We are so focused on large extramural grants, that we often overlook the other sources of research funding, including: other extramural grants, philanthropy, foundation grants, research contracts and internal grants. This workshop follows the principal of diversifying your portfolio and looks at these other sources of research funding and the nuances of these opportunities. Participants will take closer looks at these other sources of funding and learn how the better position their institution to not put all their proverbial eggs in one basket.  We’ll cover finding the funding, applying for, and managing these different pots of gold. We’ll also cover a variety of different internal funding mechanisms that could be started at your institution, if you don’t already have them. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the unique aspects of funding from non-traditional sources.
2. How to seek, find and apply for research funding from sources other than large extramural grants.

Track: Research Development & Strategy

Speaker(s): Mel Mingler, Business Manager, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Clinical trials are a specialized area of research focused on evaluating new medical treatments, procedures, and behavioral interventions for safety and efficacy. Because of their complexity, research administrators who do not regularly work with clinical trials during the pre-award phase may find this area challenging, particularly due to unfamiliar terminology, regulatory requirements, processes, and team roles. This session is designed to demystify clinical trials in the pre-award stage by covering foundational topics, including what constitutes a clinical trial, commonly used clinical trial terminology, and the key stages of a clinical trial during pre-award. In addition, the session will explore how research administrators can effectively support and engage with clinical trial activities in a pre-award context. This presentation is intended as an introductory overview for research administrators who occasionally encounter clinical trials (either Federal or Industry) or are seeking a better understanding of this area. By providing essential foundational knowledge, the session aims to empower participants to engage more confidently in discussions, ask informed questions, and contribute meaningfully to decision-making in this complex and critical area of research.

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the basics of clinical trials in a pre-award setting for those who do not regularly interact with this type of research.
2. Identify the roles research administrators play within clinical trials. 

Track: Proposal Preparation & Submission

Speaker(s): Katherine Bui, Senior Clinical Trial Research Process Manager, Stanford University

Successful contract negotiation isn’t just about holding firm on red lines—it’s about strategic, artful communication that turns obstacles into opportunities. This presentation will explore key techniques for clearly articulating your position, navigating pushback with confidence, and securing buy-in for suggested changes. Learn how to frame negotiations as collaborative problem-solving, use persuasive tactics to align interests, and craft agreements that drive value while protecting key priorities. Whether you're facing tough counteroffers or navigating delicate discussions, this session will equip you with the skills to negotiate with clarity, influence, and success.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. State positions constructively.
2. Manage Expectations.

Track: Award Acceptance & Negotiation

Speaker(s): Timothy Gehret, Associate Director, Contracts & Subawards, Interim Research Security Officer (RSO)" University Research Services & Administration - Georgia State University

Grant-funded project teams usually encounter challenges in data management planning, data organization, description, display as well as complying with public-access publication mandate. With infrastructure and expertise in technology, data, collection and research strategies, UH Libraries (UHL) offers programs and services that connect the library’s talent with the university’s grant-funded project needs.  

This presentation will showcase strategies, fundamentals and models that the UHL has developed in collaboration and partnership with university grant-funded projects: a). the library programs and services that support various stages of the research data lifecycle and ensure compliance with funder mandates; b). UHL contribution models associated with libraries services and partnerships in the university grant-funded research; c). communication and the assessment of participation and pre-award preparation activities with campus partners; d). partnership commitment through an agreement for transparency and shared understanding of roles and responsibilities. Lessons learned and the next steps will also be discussed at the presentation.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop foundational guidelines for grant collaborations and partnerships.
2. Understand contribution models for grant collaborations and partnerships. 

Track: Expanding Research Capacity

Speaker(s): Santi Thompson, Associate Dean for Librarian Affairs and Operations, University of Houston, Annie Wu, Director of Librarian Grant Readiness, University Libraries, University of Houston
 

Join our panel to hear how different institutions are navigating shifting federal policies and regulations. Panelists will discuss how they are thinking about these changes and how they are adapting with policy and funding shifts.  How are we handling funding, compliance, and operational changes?  The panelists will also provide updates on major policy and legislative changes in research and how these are impacting research administrators.

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify strategies to prepare for change.
2. Learn about current policies and legislative changes impacting Federal programs.

