Workshop & Session Descriptions

NCInnovation Plenary: Accelerating Research Impact Across North Carolina: Tools, Partnerships, and Pathways for Success

David Wyrick (NCInnovation), Terri Shelton (Spartan Strategies, INC.) & Mark Crowell (Eshelman Innovation/UNC Chapel Hill)

Discover how strong university partnerships with NCI can accelerate research commercialization in North Carolina. This session highlights best practices for OSP teams working with NCI—the state’s front door for moving academic innovations toward real-world impact. Featuring first-hand insights from someone who understands both university operations and NCI’s commercialization pathways, the session will demonstrate practical ways these partnerships benefit institutions, support faculty, and strengthen North Carolina’s research ecosystem.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

M1: How NCI differs from traditional sponsored research opportunities and what makes a commercialization-oriented proposal strong 

Derrick Welch, Pritesh Kasliwal & Tamera Hatch (NCInnovation)

Commercialization-focused funding requires a different mindset than traditional sponsored research, and pre-award teams play a critical role in helping faculty navigate that shift. This session will break down how NCI evaluates commercialization-oriented proposals—highlighting what makes applications strong, where they most often fall short, and how milestones, de-risking strategies, industry relevance, and market diligence shape funding decisions.

Participants will learn practical ways pre-award staff can coach faculty without stepping into the role of the technology transfer office, including which data matter most in translational research support. The session will also explore how to track disclosures, TRL movement, industry engagement, and downstream outcomes to build institutional memory and strengthen reporting discipline. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to better position their researchers for success in NCI’s commercialization pipeline.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

M2: What it's like working with NCI from the faculty perspective 

LaKeya Hardy, Rukiya Van-Dross Anderson, Kaira Wagoner, Randy Schmitz, Rosario Porras-Aguilar, Marin Tanaka, & Kristen Dellinger (NCInnovation)

What does it really feel like to work with NCI as a faculty innovator? This session brings forward the faculty perspective across both pre- and post-award stages, highlighting how NCI’s wrap-around support—Hubs, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Pipeline programs, and capacity-building resources—helps researchers develop their ideas, strengthen proposals, and advance technologies toward real-world impact.

Through first-hand experience, the speaker will share what faculty need from their university partners to be fully supported, and how strong collaboration with OSP and research administration can remove friction points. The session will also emphasize the value of engaging with NCI’s regional team and participating in post-award cohort programs, demonstrating how these relationships accelerate progress and expand opportunities for innovators across North Carolina.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

University Partnerships

M3: Building an ideal campus infrastructure for Innovation 

Scott Davis, Justin Streuli, & Joy Dismukes (NCInnovation)

Building an effective campus infrastructure for innovation requires seamless coordination across research administration, technology transfer, and commercialization support. This session will explore how universities can strengthen these handoffs, identify where projects commonly get stuck, and develop models that route faculty to the right office at the right time. Participants will learn how to leverage NCI’s regional staff and hub relationships to expand capacity—even on smaller or less-resourced campuses—and how OSP can play a pivotal role in connecting researchers to commercialization pathways. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for improving campus navigation, reducing friction points, and enabling more faculty to successfully engage in North Carolina’s innovation ecosystem.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Finance-Post Award

M4: Governance & Business Model: Impactful Funding 

Linda Hall & Erica Shrader (NCInnovation)

Understanding how NCI’s endowment-driven business model differs from traditional state-funded agencies is essential for maximizing the impact of commercialization-focused awards. This session will unpack NCI’s unique governance structure, how its funding approach enables more flexible and impactful investment in innovation, and what legislators and senior leaders increasingly expect in terms of compliance and reporting. Participants will learn which metrics matter most—such as disclosures, TRL progression, industry engagement, and downstream outcomes—and how strong administrative practices can build institutional memory and support transparent, data-driven reporting. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how finance and post-award teams can strengthen accountability while amplifying the real-world impact of NCI-supported research.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

M5: From Data to Decisions: Using Proposal Data to Strengthen Submission Strategy

Denise Wynn (Wynn Essentials)

Institutions submit thousands of proposals each year, yet many fail to fully leverage their own data to inform submission strategy. Proposal trends—such as funding success rates, resubmission patterns, sponsor behavior, and PI activity—hold valuable insights that can drive smarter decision-making.

