S1 - How to Do Research Administration Effectively and Successfully on a Shoestring Budget

Many people think they need to have access to broad and deep sources of funding to support the initiatives and activities of their research administration offices. While it is indeed true that funding can often provide certain kinds of support that are not possible otherwise, a great deal can be done with only the expenditure of time and effort of research administration office staff and the staff members of sister offices around the institution/organization. This session, co-presented by Panda Powell and Paul Tuttle, will use case studies and examples from their years of serving in central offices at small, medium, and larger sized institutions (undergraduate-focused to Carnegie R2 level) to discuss possible ways to support different research administration and research development functions, including (for example) (1) faculty, student, and administrator training sessions; (2) proposal development brainstorming and coordination meetings; (3) information sessions on changes in research administration law or regulations and related university policy updates; (4) introductions to services provided by different sister offices on campus that help to support externally funded projects during the project management phase [e.g., accounting/business and finance, purchasing, HR, campus event centers, etc.]; and (5) presentations at departmental, school, college, and center meetings regarding available research office support and--with that support--how to become more involved in the campus's research enterprise. Additional ideas will be solicited from attendees during the "group discussion" portions of the session, all of which will be shared with NC RAA attendees and other North Carolina allies, colleagues, and stakeholders after the conference.

Panda Powell, Appalachian State University

Paul Tuttle, Hanover Research

General Research Administration and University-Focused Research Development

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

 

S2 - Managing a Multi-Generational Office: Coaching and Retaining Our Current and Future Generations

This session will discuss how coaching and mentoring are key factors to success in a multi-generational workforce. We will illustrate with "real life" examples of what is timeless in the work of research administration. The focus is on how commonalities, rather than differences, are keys to success and can be integrated into coaching and mentoring employees.

Kacie Ferguson, Huron Consulting Group

John Sites, Huron Consulting Group

Personal Development, Management

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

 

S3 – Building Bridges: Establishing Relationships Between Principal Investigators and Research Professionals

We often view PIs as the scary beast!  It is often an us-vs-them feeling.  We can, in fact, build that collaboration with PIs, just like a PI does with another PI.  We have to build that bridge and walk across it.  We can be viewed as a partner.  Come build a bridge with us!

Betty Morgan, NC State University

Lorrie Robbins, Duke University

Professional Development

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate

 

S4 - UNC System Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) Updates and Open Discussion

The session will be specific to UNC System (UNCSO) employees who are involved in research administration.  It will include a specific overview of guidelines that impact subrecipients of UNCSO, review of 2 CFR 200 changes and impact for UNCSO sponsored projects, review of UNCS MyApps, and open discussion. 

Valerie Crickard, UNC System Office

Pre Award, Post Award, Compliance, UNC System Updates

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S5 - How It Started and How It’s Going: Data Management and Sharing Requirements, Challenges, and Emerging Best Practices

Public trust in research and science is at an all-time low. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center showed that 27% of Americans say they have little to no confidence that scientists act in the public interest. Similarly, the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer, a global survey of more than 32,000 people, reports that 26% of people do not trust scientists to tell the truth. As such, the Federal government has placed an emphasis on transparency and weaved the spirit of that emphasis into new requirements for proposal submissions, award terms and conditions, and progress reporting. In 2022 the Office of Science and Technology Policy released guidance that requires federal agencies to update their public access policies by December 31, 2025, to make the results of federally funded research publicly and freely available. Federal agencies have already begun to update their data management and sharing policies, including the National Institutes of Health which released the Data Management and Sharing policy that was implemented in January 2023. Other agencies have also begun to release plans to meet the OSTP deadline such as the National Science Foundation’s Public Access Plan 2.0. Additionally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has released the NIST Research Data Framework (RDaF) Version 2.0 as a tool for agencies and organizations to improve research data management capacity and capabilities. We will explore how institutions have adapted to comply with new policies such as the NIH Data

Management and Sharing Policy by reviewing some emerging best practices and identifying some of the challenges such as budgeting, monitoring, and repository selection. We will also look at how this policy fits within the federal public access and data management regulatory landscape.