Track: Professional Development and Leadership

Speaker(s): Coming Soon
 

Support Networks at Diversified Research Institutions (SUNDRI) collected unique nationally representative survey data on research development in the context of research administration at colleges and universities, covering roughly 1,300 doctoral, masters, and baccalaureate institutions. SUNDRI obtained responses from about 350 institutions and has merged the data with NSF (HERD) data on R&D spending and NCES (IPEDS) data on many other aspects of these institutions. SUNDRI employed key strategies of instrument design such as cognitive testing and modularization and is nationally representative of R1, R2, and other Emerging Research Institutions across different Carnegie classifications, enabling detailed statistical inference and hypothesis testing. Initial findings will be presented from this NSF-funded (GRANTED Program) study covering the structure and activities of offices involved in RD/RA such as organizational placement, staffing levels, personnel titles and experience, turnover, perceived primary strengths and challenges, measures of applications submitted and awards processed, participation in national organizations, and other characteristics.

Content level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the major types and populations of academic organizations and the nature, placement, and key characteristics of research development functions in them.
2. Recognize key uses and challenges of survey data, including what types of questions and answers they can support. 

Track: Research Development & Strategy

Speaker(s): Dean Gerstein, Director of Sponsored Research, Pomona College

This session will connect research administration to research security programs and focus on the critical need for close collaboration between the two offices.   It emphasizes how insufficient policies and poorly defined roles and responsibilities create contracting bottlenecks, gaps in incident reporting, and increased organizational risk exposure. 

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Connect poorly written or absent policies to specific control failures.
2. Recognize how unclear roles and responsibilities slow compliance workflows.
3. Evaluate how research administration processes (subawards, contracting, onboarding) intersect.

Track: Expanding Research Capacity

Speaker(s): Jennifer Keller, Director of Academic Research Security Compliance and Risk Mitigation, Georgia Tech, Brandon Strickland, Associate Vice President for Research Administration, Georgia Tech

Small and emerging research institutions (ERIs) face unique challenges in building sustainable research programs. This session highlights federal and non-federal, recurring funding opportunities that have proven instrumental in positively impacting the research environment at ERIs. Speakers will share findings and experiences from partnerships with smaller universities, as well as firsthand knowledge of sponsors and funding sources that can assist with growing necessary infrastructure and expanding faculty engagement. The session will conclude with tools and resources to help research administrators remain proactive and informed in an evolving funding environment. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide actionable suggestions for funding opportunities specifically geared towards institutions with smaller/newer research programs 
2. Share resources to help research administrators stay informed of applicable opportunities going forward 

Track: Expanding Research Capacity

Speaker(s): Caleh Kizer, Grants Specialist, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga College & University, Jose Alcaine, Director of Research Services/Affiliate Faculty Foundations of Education, School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University

AI is the fasting growing tool in the world right now. But did you know it could increase your success rate in preparing for a certification exam? This session will review methods in which the speaker utilized AI to help prepare for passing two of the RACC Examinations.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify how AI tools can translate complex research administration policies into real‑world scenarios that strengthen comprehension of the Body of Knowledge.
2. Demonstrate how AI can streamline study planning, reduce cognitive load, and reinforce mastery through personalized learning techniques.

Track: Professional Development and Leadership

Speaker(s): Cassandra Johnson, Post Award Administrator, Team Lead, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Commander Michael Abrashoff's book "It's Your Ship" is a foundational read in leadership published in 2012. Set in a U.S. Navy background, the book offers practical leadership advice and guidance that is adaptable to many professions, including research administration. In 2026, however, the environment is changing and the core leadership rules that have met with success should now be adapted to meet emerging technology and reimagined working environments. The speakers will examine four areas of change that can impact research administration efficiencies, technology, and relationships and will discuss the impact these changes are having and will have on the profession of research administration. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify emerging trends and engage solutions beneficial to research administrators.
2.  Re-imagine the changing work environment and adapt to current workplace solutions.