This session explores how research administrators can analyze proposal data to identify trends, guide faculty strategy, and improve institutional competitiveness. Participants will learn how to move beyond reporting metrics to using data as a tool for strategic advising and planning.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Pre-Award, Leadership, Management, Professional Development, Data Analytics

Pre-Award Policies & Impact

M1: How NCI differs from traditional sponsored research opportunities and what makes a commercialization-oriented proposal strong 

Derrick Welch, Pritesh Kasliwal & Tamera Hatch (NCInnovation)

Commercialization-focused funding requires a different mindset than traditional sponsored research, and pre-award teams play a critical role in helping faculty navigate that shift. This session will break down how NCI evaluates commercialization-oriented proposals—highlighting what makes applications strong, where they most often fall short, and how milestones, de-risking strategies, industry relevance, and market diligence shape funding decisions.

Participants will learn practical ways pre-award staff can coach faculty without stepping into the role of the technology transfer office, including which data matter most in translational research support. The session will also explore how to track disclosures, TRL movement, industry engagement, and downstream outcomes to build institutional memory and strengthen reporting discipline. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to better position their researchers for success in NCI’s commercialization pipeline.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

M2: What it's like working with NCI from the faculty perspective 

LaKeya Hardy, Rukiya Van-Dross Anderson, Kaira Wagoner, Randy Schmitz, Rosario Porras-Aguilar, Marin Tanaka, & Kristen Dellinger (NCInnovation)

What does it really feel like to work with NCI as a faculty innovator? This session brings forward the faculty perspective across both pre- and post-award stages, highlighting how NCI’s wrap-around support—Hubs, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Pipeline programs, and capacity-building resources—helps researchers develop their ideas, strengthen proposals, and advance technologies toward real-world impact.

Through first-hand experience, the speaker will share what faculty need from their university partners to be fully supported, and how strong collaboration with OSP and research administration can remove friction points. The session will also emphasize the value of engaging with NCI’s regional team and participating in post-award cohort programs, demonstrating how these relationships accelerate progress and expand opportunities for innovators across North Carolina.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

University Partnerships

M3: Building an ideal campus infrastructure for Innovation 

Scott Davis, Justin Streuli, & Joy Dismukes (NCInnovation)

Building an effective campus infrastructure for innovation requires seamless coordination across research administration, technology transfer, and commercialization support. This session will explore how universities can strengthen these handoffs, identify where projects commonly get stuck, and develop models that route faculty to the right office at the right time. Participants will learn how to leverage NCI’s regional staff and hub relationships to expand capacity—even on smaller or less-resourced campuses—and how OSP can play a pivotal role in connecting researchers to commercialization pathways. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for improving campus navigation, reducing friction points, and enabling more faculty to successfully engage in North Carolina’s innovation ecosystem.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Finance-Post Award

M4: Governance & Business Model: Impactful Funding 

Linda Hall & Erica Shrader (NCInnovation)

Understanding how NCI’s endowment-driven business model differs from traditional state-funded agencies is essential for maximizing the impact of commercialization-focused awards. This session will unpack NCI’s unique governance structure, how its funding approach enables more flexible and impactful investment in innovation, and what legislators and senior leaders increasingly expect in terms of compliance and reporting. Participants will learn which metrics matter most—such as disclosures, TRL progression, industry engagement, and downstream outcomes—and how strong administrative practices can build institutional memory and support transparent, data-driven reporting. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how finance and post-award teams can strengthen accountability while amplifying the real-world impact of NCI-supported research.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Faculty Experience Across Pre & Post Award

M6: The Hidden Weight of the Work: Sustaining Research Administrators in High-Pressure Environments

Denise Wynn (Wynn Essentials)

Research administration is fast-paced, high-stakes, and often under-resourced. Behind the deadlines and compliance demands, many professionals carry an invisible load—chronic stress, burnout, and the emotional weight of constant pressure. This session explores how these factors impact performance, decision-making, and team dynamics. Participants will gain practical strategies to support themselves and their teams while maintaining accountability and operational excellence.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Leadership, Management, Professional Growth

M7: F&A Rate Discussion: Status, Executive Orders & Federal Changes in RA

Robert Cohen & Gil Tran (Attain Partners), Penny Gordon‑Larsen (UNC Chapel Hill)

The session will cover the latest Executive Orders, Federal Agency announcements, Federal rule changes, Agency budget changes, Federal indirect cost changes and other related topics such as new Letter of Credit requirements and appeals for terminated grants.  

