Research Administration Certificate Program

The RA Fundamentals series is a four-part orientation and onboarding series that will give new research administrators an overview of the roles and responsibilities within research administration as well as an introduction to the sponsored project lifecycle, campus offices and systems, and the common research administration vocabulary needed to build a foundation as an RA. The RA Fundamentals series is the prerequisite for RA 1.

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

View and register on our class schedule page for training opportunities. View the RA Fundamentals Onboarding Checklist.

Orientation

This onboarding and new hire orientation will give new research administrators 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. Participants will identify how their role contributes to their team, department, division and the overall mission of UC San Diego.

Pre-Award Toolbox

This entry-level course will introduce new research administrators to many of the pre-award tools, systems and resources used at UCSD. In addition, the class will point research administrators to many of the training tools available at UCSD, and will also name and review internal UCSD business systems. Participants will locate, identify and label key systems and resources and explain how to employ their use as research administration tools. View the job aid

Post-Award Toolbox 

entry-level course will introduce new research administrators to many of the post-award tools, systems and resources used at UCSD, and will name and review internal UCSD business systems. Participants will locate, identify and label key systems and resources and explain how to employ their use as research administration tools. View the job aid

Glossary 

We will introduce employees who are new to research administration and/or UCSD to the vernacular unique to both UCSD and the field of research administration. Participants will review a glossary of commonly used terms and interpolate them into their professional vocabulary. View the glossary.

The RA Training Program Level 1: The Basics is the first in a four-part series. This course is 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 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. 

 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 Program Level 2: Intermediate is the second course in a four-part series designed to provide you with both the theory and practical application of concepts you will deal with on a regular basis. This course builds upon the fundamentals taught in Level 1 and takes a deeper dive into research administration skills. 

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. 

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 3: Experienced is in development.The course is designed for experienced RAs and will include analysis of case studies involving policy and complex issues as well as data, reporting and analytics.

Target audience: RAs with 5-7 years of experience

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 4: Advanced is in development. In this this advanced-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 7+ years of experience

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.