Blogs

The Evolving Landscape of Academic Research Administration: Building Resilience and Thriving in Times of Change

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership The Evolving Landscape of Academic Research Administration: Building Resilience and Thriving in Times of Change SPOTLIGHT STORY Change in research administration is not a distant threat — it’s a constant reality. Funding shifts, regulatory updates, and institutional changes are part of our professional landscape every year. But with every shift, we have a choice: resist and fall behind, or step forward, adapt, and lead. The most compelling research administrators don’t just react to change — they anticipate it, embrace it, and drive progress. Ours is not a passive role. We are the backbone of research operations, ...
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Enhancing Data Collection and Utilization of HERD: Survey Results

By SRAI News
Grant Development & Strategy Enhancing Data Collection and Utilization of HERD: Survey Results Researchers at the University of Kentucky conducted a comprehensive research study of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Grant #2215223. One part of the study was to assess the perceived levels of difficulty around collecting and reporting the requisite responses for the HERD survey, as well as the utilization of HERD survey results and the effectiveness of current data collection practices among research ...
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Unraveling Participant Support

By SRAI News
Grant Management & Financial Oversight Unraveling Participant Support Participant support is an exciting budget category because it is exempt from Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC), which means grantees get a bigger bang for their buck. Let’s take a closer look at what is appropriate and allowable in this budget category. To do that, we need to determine who qualifies as a participant, and what is allowable under the support. First, participants are individuals participating in or attending program activities such as trainings or conferences, but who are not responsible for implementation of the award. This includes community members participating ...
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Navigating the Wealth of Opportunity That a Multigenerational Workforce Offers

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Navigating the Wealth of Opportunity That a Multigenerational Workforce Offers Every 15 to 18 years, a new cohort of people are shaped based on the current events of their childhood and early adulthood. It is no surprise that today we have four generational cohorts in our workforce spanning several decades. “Navigating the Wealth of Opportunity that a Multigenerational Workforce Offers” was an interesting and eye-opening presentation by members of the Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion Committee at this year’s SRAI Annual Meeting in Chicago. The session defined and navigated the differences and similarities ...
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Operationalizing New SciENcv Requirements

By SRAI News
Operations & Workflow Management Operationalizing New SciENcv Requirements Starting May 25, 2025, the NIH will require the use of Common Forms for biographical sketches and "Current and Pending (Other) Support" information through the use of SciENcv for biosketch creation and linking to ORCID IDs. On or after this date, all NIH biosketches must be created and formatted using SciENcv. NIH will require all Key Personnel to submit biosketches using the SciENcv format. While the community has been notified of this requirement for some time, operationalizing it with investigators may require some assistance from research administrators. Several recommended ...
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New Feature Section: Community & Member Engagement

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Community & Member Engagement We are thrilled to be joining the SRAI Catalyst Team as co-editors of the Community & Member Engagement section, where we celebrate the diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives of our members. This section will spotlight the personal and professional experiences of research administrators. Our goal is to nurture an inclusive environment and invite YOU to share your journey through the SRAI Catalyst Article Submission . Together, we can learn and grow together. Let’s help you shine and light the path for others! Meet the Co-Editors Kimberly ...
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AAR in Research Administration: Completing the Discussion

By SRAI News
Grant Management & Financial Oversight AAR in Research Administration: Completing the Discussion In research administration, the principles of allowable, allocable, and reasonable (AAR) costs are essential to the effective management of research grants and sponsored projects. These principles ensure that research funds are used appropriately, in compliance with federal regulations, and in alignment with the specific terms of each award. For research administrators (RAs), understanding and applying these principles is crucial not only for maintaining compliance but also for fostering financial integrity and supporting the success of research projects. ...
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The Road You Should Travel: From Research Administrators to Grant Coaches and Advisors

By SRAI News
Grant Development & Strategy The Road You Should Travel: From Research Administrators to Grant Coaches and Advisors Have you heard of life and style coaches who get paid fairly well to encourage and advise their clients on how to keep going, get in there, you can do it, you can achieve your goals in life? Can this same coaching be applied to the Research Administration field as you find funding, and prepare and submit grants with your faculty colleagues? Research Administrators as Grant Coaches and Advisors Research administrators (RAs) have transferable skills that apply well to the grant coaching and advising process. No matter your background ...
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The Seven Basic Elements of a Successful Compliance Program

By SRAI News
Regulatory & Compliance Oversight The Seven Basic Elements of a Successful Compliance Program Lessons learned and the basic elements of a successful compliance program have been developed by the US. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) reflecting over 25 years of monitoring Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs). In addition, they have considered feedback from research stakeholders as well as the constantly evolving changes in technology and research. These elements include the following: Written Policies and Procedures Compliance Leadership and Oversight Training and Education Effective Lines of Communication ...
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Communicating Effectively as a Leader in Research Administration

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Communicating Effectively as a Leader in Research Administration Effective communication is not just a nice-to-have—it is essential in research administration. For leaders, communicating well is the foundation for guiding their teams toward success. It is not just about sending messages but ensuring those messages resonate and drive action. When communication fails, the consequences can be severe. Organizations can lose millions annually due to misunderstandings and miscommunications. Yet it is not just about the money; poor communication can also lead to fragmented teams and lower performance. Thus, leaders in research administration ...
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Navigating the Evolving Workplace in a Diverse Research Administration Environment

By SRAI News
Operations & Workflow Management Navigating the Evolving Workplace in a Diverse Research Administration Environment In the SRAI Coffee Talk (Feb 5, 2025), I joined fellow speakers Karen Mitchell, Marcos Garza, and Rashonda Harris as Moderator in reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of evolving workplace norms, such as remote work and a diverse workforce. We explored strategies to foster inclusivity and engagement in a rapidly changing professional landscape, discussed how to adapt to these shifts, and examined the role of leadership in navigating challenges related to diverse workplaces. While our core mission as research administrators—to ...
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Spring Forward with New Boundaries!