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Agency specific (i.e. NIH, NSF, etc.), Budgets/Financial, Compliance

M8: Navigating the Research Administration Regulatory Framework Part 1

Julie Cole (Clemson), Betty Morgan (NC State University)

Research administrators are navigating an increasingly complex environment shaped by laws, regulations, Executive Orders, agency guidance, research security requirements, audits, and institutional policies. This workshop provides an overview of the research administration regulatory framework and explores how these requirements fit together to support institutional research activities.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of the broader regulatory landscape, where key requirements originate, and how various compliance, administrative, and operational responsibilities intersect across the research enterprise. Designed for both new and experienced research administrators, this session provides a foundation for understanding the regulatory environment that impacts day-to-day research administration.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Compliance, Research Security, Regulatory Environment, Professional Development 

M9: Updates & Discussion: UNC System Institutions

Valerie Crickard & Jacob Falkiewicz (UNC System Office)

The discussion group will provide updates to UNC System research administration along with time to ask questions and provide feedback.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Central Office, Workflow and Processes, UNC System updates

M10: Orientation to Research Administration Part 1

Charna Howson (Appalachian State), Joy Dismukes (UNC Greensboro)

This workshop provides a high-level introduction to the research administration ecosystem and the full lifecycle of sponsored projects. Participants gain clarity on key roles, essential terminology, and the processes that guide proposals from concept to closeout. By exploring funding mechanisms, budget development, compliance requirements, and post award management, attendees build a foundational understanding of how institutions support responsible, successful research. Interactive activities reinforce real world decision making and highlight the importance of communication, collaboration, and ethical stewardship throughout the research enterprise.                                                           

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Closeout, Compliance, Departmental

M11: Integrating AI and Automation Across Research Development and Administration

Emily Devereux (University of South Carolina)

Artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation are increasingly transforming how institutions support research development (RD) and research administration (RA). This interactive workshop will provide a practical introduction to integrating AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Power BI into RD and RA workflows to improve efficiency, support proposal development, enhance funding opportunity analysis, and streamline administrative tasks. Participants will explore real-world examples of AI-assisted workflows for proposal support, communication, reporting, and research intelligence, along with practical considerations related to responsible AI use, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements. The session is designed to help research administrators and research development professionals identify manageable, high-impact opportunities to begin incorporating AI and automation into their daily operations.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Optimization/Efficiency, Research Development, Workflow and Processes

M12: AI Applied: A Hands‑On Workshop for Research Administrators

Jim Wagner (The Contract Network)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer on the horizon — it's here, and research administrators are increasingly expected to engage with it. Yet many professionals in this field are working under institutional policies that limit access to the tools reshaping every other industry. This hands-on workshop cuts through the hype and puts you to work. Participants will hear directly from practitioners applying AI today across research administration — contract negotiation, budget development, compliance workflows, and more. They'll work hands-on with available tools, build reusable AI instruction frameworks ("skills"), and leave with practical ideas they can pilot within 90 days. No technical background required. Bring your laptop, your institutional knowledge, and your curiosity.

Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Budgets/Financial, Clinical Trials, Contract Negotiation

M8: Navigating the Research Administration Regulatory Framework Part 2

Julie Cole (Clemson), Betty Morgan (NC State University)

Understanding regulatory changes is only part of the challenge. Research administrators must also know how to navigate and interpret the requirements contained within 2 CFR 200 and related guidance.

This workshop focuses on understanding and using 2 CFR 200 as a practical resource for research administration. Participants will explore the structure and organization of the regulation, learn where key requirements reside, and discuss recent changes and their implications for institutions, faculty, and research administrators. The session will also examine recent Executive Orders and other federal actions that are influencing the research administration environment and the implementation of regulatory requirements.

