills, strengths, and superpowers that kept our institutions running, our investigators compliant, and our sanity (mostly) intact. As research administrators, we spend our days navigating regulations, managing deadlines, translating PI urgency into actionable workflows, and occasionally performing miracles disguised as routine tasks. At the end of the year, it’s important ...
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From Sand Dunes to Skylines: Building Research Administration in Qatar

By SRAI News
Operations & Workflow Management From Sand Dunes to Skylines: Building Research Administration in Qatar Qatar wowed the world with the 2022 FIFA World Cup — but did you know they also built a research empire in just two decades? It's like going from 'budget cuts' to 'funding surplus' in record time! When most people think of Qatar, they picture desert sand, futuristic skylines, or perhaps football stadiums. Fewer know that beneath the cranes and glass towers, a national research ecosystem has been taking shape at breakneck speed. In less than two decades, research management in Qatar has developed what took many countries generations ...
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Grant Anatomy: A Crash Course in Proposal Timelines

By SRAI News
Grant Development & Strategy Grant Anatomy: A Crash Course in Proposal Timelines Do your faculty scramble to meet a grant deadline like Meredith Grey? Kimberly Pratt and James Taylor share how proposal timelines can transform chaos into clarity. Learn practical strategies to streamline submissions, avoid last-minute drama, and support your research team without the tears. We — Kimberly and James — first met through SRAI’s Odyssey mentoring program, and we quickly found out we’re both fans of Grey’s Anatomy. That shared interest helped build a connection, making our mentoring relationship feel more like a partnership. And while the ...
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It’s a Wonderful Life, Research Administrators Edition

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement It’s a Wonderful Life, Research Administrators Edition What would the world look like without research and research administrators? Publicly funded, university-based research has long been a hallmark of the U.S. research enterprise — fueling discovery, innovation, economic growth and national security. Let's not take it for granted. Happy Holidays and Merry New Year! It’s the season to talk about snow, opening presents, holiday closures and winter breaks, or watching classic movies on endless repeats. But with the struggles that universities, researchers, and research administrators are currently ...
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Travel Trouble: Why “Just Charge It to the Grant” Isn’t Always Safe

By SRAI News
Grant Management & Financial Oversight Travel Trouble: Why “Just Charge It to the Grant” Isn’t Always Safe Travel is one of the most common — and most confusing — categories of sponsored project expenses. Between federal regulations, sponsor-specific guidance, and institutional travel policies, it’s no wonder research administrators, PIs, and even central office staff often feel like they need a boarding pass just to navigate what’s allowable. You’ve found the conference of a lifetime—super exciting! It checks all the boxes of topics you’re interested in; you have funds available on your grant, and it’s being held in a warm, beachy ...
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Thirteen Years of Purpose: Insights from a Journey in Research Administration

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Research Administration: Building on Your Skill Set After 13 years in research administration, I'm stepping into a new chapter. This article shares five key lessons that shaped my career (from setting boundaries to embracing growth) and offers encouragement to those exploring this rewarding, mission-driven field. Discover what makes research administration both impactful and personally fulfilling. After a deeply fulfilling career in research administration, I will be transitioning at the end of this year to pursue personal interests and new adventures. Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of working ...
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AI and the Trump Administration

By SRAI News
Federal Pulse AI and the Trump Administration Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a central pillar of U.S. federal research strategy and that shift is reshaping what scientific discovery looks like, how agencies fund work, and how institutions need to position themselves and navigate policies and regulations relating to AI. The Trump Administration is making AI competitiveness a top national priority while AI is also a focus of state policymaking , which has the potential to create a tricky regulatory and compliance environment for research organizations to navigate. Overview of Trump Administration AI Priorities Right out ...
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Conflict Resolution in Research: Turning Friction into Collaboration

By SRAI News
Regulatory & Compliance Oversight Conflict Resolution in Research: Turning Friction into Collaboration Spotlight Story In research, conflict is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to derail progress. From protocol disputes to scheduling strains, learn how active listening, shared goals, and proactive communication can transform tension into teamwork, protecting participants, strengthening trust, and keeping studies on track. Collaboration is the real breakthrough. Research is built on partnerships, collaborations, and teamwork. Investigators, sponsors, regulatory bodies, and clinical staff often have competing priorities—and those ...
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The Importance of University Based Research and Why It is Worth Saving | Part 3: Expansion of the Profession, Management of Research, and Value to Society

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement The Importance of University Based Research and Why It is Worth Saving Part 3: Expansion of the Profession, Management of Research, and Value to Society Read Part 1: Why Are We Doing All of This? Why Does Research Matter? Read Part 2: Brief History of the Research Enterprise in the U.S. Since World War II, university-based, federally funded research has driven transformative advances in science and discovery to the benefit of society and the world. In parallel, the research administration profession has grown to meet this expanding need. The bottom line: these research efforts matter—and are ...
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Research Administration: Building on Your Skill Set

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership 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 ...
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Subrecipient Monitoring: Keys to Successful Subrecipient Relationships

By SRAI News
Grant Management & Financial Oversight Subrecipient Monitoring: Keys to Successful Subrecipient Relationships Navigating the complex dynamics of a subrecipient collaboration between institutions can be a daunting task. From initial proposal to closeout, effective oversight of internal controls, good time management, and clear communication all help lead to successful outcomes. A subrecipient is a legal entity that receives a subaward in which your organization serves as the prime recipient (pass through entity) of a grant. The subrecipient is responsible for carrying out a portion of the programmatic effort of the proposed project. ...
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Don't Be Afraid of the Lawyers!

