Event
Event Details
Where:
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
When:
October 26 - 30, 2024
October 26 - 30, 2024
Attain Partners is sharing expertise during several sessions at the 2024 Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Annual Meeting. Hear from our research administration experts October 26 – 30 in Chicago, Illinois. See details below.
Are you attending? Add these informative sessions to your conference agenda—or connect with our research administration experts one-on-one at Booth #301. We’d love to discuss solutions for any current issues your institution may be facing. Contact us today.
Learn more about the SRA International Annual Meeting.
Sunday, October 27
WORKSHOP: Research Security and Trusted Collaborations – Domestic and International Perspectives
Sunday, Oct. 27 | 1:30p – 5p CT | WS25
Location: Chicago Ballroom H, 5th Floor
Proper policy promulgation fosters accountability and legitimacy, and is essential for ensuring effective governance, promoting transparency, and achieving desired outcomes within organizations. Clear and well-articulated policies serve as guiding principles that shape the behavior of individuals, organizations, and institutions, and provide a framework for decision-making and action. But in the field of research security, the horizon keeps shifting as ongoing legislative actions, geopolitical pressures, and organizational culture challenge research administrators to remain compliant and competitive in the grant award arena. Protecting valuable research ideas and intellectual property is not just a challenge for U.S. research administrators — research security remains a global challenge. Through hands-on learning scenarios and interactive group exercises, this workshop will provide a forum to discuss good practices to help research administrative leaders address new (and ever-changing) research security mandates. To ensure a global perspective, we invite participation by and contributions from non-US institutions.
Speakers
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
- Mindy Pava, Partner, Feldesman Leifer LLP
- Rosie Dawn Griffin, Partner, Feldesman Leifer, LLP
- Michael Shannon, Executive VP – Government Solutions, IPTalons, Inc.
Monday, October 28
The SRAI Professional Development Learning Framework for Research Administrators
Monday, Oct. 28 | 1p – 2p CT | M201
Location: Lincolnshire, 6th Floor
It has long been realized that no one goes to school saying, “I want to be a research administrator when I grow up.” Much of the knowledge we need to do our jobs we gain on the job. SRAI provides many learning and training opportunities for research administration practitioners such as its certificate program, training intensives, LevelUP microcredentials, and more. Often training tends to be “just in time” or as needed. SRAI has commissioned a task force to develop a systematic framework of the learning and capabilities required to be an effective research administrator and to guide practitioners through their career journey. This framework will be unveiled during this session along with a demonstration of how it can be used by SRAI members and other research managers and administrators.
Speakers
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
- Jennifer Woodward, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Sponsored Programs and Research Operations; Professor of Surgery and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh
- Mark Lucas, CRA, Chief Administrative Officer, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Evan Roberts, Executive Director, SRA International
- Debra Schaller-Demers, MSOM, Senior Director, Research Integrity and Compliance, New York University
- Karen Mitchell, MBA, Director of Special Projects, Temple University
F&A Hot Topics and Emerging Issues
Monday, Oct. 28 | 1p – 2p CT | M206
Location: Denver/Houston/Kansas City, 5th Floor
This session is going to cover relevant F&A topics including current government focus areas, hot and emerging F&A topics that matter, and other regulatory issues that will be of interest to individuals who work or manage the F&A development function or apply the F&A rate on grants.
Speaker
- Wallace Davis, Partner, Attain Partners
Data-Based Decision-Making for Department Leadership
Monday, Oct. 28 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | M303
Location: Lincolnshire, 6th Floor
As many universities work towards creating a data culture, we, as research administrators, have access to a world of information about proposal submissions, award management, and regulatory compliance that can help shape our decision-making. Since most data collection efforts are owned by central offices, there are often gaps in data that might be impactful to those in departments. How can we identify what data is important to departments and go about filling the gaps? During this session, we will discuss how leaders in departmental or college-level offices can harness the power of data to advocate for their faculty and staff, better allocate resources, and plan for the future.