Designed for both new and experienced research administrators, the session includes practical reference materials, navigation tools, and discussion to help attendees build confidence in locating, interpreting, and applying 2 CFR 200 requirements in their day-to-day work. This session is designed to stand alone but also provides additional context and practical application for attendees interested in recent federal regulatory developments affecting research administration.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Compliance, Pre-Award, Post-Award, 2 CFR 200, Professional Development 

M13: Where Compliance Breaks Down: Preventing Costly Post‑Award Mistakes Before They Happen

Denise Wynn (Wynn Essentials)

Post-award issues rarely stem from one major error, they emerge from small breakdowns in communication, oversight, and process. This session examines where compliance actually fails in real institutional environments, from effort misalignment to delayed financial monitoring and weak internal controls. Participants will explore practical strategies to identify early warning signs, strengthen systems, and reduce institutional risk.    

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Closeout, Compliance, Departmental, Workflow & Processes

M10: Orientation to Research Administration Part 2

Charna Howson (Appalachian State), Joy Dismukes (UNC Greensboro)

This workshop provides a high-level introduction to the research administration ecosystem and the full lifecycle of sponsored projects. Participants gain clarity on key roles, essential terminology, and the processes that guide proposals from concept to closeout. By exploring funding mechanisms, budget development, compliance requirements, and post award management, attendees build a foundational understanding of how institutions support responsible, successful research. Interactive activities reinforce real world decision making and highlight the importance of communication, collaboration, and ethical stewardship throughout the research enterprise.                                                            

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Closeout, Compliance, Departmental

M14: Navigating the NIH Environment: What Has Changed and What is Staying the Same

Jenny Greer, Clark Phillips, Anika Dzierlenga, Abee Boyles (NIEHS/NIH) & Molly Puente (NIH OPERA)

In this interactive panel discussion, Program Officers (POs) and Grants Management Officers (GMOs) from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will join forces with a Grants Systems Policy Analyst from the NIH Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA) to guide attendees through the evolving landscape of NIH funding policies and procedures. Participants will receive a foundational overview of the NIH structure and the distinct roles of POs and GMOs, followed by a comprehensive review of critical NIH updates, including the Foreign Subawards Policy, websites consolidation, grant funding opportunity postings, and the transition to Common Forms. By clarifying which procedures have recently changed and which foundational policies remain steadfast, this session will equip research administrators with the insights needed to successfully "navigate the rapids" of the NIH environment, concluding with a dedicated Q&A session to address specific audience inquiries.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Agency specific (i.e. NIH, NSF, etc.), Budgets/Financial, Compliance

T1: Navigating the Research Rapids: Training and Developing a Resilient Research Administration Workforce

Julie Cole (Clemson University), Denise Wynn (Wynn Essentials), Lee Broxton (Georgia Tech), Amy Cuhel-Schuckers (The College of New Jersey)

The research administration profession is navigating increasingly challenging rapids—shifting regulations, evolving technologies, workforce transitions, and growing compliance expectations. This timely panel discussion will explore how institutions can develop meaningful training and professional development programs that prepare research administrators to adapt, grow, and thrive amid continuous change. Panelists will share practical ideas and successful approaches for building resilient, knowledgeable, and future-ready teams.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Professional Growth/Professional Development, Sponsored Programs Regulations Overview

T2: Clinical Trial vs Grant Finances: Protocol‑Based vs Project‑Based Management 

Amanda Varone (Huron Consulting Group), Jill Cunnup (UNC Chapel Hill)

Clinical trials and research grants share common financial building blocks, but the way funds are earned, tracked, and reviewed differs significantly. This session explores the practical distinctions between protocol based clinical trial financial management and the project-based approach used for grant funded research. Participants will examine where financial workflows diverge across the research lifecycle, including pre award planning, budgeting, documentation standards, and key post award responsibilities. Attendees will gain a clear, practical understanding of how money flows through clinical trials and grants, which financial controls matter most in each model, and how well-designed processes support compliance, transparency, and the responsible use of research funding.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Clinical Trials

T3: AI: The New Research Partner

Tomer du Sautoy (Atom Grants)

