Networking is critical to your professional development and growth. Many of us do this by attending events, however, there are dozens of other opportunities for professional growth and career advancement that can come from expanding your network. In this session we will go over the power of networking, how to leverage Linkedin, how to find and get involved in initiatives so you can create new relationships and opportunities for the future and how to find your RA super power to promote yourself.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Use LinkedIn to create a professional brand, build community, connect with others online.
2. Niche down into what you love about research administration to create opportunities and expand your network

Track: Professional Development

IRAM Certificate Required Session: Required Elective 

Speaker(s): Minessa Konecky, Research Administrative Consultant, Minessa InK, Saira Valley, Valley Consulting Group, Minessa InK

Managing proposal intake efficiently is one of the most critical functions in research administration. A well-designed proposal submission form serves as the cornerstone of compliance, workflow efficiency, and data accuracy. This session will explore how institutions can modernize and streamline their proposal submission process using intake forms. Presenters will cover strategies for aligning form content with sponsor requirements, ensuring compliance with internal routing policies, and capturing key metadata (Pl details, deadlines, cost share, and compliance triggers). Attendees will learn how to balance simplicity with thoroughness, design user-friendly forms, and integrate electronic routing systems. Attendees will understand the importance of complete and correct proposal submission information and the significance it has in the post award process. 

Relevance: Every preaward office relies on accurate and timely intake to meet sponsor deadlines. A poorly designed or inconsistent submission form or a lack of a form all together can lead to compliance gaps, routing delays, and missed opportunities. Understanding the importance of correct information at the proposal stage and how it will avoid unnecessary additional administrative burden at the post award stage. 
Innovation: This session showcases how a simple, structured intake form (like Penn State EMS's model) can serve as a foundation for scalable electronic research administration (eRA) systems.
Engagement: Participants will review anonymized sample forms, identify common pitfalls, and design mock revisions during small group exercises.

Outcomes: Attendees will leave with a checklist of required form elements and a template adaptable to their institution.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Identify the essential elements of a proposal submission form to ensure accuracy and compliance and evaluate how form design impacts proposal routing, review, and submission efficiency.
2. Implement process improvements that enhance data collection and reduce administrative workload and understand how the elements when the proposal is awarded are critical for the overall administration of the award.

Track: Pre-Award

IRAM Certificate Required Session: IRAM-II

Speaker(s): Cody Symanietz, Pre-Award Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University, Alice Puzarowski, Pre-Award Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University, Donna Kiley, Senior Director Post Award, Florida International University, Sharita Wallace, Director of Pre-Award, Central State University

Most research administrators work with their legal and technology transfer offices to some extent, but understanding how these offices can be leveraged to support research admin goals and when/how to interact with these offices can be challenging! Whether you are new to research administration or looking for ways to improve your relations with these partner offices, you are welcome to join this presentation. Ashley Thomas, Director of the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at the University of Denver, will share knowledge gleaned from her work in and with offices of general counsel, tech transfer, and sponsored programs. The session begins with a review of the nature and purpose of legal and tech transfer offices before focusing on some of the key sponsored research-related clauses of concern to these offices, and ways that you can partner more efficiently (and perhaps happily!) with these offices at your own institution.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Learn some of the “red flags” and key provisions of interest to legal and tech transfer offices so that you can partner with them more effectively.
2. Develop a greater understanding of ways and times to reach out to your institution’s legal and tech transfer offices.

Track: Contracts and Law

Speaker(s): Ashley Thomas, University of Denver, Manager of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Will Vaughn, Associate Director, Physical Sciences, UCSD TTO 

If I had a dime for every time an investigator walked into my office with an exciting opportunity!  Taking lessons learned from country music we will discuss how to predict the success or failure of a proposed clinical trial.  This session will introduce financial and operational feasibility for projects within your own organizational infrastructure.  As we examine a typical clinical trial protocol we will propose a series of important questions for sites to ask. We will identify required tools for budgeting and calculate a basic budget.  Once you have completed your analysis the work may just be starting.  This session will also include discussion of navigating decision making among your stakeholders.  

Content Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize your institutional definition of success.  Does the study align with organizational goals? Consider participating peer organizations, rigorous research methodologies, opportunities for publication and financial stability?
2. The ability to analyze the legal, fiscal, ethical and scientific review of clinical trials to ensure that you are choosing the right studies for your site.
3. Identify your patient your patient populations and barriers to enrollment. 

Track: Clinical and Translational Research 

CTRA Certificate Required Session: CTRA-III

Speaker(s): Lisa Weaver, Clinical Research Manager, University of Utah Health 

Cost transfers, what are they and why are they an important part of grants management? Cost transfers are best described as the process by which we reallocate expenses that were initially charged incorrectly. This session is designed at the basic level for the new departmental administrators based on the lessons learned from a departmental grants manager. Who is responsible for maintaining information, who is responsible for approval, and the importance of preparing cost transfers within the allowable time frame. At each step of the process, the speakers will look at policies and procedures that ensure cost transfers are compliant with federal and institutional regulations.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Become more familiar with the definition of a cost transfer, associated policies of federal sponsors and universities with federal funding, and navigating the process.
2. Reflect on the Department-level role and its management of costs transfers. 

