Blogs

Building Research Infrastructures from Ground Zero in Biomedical Laboratory Science at Six Bachelor’s Degree University Colleges: A Decade of Danish Experience

Volume LVII, Number 2 | Julie Smith Biomedical Laboratory Science, Department of Technology, Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Helen Nordahl Madsen Education of Biomedical Laboratory Science and Research Centre for Rehabilitation, VIA University College, Aarhus N, Denmark Lene Noehr-Jensen Biomedical Laboratory Science, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy and Radiography, UCL University College, Odense, Denmark Steffen Jørgensen Biomedical Laboratory Science, Centre for Engineering and Science, University College Absalon, Naestved, Denmark Leif Kofoed Nielsen Biomedical Laboratory ...
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Why Community Matters More Than Ever for Early-Career Research Administrators

Community & Member Engagement | Spotlight Story Remote and hybrid work can lead to increased isolation. Through mentorship, peer support, and community, research administrators can build confidence, strengthen their connections, and achieve long-term success in the field. Research Administration is a rapidly changing habitat, which can be challenging for new professionals that are just getting their feet wet. Furthermore, while remote work might offer better work-life balance for some (Nagaprakash T. et al., 2024), it can lead to feelings of isolation and lack of institutional support among early-career research administrators. ...
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Indirect Costs Explained in a Practical Way

Grant Development & Strategy | Explaining indirect costs to the non-research administrator can feel overwhelming, yet these costs can be explained in an easy-to-understand way while stressing their importance, necessity, and benefits When you sit down to discuss the first budget proposal with a potential principal investigator (PI), especially if they are new investigators, the question of indirect costs always comes up. Most project budgets include two types of costs: direct and indirect. Direct costs are obvious, but how do you explain indirect costs to your PIs and those new to budget development? Indirect costs aka overhead, facilities ...
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Prescribed Burns, Not Wildfires: Transforming Portfolio Management from Reactive to Strategic

Operations & Workflow Management | We’ve all been there, standing in front of the wildfire called work, wondering how to tackle it. Many research administrators stand before the fire of reactive accounting; but can you change worlds without burning down the house? Yes. It takes time, but you can plan for tomorrow’s fire, today. All over our community, we are referred to as firefighters. We move from one firefight to another, and this tends to be the norm for many research administrators (RAs). Is it possible to move from being completely reactive to proactively planning and forecasting for your portfolios? Yes! Is it going to happen ...
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Travel Trouble: Hotels, Motels, Holiday Inn and Everything in Between

Grant Management & Financial Oversight | When it comes to lodging, a little planning upfront can save a lot of trouble later. Learn how to navigate lodging decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and make choices that won’t come back to haunt you later. Federal regulations on lodging are intentionally broad, requiring only that costs be reasonable. That sounds straightforward, but in practice, “reasonable” can be highly subjective—especially when your audience ranges from undergraduate students to senior researchers. Thankfully, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) provides per diem rates that offer a helpful benchmark. While ...
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The Role of Research in the Professional Development of Research Administrators

Career Growth & Leadership | How can research administrators help close the profession’s knowledge gaps? By doing research themselves. Explore how research in practice can drive better outcomes, efficiency, and professional growth. Research administrators are drivers of research and innovation, providing quiet support through proposal development, alleviating administrative burden, and more. Their work often unnoticed, these professionals drive the nascent research administration profession. However, significant knowledge gaps persist. One way to fill the gaps is through research in practice. Research in practice involves undertaking ...
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Intellectual Property: Levels of Awareness Among Researchers and Research Managers at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda

Volume LVII, Number 2 | Stella Kakeeto Makerere University School of Public Health Mordecai Tayebwa Makerere University College of Health Sciences Wasiu Afolabi University of Cape Town Christine Nalwadda Makerere University School of Public Health Abstract Background: We conducted a needs assessment to assess the status and level of awareness of Intellectual Property management (IPM), as well as identify gaps in intellectual property management guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2021 among researchers and research managers at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Uganda. ...
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A Framework to Characterize Broader Impact Activities