By SRAI News
Career Growth & Leadership Spring Forward with New Boundaries! Spring is in the air! As many look forward to the Spring season, this can be a great time for you and your office to consider a new approach to boundaries to go with it! Developing new procedures in terms of how you as a team interact externally and internally can be helpful, but it is critical to empower team members by setting standards and sticking to them. Options may include working with leadership to focus on emphasizing deadlines and lead times via highlighting rules and policies. Within organizations that have routinely allowed those deadlines to pass and allowed submissions ...
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Note from the Editor | Welcome 2025 and a New Format for the Catalyst

By SRAI News
Note from the Editor Welcome 2025 and a New Format for the Catalyst I am pleased to start 2025 with this incredible opportunity to serve you, our profession and Society as your new Editor. I would like to start by introducing myself and then giving you an overview of the new format we will implement for Catalyst starting in March. My name is Farida Lada, and I started my journey in the field of research administration and compliance at UCLA in 2021. Since then, I have had many new and amazing experiences, including the opportunity to train IRB members in South Korea, start up a research compliance program in Qatar, restructure research compliance ...
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New Feature Section: Grant Development & Strategy

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Grant Development & Strategy Hi, my name is Jose Alcaine, and I am Kimberly Read. We are delighted, thankful, and honored to serve as Catalyst feature co-editors for the section entitled “Grant Development & Strategy.” As co-editors, we look forward to hearing from you, the research administration (RA) experts in the field, about interesting concepts, issues, work, activities, etc., happening in your neck of the woods. Do you have something to share about your grant development efforts or pre-award issues you are having? Well then, we look forward to hearing about it and sharing this ...
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New Feature Section: Grant Management & Financial Oversight

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Grant Management & Financial Oversight The Grant Management and Financial Oversight (Post-Award) section focuses on the critical processes involved in managing and reporting grants after funding has been awarded. This section will cover the full lifecycle of grant administration, with an emphasis on financial oversight, compliance with reporting requirements, and effective strategies for grant closeouts. Content will provide research administrators with practical tools and insights to ensure proper management of funds, maintain accountability, and assess the impacts of awarded grants on their ...
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New Feature Section: Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Regulatory & Compliance Oversight Hello to our SRAI Community! Rani brings over 15 years of experience in research compliance across R1, R2, and private institutions. She has had the privilege of navigating the dynamic intersections of regulatory frameworks, research innovation, and ethical oversight. Tonya’s experience brings over 25 years in the academic setting. She has experience with human subject protection (IRB), research billing compliance, clinical trials management systems, training, and research administration operations. Rani’s academic journey includes a doctoral degree in ...
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New Feature Section: Career Growth & Leadership

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Career Growth & Leadership This section is dedicated to professional development, regardless of the stage of your career or your career goals. Professional development includes a focus on soft skills, such as communication, leadership from any position, and other skills that can support you as you remain in the same role or through career transitions. We are open to articles across the spectrum of professional development, including but not limited to: Collaboration & Communication Time Management & Productivity Goals Setting & Organizational Skills Creativity & ...
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New Feature Section: Operations & Workflow Management

By SRAI News
Introducing the New Catalyst Sections & Feature Editors Operations & Workflow Management We would like to introduce ourselves as the new co-editors of the Operations & Workflow Management section of the Catalyst. This section focuses on the core functions that drive the efficiency and effectiveness of research administration. This section will explore best practices for managing administrative operations, ensuring smooth workflow processes, and supporting faculty and administrative staff. Key topics include optimizing resource allocation, maintaining operational continuity, and implementing technological solutions to streamline day-to-day ...
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Welcome to 2025: Updates from the Communications Committee

By SRAI News
Welcome to 2025: Updates from the Communications Committee Hello and Happy New Year! As the new co-chairs of the Communications Committee, we wanted to take a minute to introduce ourselves and give you a little sneak-peak of what's to come in the coming months. I am Dr. Julie Swaringim-Griffin , the current Assistant Vice President of the Central Sponsored Programs Administration (CSPA) at Oklahoma State University. CSPA offers contract review services, grant writing services for seven campuses, eRA management, sponsored programs support to administrative units and provides professional development for sponsored programs staff campus wide. For SRAI, ...
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Spotlight: Allowability, Allocability, Reasonableness | Part 2: Internal Controls Strengthen Financial Integrity

By SRAI News
Spotlight: Allowability, Allocability, Reasonableness | Part 1: Incorporating AAR into the Research Administrator’s Daily Routine This month, the Spotlight continues its study of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness (AAR) by exploring the essential role of internal controls in safeguarding financial resources and discusses how universities can implement effective procedures at both institutional and departmental levels. Click here to catch up on Part 1: Incorporating AAR into the Research Administrator’s Daily Routine. In today’s increasingly complex higher education landscape, universities face the critical challenge of maintaining ...
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