Basics of Research Administration Intensive

Unlock the knowledge that leads to success in research administration with "Basics of Research Administration"—a training intensive designed specifically for newcomers with less than two years of experience. This program equips participants with the broad and foundational knowledge needed to navigate the intricate landscape of research administration.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the field, from distinguishing roles and responsibilities within research administration to mastering the end-to-end process of supporting research initiatives. Key skills covered include helping investigators secure funding, differentiating between allowable and unallowable costs, and much more.

The course combines the flexibility of self-paced learning with the invaluable interaction of live, cohort-based sessions, making it ideal for busy professionals looking to advance their knowledge without sacrificing their schedules.

WINTER SESSION

Type: Online

Date: Wednesdays, January 21 - February 25, 2026

Additional Sessions:
	SUMMER SESSION Type: Online Date: Coming June 2026!
	FALL SESSION Type: Online Date: Coming September 2026!

The Basics of Research Administration Intensive Training is hosted three times per year, starting in January, June, and September.

Live Sessions: Real-Time Learning with Expert Guidance

The program includes six 1.5-hour online live sessions, providing an interactive platform for participants to engage with industry experts and peers. These sessions serve as a dynamic forum to:

Ask questions about the topics covered in the modules.
Explore real-world examples shared by speakers.
Gain deeper insights into the material through group discussions.

The live sessions are designed to complement the self-paced modules, giving attendees an opportunity to contextualize their learning and enhance their understanding of complex topics. Completion of these sessions earns participants 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

LevelUP: Knowledge at Your Own Pace

Registration includes one full year of access to five LevelUP Micro-credential Program Modules, enabling participants to learn at their convenience. The modules are designed to provide a robust foundation in research administration and can be completed at your own pace.

Each module is worth an additional 2-4 CEUs, allowing participants to further enhance their credentials by completing course assessments. While the live sessions are designed to complement the modules, completion of the modules is not required to pass the course, offering flexibility to suit any schedule.

The course includes the following LevelUP Micro-credential program Modules:

Click here for more information about SRAI’s LevelUp program

Learning Objectives

After completing Basics of Research Administration, participants will be able to:

Describe the differences among various positions and their responsibilities in research administration
Understand the research administration process from beginning to end
Know how to assist an investigator in finding funding sources
Distinguish between allowable and unallowable costs
Distinguish between direct and F&A (indirect) costs
Describe the various components of a proposal budget
Describe the difference type of award instruments Identify and learn the purpose of the governing federal regulations Identify the major compliance issues
Understand procurement, financial, records and property management
Describe the closeout process

Intended Audience

This program is intended primarily for the research administrators with less than 2 years experience who are involved in any area of research administration. The conference is targeted specifically to new personnel in positions such as pre-award coordinators, departmental administrators, post-award coordinators, compliance coordinators, grant accountants, and others with newly-acquired responsibilities who need to understand the broad spectrum of research administration.

Course Details

Online Classroom:

Intensive sessions will be held via Zoom.
You will receive login details and instructions on accessing the online classroom environment upon enrollment.

Connect Pages:

Access to Connect Pages will be provided upon enrollment in the course.
Connect Pages serve as the central hub for meeting recordings and communication.

CEU Credits:

This course is eligible for 12 Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits.
Participants who successfully complete the course and meet the evaluation criteria will receive a certificate of completion along with documentation of the earned CEU credits.

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If you're new to research administration, this is the course for you. Utilized by multiple institutions to train new hires, SRAI's Basics of Research Administration gives you the foundational knowledge needed to begin a successful career in research administration.

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