Research Administration Training Program

Registration:

Register for Level 0: Research Administration (RA) Orientation (login)

Summary: 

In this new hire orientation, you will gain a basic understanding of the organizational structure of the UC system and UC San Diego, and what working within sponsored research at a large public university entails. You will identify how your role contributes to your team, department, division and the overall mission of UC San Diego. You will also define vernacular and identify tools unique to the UC San Diego Sponsored Projects Life Cycle.

Objective:

To equip new research administrators with essential knowledge and skills in research administration, enabling them to contribute effectively to sponsored projects.

Target Audience:

New RAs (either to the job or the university) who have been in research administration for less than one year.

Anticipated Expertise:

Beginner/Novice: At the end of the training attendees will be able to follow simple directions, and perform using memory of facts and simple rules.

Topics:

The UC System and Sponsored Research

We will cover information about the University of California system's fundamental missions and introduce sponsored research, its types of sponsors, and research proposals.

Sponsored Project Lifecycle and Management

We will identify the sponsored project lifecycle, funding agreements, Principal Investigators, and the role of Sponsored Project Offices (SPOs), this category focuses on the practical and administrative aspects of managing sponsored research.

Systems, Tools, and Other Resources

We will look into the Kuali proposal development system, which is used for creating and managing research proposals, and subawards, and ensuring compliance with conflict of interest (COI) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements.

Registration:

Register for Level 1: Basics Pre- and Post-Award (login)

Summary: 

The RA Training Program Level 1: Basics Certificate Program is the first level in a series designed to provide you with both the theory and practical application of concepts you will deal with on a regular basis.

Objective:

To provide you with the basic fundamentals and builds upon itself as we take a comprehensive look at research administration that will serve as the foundation for your expertise.

Target Audience:

Entry-level professional with 1-3 years of experience who may need further learning in using professional concepts to resolve problems of limited scope and complexity and developmental assignments that are initially routine in nature, requiring limited judgment and decision-making.

Anticipated Expertise:

Beginner/Novice: At the end of the training attendees will be able to follow simple directions, and perform using memory of facts and simple rules.

Topics:

Sponsorship and Agreements

The course begins by introducing the concept of sponsors or external entities with which UC San Diego enters into agreements. These sponsors can fall into eight categories, including federal government, state government, industry, and non-profit organizations. Agreements can be funded (with financial obligations) or unfunded (formal agreements without financial commitment), with examples such as grants, gifts, and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs). Subawards, both incoming and outgoing, are also explained.

Proposal Development

The course covers the process of proposal development, emphasizing the importance of adhering to sponsor guidelines and funding opportunities. Funding opportunities can be solicited, where sponsors specify research areas, or unsolicited, allowing innovative proposals. Proposal deadlines, including internal UC San Diego deadlines, are discussed as crucial milestones.

Post-Award Management

The final section of the course focuses on post-award management, including the Uniform Guidance (UG) governing federal awards and principles for direct and indirect costs. It explains terms like Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC), effort, and Composite Benefit Rates (CBR). The course also details the post-award phase, which involves implementing, monitoring, reporting, billing, and closeout processes, with specific attention to the Notice of Award (NOA), chartstrings, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), and award closeout requirements.

Registration:

Register for Level 2: Intermediate Pre-Award (login)

Summary: 

The RA Training Program Level 2: Intermediate Pre-Award Certificate Program is the second level in a series designed to provide you with both the theory and practical application of concepts you will deal with on a regular basis. It starts with the basic fundamentals and builds upon itself as we take a comprehensive look at research administration that will serve as the foundation for your expertise.

Objective:

Participants will gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in research administration, enabling them to effectively handle pre-award processes on a regular basis.

Target Audience:

The course is designed for intermediate-level professionals with 3-5 years of experience and/or have completed Level 1. The individual is capable of making simple judgments for typical tasks, may need further learning with complex or unusual tasks, or may need improvements in speed and flexibility.

Anticipated Expertise:

Competent: At the end of the training attendees will be able to make simple judgments for typical tasks, may need help with complex or unusual tasks, and may lack speed and flexibility.

Topics:

Research Administration and Agreements

This course will cover the roles and responsibilities of the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO), the handling of sponsored research proposals, and the various types of agreements, including service agreements, unfunded agreements, and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs).

Clinical Trials and Research Protocols

You will find information about the management of Industry-Initiated Industry-Funded Clinical Trials by the Office of Clinical Trial Administration (OCTA), the characteristics of clinical trials, and the use of activity codes by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in research programs.

Personnel and Research Support

We will address the roles of Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) and postdoctoral scholars in research projects, as well as the distinction between employees, independent contractors, and contractors. It also covers discretionary funds and gifts as sources of support.

Financial and Cost Considerations

You will learn about indirect cost calculation and application, formal cost sharing in various forms, and the compensation policies for academic appointees, particularly in the Health Sciences Compensation Plan (HSCP).

Registration:

Register for Level 2: Intermediate Post-Award (login)

Summary:

The RA Training Program Level 2: Intermediate Post-Award Certificate Program is the second level in a series designed to provide you with both the theory and practical application of concepts you will deal with on a regular basis. It starts with the basic fundamentals and builds upon itself as we take a comprehensive look at research administration that will serve as the foundation for your expertise.

Objective:

Participants will gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in research administration, enabling them to effectively handle pre-award processes on a regular basis.

Target Audience:

The course is designed for intermediate-level professionals with 3-5 years of experience and/or who have completed Level 1. The individual is capable of making simple judgments for typical tasks, may need further learning with complex or unusual tasks, or may need improvements in speed and flexibility.

Anticipated Expertise:

Competent: At the end of the training attendees will be able to make simple judgments for typical tasks, may need help with complex or unusual tasks, and may lack speed and flexibility.

Topics:

Framework of Financial Management

We will do a deep dive into the topics of financial management including information on Uniform Guidance (UG), cost principles, what constitutes restricted funds, and effort reporting.

Post-Award Management

You will review several Notice of Awards (NOA) and understand why the NOA is the guiding document during the post-award phase. You will also expand upon financial concepts you learned in Level 1 including chart string, POET-AF, reconciliation, cost transfers, and more.

Reporting and Closeout

We will explain what is needed during the reporting and closeout process at the end of the award period as well as discuss the stakeholders and office involved during the development of Intellectual Property (IP).

The RA Training Level 4: Advanced is in development. In this advanced-level course, RAs will cover various subjects and case studies on complex and nuanced topics.

Target audience: RAs with 7+ years of experience

Anticipated Expertise: Proficient - At the end of the training attendees will have their performance guided by deeper experience, be able to figure out the most critical aspects of a situation, see nuances missed by less experienced performers, and exhibit flexible performance.

Thank you for your patience as we redesign the delivery and implementation of this program. A notice will be sent out when training opportunities are added to the calendar. 

The RA  Training Level 5: Expert is in development. In this expert-level course, RAs will build and develop case studies to be presented and shared with others as a demonstration of subject matter mastery.

Target audience: RAs with 10+ years of experience

Anticipated Expertise: Expert - At the end of the training attendees will have their performance guided by extensive practice and easily retrievable knowledge and skills, will notice nuances, connections, and patterns, have an intuitive understanding based on extensive practice, and be able to solve difficult problems, learn fast, find needed resources.

Thank you for your patience as we redesign the delivery and implementation of this program. A notice will be sent out when training opportunities are added to the calendar.