Research administrators come to this profession from a variety of educational backgrounds and professional experiences. You may have come to it accidentally or by design, through academic channels or administrative ones, while looking for a challenge or to pursue a passion. You may work in a variety of organizations from a university who receives funding to a mission-driven nonprofit who sponsors research. Whatever your path and now role is as a research administrator, you are probably awed by the expanse of the research enterprise. The number of awards, the variety of sponsors, and the sheer amount of money available can be staggering. This module lays an initial foundation to research administration while providing context and a framework for which to build your professional skills.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Describe the goals and the research administrator's role in the research enterprise.
- Explain how the federal government supports sponsored research projects through its agencies.
- Differentiate the type of sponsors and the funding instruments used.
- Recognize the types of recipient organizations who receive sponsored research projects.
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of key players in the research enterprise.