Track: Financial and Cost Accounting

Speaker(s): Pamela Montgomery, Assistant Director of Finance & Administration, Duke University College & University, Kim McKoy, Associate Director for Contracts and Grants, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Kris Maslonka, Grants and Contracts Administrator, Duke University

Join us for an insightful panel discussion that brings together Research Administrators from multiple generations to celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives each age group brings to the field. This strengths-based conversation will explore how diverse generational insights foster innovation and collaboration in research administration. Discover new approaches to enhance team dynamics, share best practices, and harness the power of generational diversity to propel your team towards excellence.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Learn strategies to effectively combine the strengths and skills of various generations.
2. Discuss methods for enhancing team dynamics and improve research administration practices in ways inclusive of generational differences. 

Track: Professional Development

Speaker(s): Cass Mercer, Senior Research Administrator, Boston Children's Hospital, Ryan Sheehan, Senior Research Administrator, University of Vermont

Internationalizing research efforts is a growing priority across higher education, yet many institutions lack dedicated teams focused on helping faculty pursue global engagement and international funding. At Texas Tech University (TTU), International Affairs (IA) serves as a centralized unit for global initiatives and houses the International Grants Administration and Partnerships (IGAP) department. IGAP supports faculty by identifying international research and development funding opportunities, coordinating proposal development, and fostering partnerships with global institutions to elevate TTU’s international research profile. 

Despite being a small team of four, IGAP plays an essential and highly impactful role in internationalizing TTU’s research enterprise. The team manages multiple programs that promote global engagement and provide structured support for faculty pursuing international collaborations. 

In 2023 and 2024 alone, IGAP coordinated the submission of more than $22 million in international sponsored project proposals—$18 million in 2023 and more than $4 million across seven colleges in 2024. Additionally, IGAP led the development and launch of the International Affairs International Research Network (IRN), which enhances campus‑wide collaboration by connecting faculty interested in global research. As part of this initiative, IGAP created the Funding Alert Database, a centralized resource that compiles international grant opportunities, enabling faculty to more efficiently identify funding aligned with their research interests. 

To further expand global research engagement, IGAP established four new seed grant programs within the last eighteen months. The Global Exchange Research Seed Grants provide support through two tracks—One‑Way Travel Grants and Faculty Exchange Grants—designed to help faculty initiate or strengthen international collaborations. These programs have already funded six awards, each intended to catalyze long-term, multi‑institutional research partnerships. IGAP also launched TTU‑CATIE (Costa Rica) and TTU‑UNNOBA (Argentina) Seed Grants, which connect TTU faculty with strategic partner institutions to co-develop research projects in targeted disciplines. 

Since 2017, IGAP has also served as the administrative hub for TTU’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Public Management Institute, a flagship initiative of the U.S. Department of State. In 2024, IGAP received its sixth consecutive award to host a cohort of 25 young African leaders representing approximately 20 countries. For this six‑week program, IGAP manages all academic, operational, and cultural components. The team also maintains sustained engagement with all 150 TTU Fellowship alumni, who continue to drive impact across the African continent. 

In 2024, IGAP further expanded TTU’s international presence by hosting the Central American Research Symposium (CARS), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The symposium brought scholars from Central American institutions to TTU for panel discussions, networking sessions, student presentations, and cultural exchange. The program successfully facilitated new research connections, many of which are continuing today. 

IGAP is also responsible for initiating, drafting, and managing TTU’s international academic and research partnership agreements. These agreements range from ceremonial MOUs to education abroad collaborations and dual-degree frameworks. Through this work, IGAP collaborates closely with faculty, staff, university leadership, and international partners to establish and maintain agreements that advance TTU’s global mission. 

This 60‑minute session will provide SRAI conference participants with a comprehensive look at TTU’s model for internationalizing research efforts, including practical tools, processes, and strategies that can be adapted across institutional contexts. The session will offer actionable insights on building international funding pipelines, creating seed grant mechanisms, and leveraging global partnerships.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning objectives:

1. The session will offer actionable insights on building international funding pipelines, creating seed grant mechanisms, and leveraging global partnerships.
2. The session will allow participants to learn how our institute successfully internationalized its research enterprise and how they can implement similar strategies at their own institutions

Track: Pre-Award

IRAM Certificate Required Session: IRAM-I

Speaker(s): Elizabeth Espino, Senior Grant Administrator, Texas Tech International Affairs, Michael Johnson, Associate Director of International Grants Administration and Partnerships

This session will provide a practical understanding of basic contract law principles and their application in sponsored research. Whether you're a non-lawyer who negotiates contracts or a lawyer new to research administration, this session offers context for the terms and conditions found in nearly every research contract. You'll learn why these provisions exist, what risks they present, and how to mitigate them.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Identify and explain the purpose of standard contractual terms and conditions commonly found in sponsored research agreements, including the legal principles that underpin them.
2. Assess potential risks associated with key contract provisions in research agreements and apply strategies to minimize or mitigate those risks during negotiation.

