RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION TRAINING SERIES
(RATS)
Why it’s important at UNH
RA Training
- Helps decrease compliance risks
- Aids in the administration of sponsored projects
- Provides support for Research Community
Training Objectives
- Explain research administration process
- Roles and responsibilities (SPA, PI, BSC,…)
- Review policies and regulatory fundamentals
Sponsored Programs and Research Administration
-an introduction-
Introduction
- What is research?
- What is research administration?
- What is a sponsored project?
- Who are sponsors?
- What is the difference between a gift and a grant?
- What is a proposal?
- What is a Principal Investigator (PI)?
- Types of funding announcements
- Sources of Authority
- Types of Agreements
What is Research?
- The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach ‘new’ conclusions
- Acquisition and dissemination of knowledge
- Any gathering of data, information, and facts for the advancement of knowledge
What is Research Administration?
Provides service and guidance to faculty and staff involved in the pursuit and management of research, scholarly and creative activities
Research Administration Includes…
- Dissemination of funding opportunities
- Communication of policy and processes
- Proposal preparation, review, and submission
- Award negotiation
- Award management
- Regulatory compliance
- Intellectual property protection and technology transfer
- Post-award accounting
- Effort commitment and certification
- F&A rate calculation and negotiation
What is a Sponsored Project?
- A sponsored project is funded research or scholarly activity that has a defined scope of work or set of objectives that provides a basis for sponsor expectations
What is a Proposal?
- A proposal is a request for funding that is submitted to an external sponsor
- A proposal may be submitted in response to a solicitation or may be an unsolicited submission
Sponsor Types
- Federal
- State
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Individuals
Federal & State Announcements
- Clear Process
- Firm Deadlines
- Can be a significant length of time from proposal to award
- Source of funds is taxpayer dollars
- Reviewers comment and score proposals (mostly federal sponsors)
Federal & State Announcements
- Unsolicited
- PA – program announcements (e.g. PA-10-167 is an NIH unsolicited funding announcement
- Solicited
- RFA – request for applications (grants and cooperative agreements)
- RFP – request for proposals (contracts)
- RFQ – request for quotation (contracts)
- RFB – request for bid (contracts)
- BAA – broad agency agreement (grants, cooperative agreements, contracts)
Foundations, Corporations & Individuals
- Application process can be less formal
- Generally, more flexible deadlines
- Funding decision is quick
- Decisions are more local
- Foundations - Board of Directors
- Corporation – The person(s) requesting proposal
- Individual - Self
Types of Sponsored Activity
- Basic Research
- Applied Research
- Development Research
- Clinical Trial
- Training/Instruction
- Fellowship
- Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA)
- Service
Why are sponsored projects important?
- To the University
- Increase University's status and prestige
- Attract new faculty and students
- Train future scientists and teachers
- Upgrade programs and build infrastructure
- Enhance connections with other segments of society
- Provide service to country/state
Why are Sponsored Projects Important?
- To the faculty
- Employment/Promotion criteria
- Endorsement of research ideas (credibility)
- Training/research experience for undergraduate – graduate students
- Funding to conduct research
UNH Research Enterprise – Key Players
- A look at some of the people/offices that play a role in Sponsored Programs.
The Principal Investigator “Every Project Begins with an Idea”
- Lead individual who designs the project and is designated by the University to direct the activity being supported by sponsored funding
- The PI (also referred to as Project Director) is ultimately responsible for the overall technical and financial management of the project.
Departments and Colleges
- Deans
- Department Chairs
- Center and Institute Directors
- BSC
Office of Research
- Research Development and Communication
- UNH Innovation
- Sponsored Programs Administration
- Research Integrity Services
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Research Computing Center
- University Instrumentation Center
Other Partners
- Academic Affairs
- USNH
- Procurement
- Human Resources
- Payroll
Sponsored Programs Administration at UNH
- The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration is composed of two units
- Research Administration – pre-award and post-award non financial functions
- Accounting and Financial Compliance – post-award financial functions
Research Administration at a Glance
Accounting & Financial Compliance at a Glance
Sponsored Program Activity By the Numbers
- Largest Sponsor – Federal Government
- Largest Funding Agency - NSF
- FY14 vs. FY13
- Federal awards increased 7%
- Non-federal awards increased by 30%
Proposal Activity FY10 - FY14
Awards & Expenditures FY10 - FY14
Thank you.
Questions?
Knowledgeable research administrators are essential to the management of the research enterprise and play a critical role in research administration at the University.
Next Session:
When: March 17th
- Session I 9:00-10:15 am
- Session II 10:30-11:45 am
Where: MUB Room 338/340
What: Proposals & Award Processing