This talk explores how AI is emerging as the next great scientific instrument, comparable to the telescope or microscope, and what that means for researchers and research administrators. Drawing on his journey from physics to founding Atom Grants, Tomer traces AI's growing role in research, from landmark breakthroughs like LIGO's detection of gravitational waves and DeepMind's AlphaFold protein predictions, to the ways semantic search and tools like Scite are breaking down disciplinary silos and reshaping how we evaluate scholarship. He introduces the concept of the "Hybrid Scientist," walking through three emerging archetypes that illustrate how humans, algorithms, and even robotic labs are beginning to collaborate in a continuous loop of discovery. The talk closes with a practical look at AI in grant writing, including new NIH guidance on responsible use, and a call for researchers and administrators to guide these tools with wisdom rather than fear, so the next decade can become the most creative and collaborative era in scientific history.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Optimization/Efficiency, Proposal Development, Research Development

T4: Center Grant Proposal Architecture: A Pre-Award Toolkit for Center-Scale Submissions

Phil Grosshans (Mr. Owl, LLC)

Federal center and center-like proposals are not simply large submissions; they are complex pre-award projects that require a clear architecture for budgets, narrative components, collaborators, review teams, institutional commitments, and submission logistics. This session gives research administrators a practical framework for moving a PI’s center concept from solicitation review to routed submission. We will cover opportunity intake, proposal mapping, budget architecture, proposal writing and review processes, document coordination, partner tracking, internal review, and final submission readiness. Participants will receive a starter Center Grant Budget Architecture Template and related planning tools to support faculty conversations, partner planning, early budget decisions, and budget-justification development. The emphasis is on building center proposals that are coherent, compliant, coordinated, and positioned for successful launch if funded.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Proposal Development, Research Development, Workflow and Processes

T5: The Evolving Funding Landscape for Research: Federal and Foundation Grant Trends, and What the Data Tell Us 

Michael Fern (Duke University/SciRise Inc.)

This session offers a data-driven look at the foundation funding landscape for research universities, drawing on IRS 990 and 990-PF filings covering 16,500 foundations and the top 50 R1 universities. We'll explore trends in foundation giving to universities, how foundations actually select grantees, and what signals matter most, including co-funding networks, geographic patterns, mission alignment, and more. The goal is to give research development professionals a clearer, empirically grounded picture of the foundation landscape and practical frameworks for identifying new funding opportunities beyond traditional federal sources.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate, Advanced, Senior/Leadership

Topic Tags: Non-Federal Funding, Research Development

T6: The Budget Blueprint: From Questions to Compliance to Confidence

Jill Thomas (University of Kentucky), Betty Morgan (NC State University)

Developing a strong proposal budget requires more than completing templates—it demands a structured, question-driven approach that ensures accuracy, compliance, and long-term project success. The Budget Blueprint: From Questions to Compliance to Confidence introduces a practical framework for building well-justified budgets by asking the right questions across key cost categories, including personnel, consultants, subjects, equipment, subawards, and travel. The session also explores how emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools can support budget development through drafting justifications, identifying gaps, and improving consistency, while maintaining appropriate human oversight. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, participants will gain the tools and confidence needed to develop compliant, complete, and defensible proposal budgets.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial

T7: What Are Your Values and Why Do They Matter?

Dave Mineo (DLMineo Consulting), Elizabeth DuBose (UNC Chapel Hill)

Values are the ethical and social actions taken by individuals on a personal basis.  Our values are shaped by our experiences, education and spiritual learnings. These values help us determine what is and is not important in our day-to-day activities both inside and outside the workplace.  In essence, values help inform our decisions and our actions in work and society.  This session will help attendees recognize their personal values and explore strategies for moving forward when faced with obstacles and challenges that stress these beliefs.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Career Planning, Professional Growth/Professional Development

T8: Navigating Effort Waters: Sponsored Project Effort Demystified

Jennifer Williams & Bradley Priser (NC State University)

Is effort reporting a mystery to your PIs?  Do you struggle to find a relationship between budgeted effort and reality?  What does voluntary uncommitted cost share have to do with effort certification?  Climb aboard and navigate the basics of all things research effort.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory, Intermediate

Topic Tags: Compliance, Departmental, Research Integrity/Research Misconduct

T9: Whitewater Compliance: Steering Through the Research Rapids

Daphne Slaughter (NC State University) Kimberlee Parker (Ethics & Compliance Professional)