Alison Krauss, Huron Consulting Group

Ian Von Wald, Duke University

Compliance

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

 

S6 - Engineering Connections - Collaborations and Networking

For research development professionals, networking is a crucial tool for fostering collaborations and securing funding. This session will delve into networking strategies specifically designed for university-based research development professionals. Attendees will discover how to identify and connect with key stakeholders, leverage strategic partnerships, and utilize digital platforms. Through case studies, participants will gain actionable insights into building networks that support research initiatives and institutional goals. Join us to enhance your networking toolkit and drive impactful research collaborations.

Nathan Blouin, UNC Chapel Hill

Kelley Cardone, UNC Chapel Hill

Michelle Maclay, UNC Chapel Hill (Unable to be present)

Kerry Sewell, East Carolina University

Research Development

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate

 

S7 - Nuts and Bolts of the NIH Grants Process

NIH staff representing Program, Grants Management, and Review will walk through the NIH grants process from program inception through closeout.

Abee Boyles, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Jenny Greer, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Leroy Worth, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Camilo Asuncion, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Pre Award, Post Award, Compliance

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S8 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Uses in Research Administration

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a valued assistant in a variety of processes and venues, including higher education. In this session, we will present on (1) what AI is and what it can do, especially in higher education; (2) how some institutions are already using AI in various areas, including research administration; and (3) how NC A&T is using AI in a number of areas, including research administration, to automate certain functions or processes. At the end of this interactive session will be a Q&A/discussion period in which attendees will be asked to share their understanding of how AI might be used in research administration at their home institutions to assist in automating certain types of tasks for increased effectiveness and/or efficiency, particularly in areas where human capital is lacking. Attendees will be provided a list of existing AI tools and key examples of how universities are using AI, including in research administration and research development; presenters will also share ideas from the end-of-session discussion with NC RAA attendees and membership across the state, likely at the second annual conference to occur next year. [Attendees: please download ChatGPT on your phone prior to attending; check your IT security rules.]

Tonjia May, North Carolina A&T University

Makiyah Price, North Carolina A&T University

Innovations in Research Administration and Research Development in Higher Education

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

 

S9 - Effective Negotiation in Research Administration

Effective negotiation is more than recognizing problematic clauses and redlining language. To be successful, one must understand the nuances of the language and how to navigate multiple stakeholders and the negotiation process effectively.  Because research administration negotiators are often the go-between among the sponsor, legal counsel, senior management and the principal investigator, it is imperative to develop effective negotiation and communication. This presentation will focus on using general principles of research agreement negotiation to successfully get to a mutually beneficial executed agreement and help participants improve negotiations with internal and external stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for all involved.

Mindy Solivan, Attain Partners

Pre Award

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

 

S10 - Growing Research Development at your Institution

This session will discuss what the Research Development life cycle entails and will review the strategies to creating a professional research center that is equipped to manage the sustainability and growth of your institution's growth potential. 

Stacy Leotta, UNC Charlotte

Paul Tuttle, Hanover Research

Proposal Development

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

 

S11 - NSF Updates

This session will review highlights of recent changes to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), provide detailed information about NSF’s implementation of the revised 2 CFR 200, as well as additional pre-award and post-award topics.

Jeremy Leffler, National Science Foundation

Pre Award, Post Award, Compliance

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

 

S12 - A Studio Model for Research Support: UNC’s Arts & Humanities Grant Studio

Compared to STEM faculty, scholars in the Arts and Humanities gain less training in collaboration and face resource shortages, factors that limit their pursuit of complex grants. To address these challenges, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill developed the Arts and Humanities Grant Studio (AHGS), which integrates traditional project management tools with research development principles and art studio methods. The result prioritizes four elements of a studio when approaching grant operations: (1) a practice of sustained attention, (2) a focus on transdisciplinary collaboration, (3) an adaptiveness to evolving outcomes, and (4) an awareness of the impact of storytelling. Our presentation will break down these elements and illustrate how we’ve applied them. This model has been developed and driven by the AHGS team, which consists of three postdocs and a supervisor from a range of disciplines in the Arts and Humanities. We bring our varied expertise to provide tailored project management and creative engagement support, helping PIs avoid burnout and successfully build their projects towards future, larger grants. Ultimately, we reflect on the successes and challenges of our efforts at the AHGS and imagine new ways to support arts and humanities projects throughout the pre- and post-award lifecycles.