Track: Compliance & Research Integrity in Pre-Award

Speaker(s): Gina Hedberg, Associate Vice President for Research / Exec Dire, OSP University of Alabama at Birmingham, Gloria Greene, Assistant Vice President, Contracts and Grants, Research Compliance, University of Alabama in Huntsville

The NSF GRANTED initiative seeks to support and bolster the U.S. research enterprise by providing funding through grants, projects, and convenings that expand knowledge, expertise, staffing, and infrastructure supports to enhance research capacity, especially at emerging research institutions. This interactive session will share lessons learned and reflections from a series of NSF GRANTED convenings held in Central Virginia. This session will also explore the concept of research ecosystems which was used as the framework for the convenings. Thinking of the research enterprise as an ecosystem, a living system with interdependent relationships acting in a dynamic environment, can lead to meaningful, long lasting, and sustained outcomes within a given context. Lessons learned from the convenings will be discussed including barriers and catalysts for developing research projects. Discussion and participant engagement will be encouraged and expected in this session.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. At the end of this session participants will be able to define and describe research ecosystems as a framework for research development.
2. At the end of this session participants will be able to apply research ecosystems thinking to their own context as it relates to research development and partner engagement.

Track: Research Development & Strategy

Speaker(s): Jose Alcaine, Director of Research Services/Affiliate Faculty Foundations of Education, School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University

Do you want to help your primary investigators, expand their funding portfolio beyond  federal sources?  What are some tips and information that might help you submit proposals to non-profits, commercial entities, and state agencies.  This session will go over some basic information on these types of sponsors, problem areas to be aware of, and some source information. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify issues to watch for in seeking commercial funding.
2. Understand how the formulation of a non-profit’s board affects proposal submission and review.

Track: Proposal Preparation & Submission

Speaker(s): M. Fran Stephens, Emeritus, Director of, Office of Research Services, University of Oklahoma 

One of the most important and untold aspects of being a research administrator is the way you show up for your fellow research staff, your PIs, and your institution. This session explores the idea that showing up in some capacity for each of our “regulars” fosters the productive environment necessary for a growing research enterprise. Expressing interest in investigators’ research builds trust and opens prospective PIs to conversations about finding funding, which can be a vulnerable conversation. These small connections also increase research administration knowledge on faculty needs and potential gaps in support. This session will focus on the benefits and challenges of investing in cross-functional relationship-building for sustainable research gains. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1.  Identify ways to shift our mindset from “separate roles” to “shared mission” 
2.  Equip participants with practical strategies to bridge institutional gaps and build research capacity 

Track: Expanding Research Capacity

Speaker(s): Caleh Kizer, Grants Specialist, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Claudia Colpo, Research Development Specialist, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga Research Institute

As artificial intelligence reshapes the research enterprise, the question facing institutional leaders is no longer whether to adopt AI, it’s where and how to invest for meaningful impact. As new tools and capabilities emerge at a rapid pace, research organizations must take a strategic approach to identifying AI initiatives that align with their mission, compliance obligations, and organizational capacity. This session equips attendees with a practical framework for building an AI strategic plan for research administration—one that balances innovation, governance, and institutional readiness. We’ll explore how to evaluate potential AI investments based on value, feasibility, and risk, and how to plan for implementation to ensure maximum adoption and long-term success. Grounded in principles of change management and strategic alignment, the session will also address how to engage stakeholders, communicate vision, and create a culture of responsible experimentation. Participants will leave with tools to move from scattered AI experiments to a coordinated institutional roadmap that drives efficiency, transparency, and transformation.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Apply a Strategic Framework to Evaluate AI Opportunities: Identify and prioritize potential AI initiatives in research administration using criteria such as mission alignment, ROI, compliance risk, and institutional feasibility.
2. Assess Institutional Readiness and Governance Needs: Evaluate factors that influence an institution’s capacity to implement and sustain AI initiatives successfully.

Track: Professional Development and Leadership

Speaker(s): Kathleen Halley-Octa, Manager, Attain Partners, Theresa Couch, Director of Research Administration Operations, Michigan State University; Carolyn Sims, Assistant Director, Georgia Institute of Technology

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide an overview of risk assessments and why risk assessments are a necessary component of a research enterprise.
2. Practical application of risk assessment skills in a research enterprise.