This session explores the evolving demands of research administration in an increasingly complex landscape, where success requires more than familiarity with sponsor and institutional policies and procedures. Participants will develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate ambiguity, manage risk, and determine effective courses of action in situations that lack clear-cut answers. Focusing on compliance challenges, ethical dilemmas, and organizational gray areas, the session emphasizes analytical and strategic approaches to problem-solving. Through interactive case studies and situational analyses, attendees will learn how to apply practical techniques to make informed decisions with greater confidence, consistency, and clarity.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Topic Tags: Compliance (Other), Leadership, Management

T10: Award to Closeout 101: Post‑Award Basics for Managing, Monitoring, and Supporting Sponsored Awards

Darlene Booker & Shawnee Haney (UNC Charlotte)

This session provides a foundational overview of post-award research administration, guiding attendees through the post-award lifecycle of a sponsored award, from award setup through closeout. Designed for departmental staff and individuals responsible for managing sponsored awards, this session focuses on the essential basics of managing, monitoring, and supporting sponsored awards. Attendees will gain practical insight into key areas such as financial compliance, departmental-level reconciliation, and the importance of accurate invoicing and financial reporting, all aligned with Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200. Emphasis will be placed on how early actions in award management impact downstream processes, including reporting and audit readiness. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of their role in supporting effective, compliant award management throughout the post-award lifecycle.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Central Office, Closeout, Departmental

T11: Think Like A Research Funder Using AI

Aaron Wolpoff (Streamlyne)

What makes research funders tick? How do they read between the lines to make their determinations about where to grant funding and where to bypass? How can we better understand their preferences and priorities? In this engaging presentation, we will demonstrate how AI can be used not just to identify research funding opportunities, but to think more strategically about how funders operate. Taking a step outside an institution's vantage point, we will show how cutting-edge AI tools are enabling researchers to be more intuitive and proactive with their approaches, staying in tighter alignment with funders.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Research Development

 T12: Contract Awards for Universities

Kurt Thurber & Martika LaChon Jenkins (UNC Chapel Hill)

This presentation will provide pre-award staff and university research PIs an increased awareness on how to successfully repurpose a grant approach to federal contract funding. The federal research funding landscape has evolved in the last year where contracting process has become more prevalent to all funding types. With industry best practices, traditional grant recipients can use modified approaches to win and navigate the new funding paradigm.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Federal Contracts, Non-Federal Funding, Proposal Development, Research Development

T13: Successes and Pitfalls of a Cohort-Based Faculty Grantsmanship Training Approach: The "Grants Academy"

Paul Tuttle & Mallory Waters (Hanover Research)

Many faculty enter academia without formal training in grantsmanship. A Grants Academy (GA) model offers a structured way to build these skills by supporting small faculty cohorts through targeted webinars, peer mentorship, and individualized proposal development. This session will outline how a GA strengthens faculty competitiveness, the range of support it can provide—from funding landscape awareness to line‑by‑line proposal feedback—and the outcomes institutions have seen. Presenters will also discuss common challenges, lessons learned, and best practices. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to adapt this model to their own campuses.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Central Office, Proposal Development, Research Development, Faculty Grantsmanship Skills Development & Training

T14: Staying Rooted in Dynamic Times: A Case Study of Research Development and Pre-Award Support During Structural Change

Leigh Ann Samsa & Jocelyn Tsai (UNC Chapel Hill)

The Office of Research Strategy (ORS) is the research development and pre-award administrative unit within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS), a new school formed from the combination of the School of Data Science and Society and the School of Information and Library Science.  Different changes are occurring at different institutions all across North Carolina.  We have been at the front line of changes in staffing and at the office, school, and university levels over the past few years.  In this session, we will share our approach to navigating dynamic times including observations about what has worked well for our unit.

