Blog
June 10, 2024
Team Spotlight: Attain Partners’ Certified Research Administrators
The designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA) is a steadfast sign of expertise within Research Administration. At Attain Partners, our team of research administration experts brings decades of direct experience working in education and a proven track record of serving the nation’s top colleges and universities. With pride, we serve over 70 of the nation’s top 100 research institutions, including 100% of the Ivy League schools, through a comprehensive range of research enterprise services. Further, numerous of our research administration team members serve as Certified Research Administrators.
But what makes a CRA so essential to project success? Hear from some of Team Attain’s CRAs below as they share why they chose to get certified, how they use the knowledge they gained to create impact for our clients, and their advice for passing the CRA exam.
Kunwal Ahmad, CRA
“I studied but I was still nervous going into the exam, which is unusual for me. It’s like everyone said, ‘You know more than you think you do.’ Yes, there will be some questions that will leave you scratching your head, and others that will make you question whether they were even part of the body of knowledge. But in the end, I’m glad I took it. Having the certification makes me more valuable to my clients.”
Diana Castaldo, MBA, CRA
“Back in 2010, I ‘fell’ into this profession after being exposed to many other areas of healthcare. I truly fell in love with the world of research administration and found my niche. I love working with the PIs, learning about their research, and working with stakeholders of each institution I work with to help them create a better version of themselves for their institution and help them succeed. This credential solidified my many years of experience and knowledge in this profession and was personal goal of mine to obtain. It’s always good to keep the goalpost moving and continue education, which includes obtaining certifications.
“I urge anyone interested in getting their certification to spend the money and take the practice exam first, before studying, as it mimics the actual exam that would be taken. The practice exam will show the areas where someone would need to brush up more on. Get involved in as many of the study groups as you can and put the time into studying for this exam as it covers many different subject areas. I joined several cohorts which were extremely beneficial. These cohorts provided lots of materials to help those sitting for the exam, pass. There are many different flashcards and tests available on Quizlet that people have made. I came out learning things that were not exactly in my day-to-day operations but were useful in helping answer a question that came up on that topic.”
Jeff Derr, ALM, CRA
“I was motivated by several friendly colleagues to challenge myself and obtain the certification, as they had done it themselves. I feel great after obtaining it! I approach my clients and work with more confidence after taking in so much knowledge while preparing for the exam. There’s a feeling that I can approach just about any sponsor or situation now and have the knowledge to problem-solve and address questions. The CRA will hopefully lend more credibility to my name if someone does not know me, and hopefully it makes me more marketable moving forward! If someone is contemplating sitting for the exam, I’d say do it! You have so many people at Attain who will support you, help you study and prepare for the cohort, and cheer you on as you pursue it! They did for me and I, along with them, would love to support you on the journey.”
Bella DiFranzo, MPA, CRA, CFCM
“In my capacity as a Research Administrator, I’ve come to understand that the essence of a project’s success extends beyond the research; it’s deeply rooted in meticulous planning, efficient management, and seamless execution. My role as a Certified Research Administrator involves streamlining administrative and regulatory complexities, enabling researchers to focus on pioneering innovation. This strategy ensures judicious resource utilization, strict adherence to timelines and standards, and leads to smoother execution and impactful outcomes. It underscores the vital role we play in propelling research forward.”
Sarah Milligan, MPA, CRA
“Becoming a Certified Research Administrator was a real confidence boost! Having those three letters in my email signature made me feel like I had more authority when communicating with faculty, staff, and sponsors.”
Gavyn Ryan, MA, CRA
“I decided to get my CRA way back in 2011—wow, time flies by quickly—to add an additional layer of legitimacy to my growing knowledge base and to help with gaining the confidence and respect of my colleagues and faculty. I took advantage of one of the full-day study sessions and found it to be incredibly invaluable. Now that I have been through two recertifications, one piece of advice I will offer is to be super diligent with tracking your recertification activities. Five years seems like a long time away, and it is easy to think one will remember everything, even with keeping emails and such. Although my memory is solid, I was surprised at how many things I forgot when it came time to submit my recertification application the first time. It was a bit frenetic scrambling to collect some things, never mind trying to remember at which conference I presented such and such, so document things as you go. It will save a lot of time and stress.”
Angela Wilcox, CRA
“I highly suggest anyone interested in taking the CRA exam to do so. The CRA exam had been a professional goal of mine for a few years, but I could never find ‘the right time.’ Come Fall 2023, Attain Partners’ first CRA study cohort was planned to take session and I knew it was the right time. I felt extremely supported by leadership and by my colleagues. The study cohort was extremely helpful in navigating what to study via colleague-led presentations, what to anticipate on exam day, how to budget study time, and just plain, good conversation to cool the exam nerves. There are non-Attain based study sessions available, which were helpful to supplement the information provided from Attain Partners’ cohort. I also took the practice exam to see where I stood with each exam section. This helped determine where I should shift my study efforts. Studying and taking the CRA exam was a confidence-boosting experience (since I haven’t taken an exam since college)! I’d like to pass on a quote I heard many times prior to taking the exam, ‘Do not be afraid to take the exam, you know more than you think!’”
Susan Wyatt Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM
“In my opinion, degrees and certifications demonstrate initiative, perseverance, and drive to be recognized as a professional. One of the tenets of a profession is a licensure or certification examination. The value of the CRA exams should not be underestimated because that is in large part why we can call ourselves research administration ‘professionals.’ When I arrived at UT Austin in 2006, I was the only CRA on campus. We opened up our study group to everyone on campus which helped us create common understandings and better working relationships with our departmental colleagues. That program has resulted in over 120 new CRAs who benefitted from this program. I estimate the programs I was involved in initiating have resulted in over 150 new CRAs since 2002. I am extremely excited that Attain Partners has placed value on the attainment of the CRA as this shows our dedication to professionalism in all we do.”
Read our full interview with Dr. Sedwick.
Attain Partners – Research Administration Experts
Compliance is critical to your organization’s ability to make an impact. Our team provides world-class expertise in navigating the complex and dynamic regulatory environment, implementing industry best practices, and optimizing performance.
Learn more about our services here and explore blog posts from our research administration experts here.
Interested in speaking to one of our CRAs? Contact us today!
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