Sara Katz, UNC Chapel Hill

Boyie Kim, UNC Chapel Hill

Mariah Marsden, UNC Chapel Hill

Ashley Melzer, UNC Chapel Hill

Pre Award, Post Award, Proposal Development

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S13 – Work-Life Balance: Is It Just a Buzz Word?

Work-life balance is everywhere, in the news, on Facebook, on LinkedIn.  What is it really?  Is it just a catch phrase? Can it be achieved?  Let's explore these questions together and come up with some ways we can identify balance and achieve perfect harmony!

Betty Morgan, NC State University

Lorrie Robbins, Duke University

Personal Development

Intermediate

 

S14 - Financial Management: Forecasting Expenses on Active Accounts

We will review best practices and available tools and reports to forecast budgets in order to proactively monitor active awards and accurately plan.

Kimberly McKoy, North Carolina A&T University

Amanda Varone, Huron Consulting Group

Post Award

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

 

S15 - Key Uniform Guidance (UG) Updates and Mitigating Compliance Risk with a UG Assessment

This session will cover the uniform guidance, highlighting the latest updates. We will discuss the key changes and explore the advantages of conducting a UG assessment, particularly in addressing compliance issues. Attendees will learn how a comprehensive UG assessment can benefit their organization by helping to address compliance challenges and avoiding UG audit findings.

Bob Cohen, Attain Partners

Lindsey Hornsby, Attain Partners

Compliance

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

 

S16 - Utilizing Federal Funding to Build Holistic, Interactive, and Sustainable Campus-Community Partnerships

In this session, participants will explore best practices for identifying and securing funding opportunities that align with collaborative goals and community needs. The session will provide strategies for creating partnerships that are not only responsive to immediate challenges but also adaptable to future needs, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability. Through interactive discussions and case studies, attendees will gain insights into successful partnership models, understand the importance of inclusive engagement, and learn how to measure and communicate the value of these partnerships to stakeholders and funders.

Patrick Martin, Johnson C. Smith University

John Oliver, Johnson C. Smith University

Proposal Development, Personal Development

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S17 - Do's and Don'ts of Cost Share

Cost sharing can be a challenging and burdensome process for research administrators, new and old. This session is designed to provide an overview of the cost sharing process and to recount horror stories of cost sharing gone wrong, along with tips for navigating cost share across the lifecycle, including at the proposal, award receipt, award management, and closeout stages in order to avoid common pitfalls with cost sharing.

Purshotam Aruwani, Huron Consulting Group

Samantha Ellithorpe, Western Carolina University

Post Award, Proposal Development

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S18 - NC Biotechnology Center Grants Explained

Staff from NCBiotech will present on the organization’s grant programs. A member of the Science and Technology Development team will highlight the NCBiotech grant programs that are available to North Carolina academic and nonprofit research institutions. Specifics about each program will be provided as well as information about funding success rates and tips for assembling a competitive proposal. Members of the Contracts and Grants team will delve into the post-award process.

Michelle Collins, NC Biotechnology Center

Steve Fowler, NC Biotechnology Center

Susan Lankford, NC Biotechnology Center

Shayla Moss, NC Biotechnology Center

Pre Award, Post Award, Proposal Development

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S19 - NSF GRANTED Updates and Information

This session is designed to help understand the NSF GRANTED funding opportunity and how to submit a competitive proposal.

Kim Littlefield, National Science Foundation

Federal Agency Funding Opportunity

Knowledge Level: Basic

 

S20 - Raising the Flags: Using Monthly Management Reports to Identify Expenses Needing Additional Review

In order to better equip research administrators with tools to help identify questionable costs, late supply, travel, and equipment purchases, charges after the end date, overrun/underrun, and projects with subawards or cost share requirements on a monthly basis, ECU Office of Research Administration and Compliance developed three monthly reports that are emailed to Financial Analysts, Hub Personnel, and Departmental Admins and implemented processes for navigating issues found on the reports. In this session we will discuss the importance of monthly review of expenses on both compliance and closeout as well as share the monthly reports and processes we use to help departments manage their projects.

Karen Mizelle, East Carolina University

Post Award

Knowledge Level: Basic