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement Don't Be Afraid of the Lawyers! An in-house research attorney shares insights on his role from the legal vantage point, the relationship with colleagues, and how he tackles the perception of "Legal" involvement as intimidating. “Because I Carry a Big stick, Speak Softly.” To borrow from Teddy Roosevelt, I like to invert his famous adage, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”, into “Because I carry a big stick, speak softly”. In a well-run organization, the Legal office wields significant clout- but I admit I’m biased as in-house counsel for a large nonprofit. Legal needs the authority to intervene ...
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The Use of Generative AI in Research Grant Applications: Balancing Innovation, Transparency and Integrity

By SRAI News
Operations & Workflow Management The Use of Generative AI in Research Grant Applications: Balancing Innovation, Transparency and Integrity Spotlight Story GenAI is influencing research grant applications by aiding in drafting, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization, while emphasizing adherence to ethical standards, transparency, and confidentiality established by Canadian and U.S. agencies. The article highlights the community’s responsibility to ethically integrate GenAI, balancing innovation with integrity and originality. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has been profoundly transforming the research enterprise, ...
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The Importance of University Based Research and Why It is Worth Saving | Part 2: Brief History of the Research Enterprise in the U.S.

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement The Importance of University Based Research and Why It is Worth Saving Part 2: Brief History of the Research Enterprise in the U.S. Read Part 1: The Importance of University Based Research and Why It is Worth Saving | Part 1: Why Are We Doing All of This? Why Does Research Matter? University-based, federally-supported research that pushes the envelope of innovation and discovery has established the United States as an economic and world power, especially since World War II. These investments are crucial for U.S. universities and the public good. Research administrator professionals are ready to help ...
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Clinical Trial Compliance: Preparing for FDA Inspection Readiness

By SRAI News
Regulatory & Compliance Oversight Clinical Trial Compliance: Preparing for FDA Inspection Readiness Being “inspection ready” isn’t just about preparing when the FDA calls — it’s about embedding compliance into daily clinical trial operations. This article explores practical strategies, common pitfalls, and proactive steps research teams can take to stay audit-ready at all times. FDA inspections are a fundamental component of clinical research oversight, designed to safeguard participant protection and ensure the integrity of study data. For research administrators, inspection readiness is not a one-time exercise, but an ongoing discipline ...
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Students Are Our Research Future: Let’s Treat Them Well, Research Administrators

By SRAI News
Grant Development & Strategy Students Are Our Research Future: Let’s Treat Them Well, Research Administrators When it comes to the future of research, research administrators should not forget current students in our programs. Whenever possible, students should be supported in their grant development because they are the future of research. If you work at a research university or a research institution, you may or may not miss the fact that although you primarily support faculty researchers now, it is their students who will be the researchers of tomorrow. Current students working in your labs, classrooms, and in the field, are gaining ...
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Finding My Place as a Leader in Research Administration

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement Finding My Place as a Leader in Research Administration A simple girl from Bangladesh who had no idea about the academic world transitions into a successful Research Administrator, leading a team of five as an Assistant Director. From volunteering at MIT, Georgia Tech and in Lubbock to working across different professions- she is always eager to learn and grow. When I arrived from Bangladesh many years ago, I had no idea that one day I would become a Research Administrator. With a Master’s in Economics, I imagined a future in banking. I began my career as a teller in a local bank, eventually moving to ...
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Leveraging Temporary Roles for Professional Advancement: How Temporary Assignments Can Boost Your Career

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Leveraging Temporary Roles for Professional Advancement: How Temporary Assignments Can Boost Your Career Research administration thrives on adaptability and continuous learning. Temporary roles at other institutions offer a unique path to growth—broadening skills, expanding networks, and opening doors to future leadership. Step outside your routine and discover what’s possible. Research administration is a dynamic field, constantly evolving with regulatory updates and shifting government priorities. This fluctuating environment requires research administrators to not only be adaptable but also be willing ...
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Communicating to Make a Point: Centering Learning Outcomes to Optimize the Abstract and Enhance Your Delivery in Presentations

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Communicating to Make a Point: Centering Learning Outcomes to Optimize the Abstract and Enhance Your Delivery in Presentations Research administration, like any other profession, is a field that relies on clear and efficient communication—including the transfer of knowledge through conference sessions and presentations. With a strong foundation, dynamic design, and effective summarization skills, you can maximize the impact of your next presentation to communicate what matters the most. Have you ever attended a conference session and the content did not reflect what it said on the schedule? Were you ...
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Looking Back on a Journey of Growth: Adapting to the Dynamics of Research Administration

By SRAI News
Community & Member Engagement Looking Back on a Journey of Growth: Adapting to the Dynamics of Research Administration One research administrator shares how professional development, strategic connections, and flexibility have fueled their success. The Journey Begins My journey into research administration began with a mentorship that shaped the course of my career. I met my mentor, Sheleza Mohamed, through the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) mentorship program. From our earliest conversations, she spoke often and passionately about her work in grants administration. She was planting a seed, and her support laid ...
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