Speaker
- Kathleen Halley-Octa, MA, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Theresa Couch, CRA, Director of Research Administration Operations, Michigan State University
Extreme Makeover: OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 Edition
Monday, Oct. 28 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | M313
Location: Chicago Ballroom E, 5th Floor
On October 5, 2023, OMB published a proposal for a fundamental rewrite the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200. The White House announced that “the proposal will materially decrease the burden on recipients of Federal financial assistance, advance equity and job growth across the country, and meaningfully improve the administration of Federal financial assistance.” See links below. Specifically, OMB states the following reasons for the proposed revisions: “(1) incorporating statutory requirements and administration priorities; (2) reducing agency and recipient burden; (3) clarifying sections that recipients or agencies have interpreted in different ways; and (4) rewriting applicable sections in plain language, improving flow, and addressing inconsistent use of terms.” The comments are due to OMB by December 4, 2023. OMB intends to publish the final revisions by Spring 2024. Links to the 2 documents are shown below.
This session will discuss the general purpose of the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR and dig deep into the following questions:
- What are the major revisions in the proposal?
- How will the revisions impact the administration of your research grants?
- When will the revisions become effective?
Speaker
- Gil Tran, CPA, Strategic Grants Management and Compliance Leader, Attain Partners
On-demand Webinar
Gain instant access to Gil’s on-demand session discussing the policy updates: The Final Reveal – Extreme Makeover: Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 Edition.
Intellectual Property – The Year in Review
Monday, Oct. 28 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | M308
Location: Los Angeles/Miami/Scottsdale, 5th Floor
Intellectual Property (IP) permeates all areas of research administration, from pre-award to compliance. IP changes almost as quickly as the science that serves as the foundation for it. This session will present a brief overview of the different types of IP followed by a review of the significant legislation, cases, and developments from the past year that are of particular importance to the field of research administration. Participants will gain insight into these recent developments in IP law and current trends, with a focus on issues that affect research administration and principal investigators.
Speaker
- Emily Njus, JD, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
It’s a New ERA in Research Administration
Monday, Oct. 28 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | M314
Location: Indiana, 6th Floor
Grant electronic submission systems represent a significant leap forward in the efficiency and fairness of the grant application process. By embracing digital technologies, these systems not only simplify administrative tasks but also promote transparency and accountability. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, ongoing improvements to these systems will likely further enhance the grant application experience for both applicant organizations and sponsors. This session offers an overview of the most commonly used electronic research administration (eRA) systems that assist in finding funding opportunities and submitting proposals to sponsors. Proposal development tools such as NIH Commons and ASSIST, Research.gov, Grants.gov, and the NIH RePORTER, etc. will be discussed. Common electronic submission systems such as Workspace Grants.gov and NSF research.gov will be overviewed with more discussion of other systems such as Proposal Central, NSPIRES, e-Grants, etc. Strategies and tips for successful submissions will also be discussed. Lastly, let’s walk through a historical perspective of ERA and discuss areas of pre-award, post-award, effort reporting, conflict of interest, and compliance systems.
Speakers
- Melinda Cotten, Senior Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
- Anita Mills, Director of Enablement, University of Tennessee Space Institute
- Ailing Zhang, Sr. Grants Manager, Morgan State University
Leading Your Team Through Change: Leveraging Your Position as a Director to Make an Impact
Monday, Oct. 28 | 4p – 5p CT | M403
Location: Chicago Ballroom F, 5th Floor
When faced with any organizational change, directors are critical in helping the senior leaders and project management teams make the transitions as smooth as possible. They are often tasked with bridging the gap between senior leadership and the stakeholders that will ultimately carry out the senior leadership’s vision or project. Because of the nature of their positions, directors build trust with stakeholders easily and will hear positive feedback or about the obstacles staff are facing during the implementation of a change. These relationships make directors pivotal players in change initiatives. In this session, we will discuss strategies for directors to harness their influence to impact positive change in their workplaces and set their offices up for success in the future. Attendees will be prepared to use their positions to facilitate discussions between leadership and project management teams to identify obstacles and positives during the project, find solutions to problems, and prepare the impacted stakeholder community for change.
