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  • 1.  Training a new employee

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 05-08-2023 10:04
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Dear colleagues,

    My small office has recently hired a new specialist to help with both pre- and post-award activities. She's intelligent, enthusiastic, and wants  to learn, but has no experience with research administration. For those who have gone through this as new RAs or having hired a new RA, how have you gotten them up to speed? Many thanks in advance.



  • 2.  RE: Training a new employee

    Posted 05-09-2023 05:19

    NCURA has some great resources available for training new research administrators. NCURA Home

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    Membership is required, but it's well worth the investment. They also offer online and traveling workshops that offer invaluable insights.
    Good luck!



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    Tammy Jobes
    Sponsored Projects Administrator
    Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
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  • 3.  RE: Training a new employee

    RISING STAR CONTRIBUTOR
    Posted 05-09-2023 05:21

    Hello,

     

    I am also at a small institution. In addition to your own onboarding at your institution, consider sending the person to a fundamentals workshop at NCURA and to attend a professional conference with the individual. I have used the professional society training programs (virtual and in person) and then integrated our own practices to the core understandings. At larger institutions, there may be entire training programs, but at small institutions there is a lot of shadowing and hand holding at the beginning. The outside societies help, but you still need to ensure that they are properly acclimated to the unique distinctions at your institution. 

     

    Best Wishes,
    Kris

     

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    Providence College

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  • 4.  RE: Training a new employee

    Posted 05-09-2023 05:52
    Edited by Jaylan Sears 05-09-2023 05:52

    My office's director had me go through several of the courses offered by SRAI, then video resources from NIH and HRSA. She then gradually eased me into assignments, starting with basic subaward amendments, NCEs, and continuing NOAs so that I could get a grasp of the yearly process for awards. Then onto proposals, initial subaward agreements, DUAs. etc. - the heavier stuff. There was a lot of hand-holding early on, but not so much that I wasn't given time to figure things out for myself if I could. I think the toe-in-the-water, then ease in process worked pretty well, and I found myself saying "hey I recognize this" when something from the SRAI trainings would click. 



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    Jaylan Sears
    Sponsored Programs Project Manager I
    University of Mississippi Medical Center
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  • 5.  RE: Training a new employee

    Posted 05-09-2023 09:27

    NCURA conferences (PRA for pre-award staff and FRA for post award staff) provide great learning opportunities for staff new to Research Administration.  NCURA website is https://www.ncura.edu/Education/MeetingsConferences.aspx

     

    NCURA also has some online resources at https://onlinelearning.ncura.edu/

     

    Mark

     

    **************************************************
    Mark Bierly, Business System Analyst
    Office for Sponsored Research and Award Administration
    Oregon State University
    **************************************************

     






  • 6.  RE: Training a new employee

    Posted 05-09-2023 10:16

    We also use SRA and NEI for training



    ------------------------------
    Martha Espinoza
    Director Research Administration
    Doheny Eye Institute
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  • 7.  RE: Training a new employee

    RISING STAR CONTRIBUTOR
    Posted 05-10-2023 09:18

    In addition to what others have shared, I have also used some CITI trainings to onboard new staff, specifically the RCR for Admin, Essentials of Grant Proposal Development, Conflicts of Interest, and Intro to Biosafety. So much for a new person to learn! Start with the basics and then take gentle dives into the specifics. 



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    Sherrie Hixon
    Director, Strategic Research Initiatives & Innovation
    California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
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  • 8.  RE: Training a new employee

    Posted 05-10-2023 05:51

    As others have mentioned the professional societies offer great learning opportunities for folks at all levels. My particular bias is in favor of the Society of Research Administrators, International (SRAI). In addition to The Basics of Research Administration which is a combination of virtual instructor led live sessions and self paced LevelUp modules, there are a full series of LevelUp modules and mGuides. Training intensives on various topics are offered throughout the year in addition to the upcoming Joint Section meeting in Louisville in June and our annual meeting in October in Seattle. The large in person meetings offer content at all levels for all aspects of research administration and compliance.

    https://www.srainternational.org/meetings/levelup-program
    https://www.srainternational.org/meetings/trainings-conferences



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    Debra Schaller-Demers
    Senior Director, Research Compliance
    New York University (NYU)
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  • 9.  RE: Training a new employee

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 05-10-2023 08:53
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Thank you, all. I'm grateful for your recommendations and this resource.