Track: Compliance & Research Integrity in Pre-Award

Speaker(s): Jay Trimm, Director of Risk and Compliance, University of Alabama System, Kaci Blue, Risk Management Analyst, University of Alabama System, Hunter Sims, Assistant Director of Compliance, University of Alabama System

Designing Rank-Aware Pre-Award Support That Actually Works. Most pre-award systems assume all faculty need the same support. That mismatch creates last-minute submissions, faculty avoidance, and staff burnout. A practical framework for aligning pre-award services to assistant, associate, and full professors—plus tools to replace reactive heroics with predictable systems.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain why one-size-fits-all grant training fails across career stages.
2. Identify rank-specific pre-award support strategies.
3. Apply simple tools (intake snapshots, RACI charts, backward timelines) to reduce chaos.
4. Shift pre-award work from crisis response to intentional system design.

Track: Research Development & Strategy

Speaker(s): Katherine Lindsay, Administrator, University of Minnesota College & University

A well-defined and clear proposal submission can significantly impact the performance of a sponsored project, both programmatically and financially. This session will focus on the various phases of a sponsored project, highlighting the components of the pre-award process that facilitate award setup, invoicing, projections, and project closeout. Additionally, the session will explore strategies for integrating pre-award and post-award activities and personnel to foster collaboration. As these phases of the project lifecycle are interconnected, research administrators can support one another to enhance proposal quality and project management. By working together efficiently, we can reduce administrative burdens and increase compliance.  processes.

Content level: Intermediate

Learning Objectives:

1. After this session, participants should be able to describe the activities of pre-award and post-award that make up the research administration life cycle.
2. After this session, participants should be able to determine pre-award approaches to prevent post-award issues and how post-award can help pre-award.

Track: Proposal Preparation & Submission

Speaker(s): Katherine Bui, Senior Clinical Trial Research Process Manager, Stanford University

Research Administration is truly an abstract career, requiring a diverse set of skills to perform the functions required. There is no single manual for these positions. Many of the requirements of the position are unique to the department, chair, or school. 
 
Much of the learning requires on-the-job training and improvisational skills, the ability to pivot quickly, and the ability to serve many masters. It requires tangible skills in financial, psychological, research, clinical, project management, and human resources, as well as the intangible skills of managing up, working with diverse stakeholders, multi-tasking, and negotiation. The job of a research administrators has been described as “doing whatever it takes to keep the faculty happy.”  
 
For those thinking of entering the field or just having accepted a research administrator position, it would be beneficial to learn the diverse skills needed to succeed, as well as having mentorship, coaching, and guidance on what to anticipate. With this foreknowledge, newcomers may better navigate the challenges that go with this role.
 
The goal of this session will be to help those new in the field find success. Mixing humor with earnestness, seasoned research administrators will provide guidance, share their journeys as RAs, and offer their collective experiences focusing on the known and unknowns, as well as “things you were not told” until you hold the job.

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the skills necessary to become a successful research administrator
   
2. Learn the tangible and intangible tips, tricks, and hacks on navigating this field
   
3. Learn the importance of mentorship, coaching, and partnerships and how to utilize them to succeed in the role as a research administrators. 

Track: Professional Development and Leadership

Speaker(s): Gina Hedberg, Associate Vice President for Research / Exec Dire, OSP University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mark Lucas, Chief Administrative Officer, UCLA, Research Program Manager, Georgia Institute of Technology, Cindy Morin, Senior Administrative and Business Manager, Johns Hopkins University

Compliance on all fronts pertaining to subawards is commonly a non-priority when faced with larger issues and requirements relating to the overall study as a whole. Whether in pre-award or post-award, missing one element of subaward implementation can lead to audit findings and consequences that no institution wants to occur.

This session will focus on the absolute bare necessities as identified by NIH guidance in order to keep subawards and the pass-through entities that award them in compliance. Attendees will be able to see a breakdown of the required items while discussing where each fall in the pre-award and post-award process.

While keeping in mind that each institution has its own individual internal mechanisms and structure, attendees will be encouraged to share both shortcomings and successes that they have faced in managing subawards. 

Content level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the minimum requirements as set forth by NIH guidance to ensure institutional compliance.
2. Identify common problem points with subawards that can lead to non-compliance.

Track: Compliance & Research Integrity in Pre-Award

Speaker(s): Andrew Loreno, Senior Grants and Contracts Officer, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Sydney Stapleton, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Non-Profit