Speakers
- Kathleen Halley-Octa, MA, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Ivonne Kalinski, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
- Theresa Couch, CRA, Research Administration Manager, Michigan State University
The Legal Labyrinth of AI Research
Monday, Oct. 28 | 4p – 5:30p CT | M407
Location: Chicago Ballroom E, 5th Floor
Both researchers and those managing the research process are in a brave new world of artificial intelligence (AI). Issues affected by AI include those arising from research into AI, research using AI, research administration and management using AI, and protecting individuals, institutions, and society as a whole from AI gone wrong. The legal issues to be addressed are diverse and often not subject to any clear precedent. This session will begin to deal with the many areas of discussion and conflict that are subject to the dawn of Artificial Intelligence as reality instead of science fiction.
Speakers
- Emily Njus, JD, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
- J. Michael Slocum, Distinguished Faculty, JD, President, Slocum & Boddie, PC
- David King, Distinguished Faculty, JD, Senior Associate University Counsel (Retired), Formerly University of Louisville
Thought Leadership
Learn more about the ethical considerations of AI use in research administration.
Tuesday, October 29
Speaking with a Brick Wall – How to Effectively Deal with Problematic Personnel
Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 1p – 2p CT | T303
Location: Chicago Ballroom G, 5th Floor
Communication is key to a successful research project, whether submitting a proposal or executing an award. Breakdowns or failures in communication can lead to inter-office strife, personnel issues, and sometimes an unsuccessful project. We’ve all had a problematic individual that create speedbumps. This panel session is designed to discuss effective ways to deal with problematic personnel and skills that allow you to anticipate issues. We encourage audience participation as well. If you have a current issue you are struggling with and are willing to share, we would love to discuss potential roadmaps for a successful resolution.
Speakers
- John Hedberg, CRA, CPRA, Senior Associate, Attain Partners
- Anthony Edmondson, MBA, Research Program Administrator, The University of Alabama at Huntsville
- Pamela Montgomery, MPA, Doctoral Candidate, Social and Behavioral Research Certification, Assistant Director Finance and Administration, Duke University
- Sybile Bayiha, Master, Sr. Manager Compliance & Data Analysis, University of Maryland
Inviting an Elephant up the Stairs: Improving Communication through Improv
Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | T400
Location: Clark, 4th Floor
Improvisation is about heightened communication and collaboration – intensive listening, having your team members’ backs, sharing ideas, openness to the ideas of others, and willingness to think outside the box. It can also be a great stress reliever and a source of connection. In this session, three research administrators will talk about (and show!) the lessons to be learned from improv. Warning: Attendees will get to participate in live improv exercises!
Speakers
- John Hedberg, CRA, CPRA, Senior Associate, Attain Partners
- Mark Lucas, CRA, Chief Administrative Officer, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Karen L. Bone, MA, Senior Award Administrator, Florida Atlantic University
A Primer on Export Controls
Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 2:30p – 3:30p CT | T407
Location: Addison, 4th Floor
If you have heard the term but are not really sure what you role is in export controls compliance, this is a safe place to learn. The session will provide beginners with a basic understanding the export controls compliance and the role that research administrators, pre- and post-award and departmental, play in ensuring export control compliance requirements are met. Regulations covered at a very high level will be the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC). This session especially important for research administrators who are new to the profession and need a basic understanding of the federal export controls regulations.
Speaker
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
LEADERS: Leveraging Employee Aptitudes for Excellence in Research Services
Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 4p – 5p CT | T504
Location: Clark, 4th Floor
Employees, ideally, rise to the level of expectations set by leadership. Clear expectations and professional development opportunities that can lead to advancement are the cornerstones for research administration units that are thriving, particularly if using remote and hybrid workforces. But, leading a remote or hybrid team requires even more effort on the part of leaders to communicate expectations and assess outcomes. Plus, the loss of daily “face-to-face interactions” with remote workers makes it harder to build a sense of community and trust, but it can be done. Overcoming perceptions of remote work may require research administration leaders to convince skeptical senior leadership that remote and hybrid workforces are effective. additionally, the competition for experienced research administrators is more fierce than ever so recruiting and retaining staff may depend on offering work location flexibility. Research tells us that money is a limited motivator and commodity. Great performers want to be recognized for their work and trusted to get their work done, regardless of where they work but many institutions are forced to reward great performance with additional work. Well-defined career ladders, professional development opportunities, autonomy, and flexibility increase both professionalism and retention.
Speaker
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