Track: Contracts & Law

IRAM Certificate Required Session: IRAM-III

Speaker(s): Michael Marino, Associate Director, Research Administration, Northeastern University, Timothy Gehret, Associate Director of Contracts, Georgia State University

Changes to the Common Rule and evolving expectations around data sharing have generated increased attention on the management of biorepositories and associated data in clinical research. This session provides a practical overview of biorepository models and key data management considerations within the context of clinical trials. Topics include centralized, decentralized, and federated repository models; lifecycle and quality considerations for biospecimens and associated data; and operational and institutional factors influencing repository management.

The session will also examine current regulatory frameworks and guidance, including considerations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as newer requirements such as the NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy. Additional focus will be placed on data sharing, data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and information security practices. Practical scenarios will be used to illustrate implications for informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and future use of biospecimens and data in clinical research.

Content Level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and differentiate key models and operational approaches for biorepository and data management in clinical trials, including considerations for data sharing and lifecycle management.
2. Understand how regulatory frameworks (e.g., HHS/OHRP, FDA, HIPAA, and NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy) impact the collection, storage, use, and sharing of biospecimens and associated data in clinical research.

Track: Clinical and Translational Research 

CTRA Certificate Required Session: CTRA-III

Speaker(s): Maddie Williams, Senior Director, Huron, Phil Cola, Professor of Management, Departments of Design and Innovation and Organizational Behavior, Case Western Reserve University

This session will take a deep dive into the complexities of globally engaged sponsored research and development projects. We'll look into the minimum (and maximum) requirements and expectations from federal sponsors, and dive into best practices for ensuring these requirements are met and documented. This workshop will explore bare-bones SOP starters and workflows that any administrator can implement on day one, as well as more sophisticated, large-scale processes and platforms for effective international sub-award compliance and oversight.  

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Identify the minimum oversight and compliance responsibilities for international-sponsored projects.
2. Create trackers, forms, and tools that will streamline international oversight and reduce administrative burden. 

Track: Professional Development

Speaker(s): Lauren McLennan, Post-Award Administrator III, Emory University

Given the fast pace of a research administrators' office, now is the time to use automation tools to optimize your efforts. In this session, Sandi Gregory (Boise State University) will demonstrate how to move beyond basic pivot tables and data reports, incorporating Excel formulas to pull data into a comprehensive and automated PI status report. This is a practical way to build formulas up front to save time later.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning objectives:

1. Reduce manual data entry and errors by optimizing data warehouse/system generated reports with Excel formulas.
2. Create a sustainable process for reporting cadence.

Track: Professional Development

Speaker(s): Sandi Gregory, Business Operations Manager/Research Administrator, Boise State University

Most research administrators still enter our profession by chance without a clue as to what we do, much less a clear career pathway for advancement. Having career goals that align with personal goals provides a some semblance of control over your future, even when life deals you a detour.  Whatever your stage of life or career, it is never too late to spend some time thinking about your personal and career aspirations, and identifying the short and long term objectives that will keep you on pace to realize those dreams. Our profession has become specialized making it difficult to progress beyond mastery of a single area of expertise.  Most sucessful research administration leaders have given a thought to their personal and professional goals and some of us have been lucky enough to have participated in a formal goal setting exercise.  This workshop will walk participants through the process of considering your personal and professional goals, committing those to writing and setting some short term objectives toward meeting those goals.  

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Understand how written goals and objective can help you progress as an individual and professional.
2.  Articulate their lifetime goals and set their first set of short term objectives towards achiveing those aspirations.

Track: Professional Development

Speaker(s): Susan Sedwick, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners, Distinguished Faculty

U.S. export control regulations create growing compliance challenges for research administrators. Enforcement is expanding, and research now relies more on digital platforms, international collaboration, and new technologies. Export compliance demands informed, proactive decisions at each research stage. This session offers a practical overview of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It focuses on how these rules affect proposal development, award terms, data access, travel, subawards, and faculty engagement. Through realistic scenarios, participants will learn to spot export control risk, apply exclusions and controls, and support compliant yet open research.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

Track: Compliance & Ethics

IRAM Certificate Required Session: IRAM-IV

Speaker(s): Gloria Greene, AVP, Contracts and Grants, Research Compliance, The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Coming Soon

CTRA Certificate Required Session: CTRA-II

Speaker(s): Michele Tyrpak, Director, USF Technology Transfer Office, University of South Florida

Closeouts are a key part of the award lifecycle. However it is often the lowest on the list of priorities. This oversight results in the creation of a backlog and can have financial consequences for the institution. Come join us for an interactive session to learn more about why closeouts are important and how to properly prepare for the closeout stage of the award.

Content level: Basic

Learning objectives:

1. Define why closeouts are necessary.
2. Describe the importance of proper award management throughout the life of the award.

Track: Financial and Cost Accounting

Speaker(s): Jennifer Crockett, Sr. Grants & Contracts Analyst, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Tamara Hill, Associate Vice President for Research Operations, Morehouse School of Medicine