Catalyst

Being part of SRAI has given me confidence, knowledge, and leadership opportunities that I never would have expected in my life. Growing up in a very small town in Utah. Learning how to interact with others across the globe, in a profession that I have come to love, was initially uncomfortable. However, so many of you have made this an exciting adventure. read more

My passion for SRAI began at the first meeting. I had attended other professional meetings but always left wanting a different experience. After my first meeting I knew I had found my professional development home. It was SRAI. This organization and its members have given so much to me personally and professionally. I have served on the SRAI Finance read more

A few months into my grants management career in 2005, my supervisor recommended I attend the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) meeting in Niagara Falls, NY. Excitement best describes what I felt as this would be my first work travel, my conference attendance would count towards my certification, and I could potentially network read more

"Raise your hand if you knew as a young child that you wanted to be a research administrator when you grew up?" I ask that question at every Basics training that I have taught over the years and have yet to have anyone raise their hand. (However, I did come close with a participant in the current class, who responded that their mother is a research read more

My name is Pamela Denise Montgomery, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for the position of At-Large Board Member on the Board of Directors for the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI). For over twenty years, I have served the research community at Duke University in various capacities, starting as a subject matter expert read more

In spring 2024, I made the decision to run for the SRAI Board of Directors. As with any significant commitment, serving on the Board requires time, dedication, and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the United States research enterprise as well as the international community. We must also consider the tools necessary for research administrators read more

SRAI membership includes a wide variety of people from all over the world with varied experiences and are at institutions with varied resources and missions. It’s that variety and commitment to service that makes us the premier research administration organization in the world and why I’ve truly enjoyed serving in a variety of roles over the past 15+ read more

Investing in the professional development and career progression of research administrators is crucial for advancing the field of research administration. These professionals are the backbone of our organizations, playing a pivotal role in our collective success in research. This commitment to invest in research administrators begins internally within read more

Have you ever considered seeking feedback from your team members? Asking for feedback demonstrates that you value their opinions. Simply inviting their experiences, thoughts, and ideas reduces the likelihood that team members view themselves merely as task executors under your direction. As a leader, it's essential to encourage and actively solicit read more

Hot Topics in Research Law | Legal Issues in the Age of AI-Generated Media: Deepfakes and Other AI Chicanery The Spotlight concludes its series on the implications of emerging legal issues when artificial intelligence (AI) platforms are incorporated as part of the research administration discipline. This month, potential problems provoked for research read more

Note from the Editor | Summer Reading Guide Welcome to the “summer reading guide” that is this month’s Catalyst! Or, for those of you not in the northern hemisphere, perhaps a nice, cozy “winter reading guide” instead? Either way, we have an excellent line-up of topics for you this July. We wrap up our current Spotlight series on Hot Topics read more