Volume LVII, Number 2 | Rita S. Graef College of Agricultural Sciences, the Pennsylvania State University Daniel D. Foster, PhD College of Agricultural Sciences, the Pennsylvania State University Kathleen M. Hill, PhD College of Education, the Pennsylvania State University Tracy S. Hoover, PhD College of Agricultural Sciences, the Pennsylvania State University Abstract As principal investigators (PIs) develop funding proposals, the framework presented here offers a model for considering how scientists engage audiences in research itself, in activities directly related to specific research project, and in activities complementary to ...
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Job Demands, Resources, and Extra-Role Behavior: Supporting Research Administrators’ Interests in Research Development Activities

Volume LVII, Number 2 | Melanie Bauer Division of Research and Economic Development, Nova Southeastern University Joshua Roney Office of Research, University of Central Florida Rachel Goff-Albritton Division of Research, Florida State University Abstract As institutions seek to expand research capacity, the role of research administrators (RAs) is evolving beyond compliance toward strategic research support. This mixed-methods study explores the potential for integrating research development (RD) approaches into RA roles, including at non-R1 institutions with limited RD staff. Using the frameworks of extra-role behavior (ERB) and the ...
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Federal Policies on Research Security and the Shifting Balance of Legal Liability for Nondisclosure

Volume LVII, Number 2 | K. Ann Bell Virginia Commonwealth University Abstract The United States government is actively working on a national security framework that will balance the need to protect science and technology while maintaining an open, collaborative, and accountable research environment for scientists to conduct fundamental research in their fields. As a result of recently passed legislation, federal agencies have begun implementing a number of requirements on researchers, including personal attestations of all funding, affiliations, and in-kind support on documents submitted to federal funders using standardized forms. Institutes ...
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Aristotle and Grant Writing: The Role of Persuasion In Writing a Successful Grant Application

Volume LVII, Number 2 | Karen E. Mosier University of Saskatchewan Abstract This article presents a conceptually grounded framework for enhancing the persuasiveness of research grant proposals through the strategic application of the classical rhetorical appeals—Ethos, Pathos, and Logos—collectively known as the Aristotelian Triad. Rooted in ancient rhetorical theory, these three modes of persuasion work synergistically to strengthen arguments, particularly in the high-stakes context of grant writing, where justifying the allocation of limited funding is critical. Drawing on real-life examples from successful faculty grant applications and analyzing ...
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A Midcareer Pivot into Research Administration: Lessons from Startup Environments & Rethinking Professional Pathways

Career Growth & Leadership | The world of entrepreneurship is fast-paced and unpredictable. In some ways, professionals in startups must be just as adaptable as the average research administrator. And yet, some might raise an eyebrow at those transitioning into research administration from non-traditional backgrounds. However, the versatile nature of our profession is a strength we should embrace. There is no one set path to success. Research administration is often seen as a highly technical field, one you can only master after years spent working in sponsored programs offices or university departments. But that’s not the whole story. ...
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Research Security Training: What, Who, and Why You Need it for Proposal Submissions

Grant Development & Strategy | Research Security is the latest buzz word in research administration. What is it, why should we care, and who is responsible? This article discusses the history and evolution of research security as we know it today, and what pre-award professionals need to know to ensure compliance from the very beginning. Research Security is the latest buzzword, now here to stay, with many funding agencies changing or adding policies that require mandatory security training certifications at the point of proposal submissions. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) currently requires each senior personnel ...
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From Signature to Stewardship: Building Cross-Functional Contracting Workflows That Strengthen Research Administration

Operations & Workflow Management | A contract’s signature is not the finish line—it is the starting point. Strong research institutions move beyond transactional contracting and build collaborative workflows that support monitoring, compliance, and sustainability. Here’s how cross-functional infrastructure transforms agreements into scalable stewardship systems. Research administrators (RAs) face pressure to increase efficiencies to help address federal funding and compliance changes, broader issues facing higher education, and shrinking resources. The authors explore applying free open AI solutions to some common operations tasks. ...
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NIH Clinical Trial Reforms and the Evolving Research Transparency Landscape

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight | The NIH recently reclassified BESH studies as non-clinical trials, reducing registration and reporting burdens, while simultaneously aligning its “intervention” definition with the 2018 Common Rule, expanding the scope of clinical trials. These conflicting decisions highlight the tension between administrative burden and research transparency amid growing expectations for research accountability. After prolonged debate, in January of 2026, the NIH announced it would no longer classify basic experimental studies involving humans (“BESH”) as meeting the definition of a “clinical trial,” effectively ...
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Catalyst Quarterly: April 2026

View the Full Issue (PDF)* Volume 02, Issue 01: April 2026 Editor's Note Dear Readers, I am delighted to introduce the first issue of volume 2 of the Catalyst Quarterly. We started our journey at the beginning of last year with a lot of ambiguity surrounding the reception of this new magazine format. Since then, the number of submissions has been consistently growing, resulting in a significant increase in the publication’s reach and impact. We couldn’t be more pleased going into this second volume. 2025 was a year of major changes in our field, and as all of us regain our footing, it’s important to remember the fundamental knowledge ...
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Volume LVII, Number 1 - From the Editor's Desk

From the Editor's Desk Author Jennifer E. Taylor, Ph.D., M.B.A. Rush Medical Center and University The Journal of Research Administration (JRA) is the premier scholarly publication in research administration and management. We publish timely, essential work that enhances the knowledge base for research administration and supports research administrators worldwide, making JRA a crucial resource for career development and for advancing the field’s overall knowledge. By publishing peer-reviewed scholarly articles, contributors not only advance their own careers but also elevate our profession. I am excited to share this special issue of the Journal ...
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Self-Auditing: Keys to Successfully Identifying Knowledge Gaps for Effectively Managing Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trials to Reduce Financial and Compliance Risks

Volume LVII, Number 1 Jennifer Harry Seattle Children’s Research Institute Ethan Arana Laird Norton Wetherby Marilyn Marshall Helios, Research Administrative Services Abstract This case study evaluates Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s self-audit process of 11 private industry-funded clinical trials, with a specific focus on post-award financial management. Our primary goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of newly implemented systems and processes designed to mitigate financial and compliance risks to the organization. This comprehensive review of our existing practices, including document integrity, identified areas for improvement ...
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A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Global Clinical Trials

Volume LVII, Number 1 Krishna B Bhadriraju Jenks High School Saint Francis Health System Mani Cheruvu, PhD* Saint Francis Health System Introduction In this era of evidence-based medicine, clinical trials are considered the gold standard for determining optimal patient treatment. As the research landscape evolves, multi-site and multinational clinical trials have become increasingly prevalent compared to conventional single-site studies (Lang & Siribaddana, 2012; Drain et al., 2014). While organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO; https://www.who.int/ ) have published best-practice guidance structured around core themes, including ...
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Cultivating Future Leaders: A Review of the Role of Mentorship in the Clinical Translational Research Workforce

Volume LVII, Number 1 Holly R. Zink, PhD University of Kansas Medical Center Jennifer Goldman, MD Children’s Mercy Kansas City Matthew W. Mosconi, PhD The University of Kansas Jacob Sosnoff, PhD University of Kansas Medical Center Lisa M. Harlan-Williams, PhD University of Kansas Medical Center Nikki Nollen, PhD University of Kansas Medical Center Abstract The continued advancement of impactful clinical translational research is critically dependent on the effective cultivation of future researchers through robust mentorship and structured career development support. Despite the recognized importance of mentorship in advancing ...
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