Knowledge Level: Senior/Leadership, All Levels

Topic Tags: Leadership, Proposal Development, Research Development, Shared Services

T15: Charting a Course to Success: Navigating the Research Rapids with Strategic Evaluation

Jade Hollars & Shelly Maras (UNC Chapel Hill)

Successfully navigating today's research funding landscape can feel dynamic, complex, and high‑stakes. Projects that integrate evaluation early are better equipped to stay on course, demonstrate impact, and adapt to changing conditions. As funders increasingly require clear plans for monitoring progress and measuring outcomes, a well-designed evaluation approach can serve as a navigational tool that provides direction while helping teams remain responsive and resilient. In this session, participants will learn how strategic evaluation planning supports successful navigation at every phase of the project lifecycle, from proposal submission through close‑out. We will explore tested evaluation frameworks as foundational navigation tools and discuss how to select those that align best with project aims and funder expectations. Through guided exercises, participants will practice building logic models to map project activities to meaningful outcomes. This session provides practical skills for addressing common funder evaluation requirements while highlighting resources that help teams manage challenges and reach successful project outcomes.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory, Intermediate

Topic Tags: Proposal Development, Research Development, Evaluation

T16: Dollars and Data: The Art of Clinical Trial Budgeting

Robert Cohen & Shanna Ford (Attain Partners)

This session provides a practical introduction to the fundamentals of budgeting clinical trials, guiding attendees through the key components required to build accurate, defensible, and sustainable study budgets. It begins with a breakdown of internal cost determination, including how to identify and allocate resources such as personnel time, start-up activities, overhead, pass-through costs, and institutional fees. Attendees will learn how to map study protocols to effort and translate operational requirements into realistic sponsor-facing budgets.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Clinical Trials, Compliance, Industry Partnerships

T17: The Verification Gap: Preparing Research Administration for AI-Enabled Research

George Koomullil (Ascendr)

This session looks at how AI is changing the research process itself and what pushes downstream into research administration, including proposal volume, funder rules, expertise verification, confidentiality, and institutional trust. Attendees would leave with a practical ninety-day readiness checklist and a set of free public resources they can use no matter what tools their institution adopts.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: AI, Compliance, Leadership, and Management 

T18: Federal Affairs Update

Kelly Dockham (UNC Chapel Hill)

Federal policy and funding priorities continue to evolve rapidly, shaping the environment in which universities pursue research, innovation, and commercialization. This session will provide an up‑to‑date overview of the federal landscape, highlighting key shifts that impact institutional strategy, proposal development, and long‑term planning.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Central Office, Leadership, Proposal Development

T19: Methodological Consideration for Tracking Research Products to Measure Research Impact

Marlena Khun & Thomas McKinley (UNC Chapel Hill)

Tracking scholarship, such as publications, grants, or patents, produced by research entities is essential in measuring academic return on investment for funders. However, accurately capturing scientific impact can be challenging; tracking scholarship based on grant numbers depends on proper acknowledgement and other forms of attribution may be hidden in unstructured text. In this session, participants will learn about the challenges of multiple approaches to scholarship tracking through the efforts and findings from the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute K program and from core facilities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We will also present on BREAKthrough: Boosting Research Extraction with Keyword Tracking, a novel tool for tracking research products from core facilities, as a semi-automated data system to address some of these challenges. This session outlines key methodology and metrics in scholarship tracking to support research groups in tracking the impact of their research.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Topic Tags: Data Analytics, Shared Services, Workflow and Processes

T20: Tracking the Award Trail: Internal Controls from Start to Finish

Betty Morgan & Connor Dorsch (NC State University)

Award management internal controls are essential for maintaining compliance across all sponsored research funding. This session will highlight key internal controls and practical strategies for implementing and monitoring them throughout the full award lifecycle—from new award setup through closeout. Participants will also explore innovative tools and methods for tracking compliance, reducing risk, and strengthening oversight of sponsored projects.

Knowledge Level: All Levels

Topic Tags: Compliance, Departmental, Optimization/Efficiency, Workflow and Processes

T21: Managing a Multi‑Generational Office: Coaching and Retaining Our Current and Future Generations

Eduardo Serrano (Huron Consulting Group), Elizabeth DuBose (UNC Chapel Hill)

This session will discuss how coaching and mentoring are key factors to success in a multi-generational workforce. We will illustrate with "real-life" examples what is timeless in the work of research administration. The focus is on how commonalities, rather than differences, are keys to success and can be integrated into coaching and mentoring employees.

Knowledge Level: Advanced, Senior/Leadership

Topic Tags: Leadership, Management, Optimization/Efficiency

T22: Hands-On with AI: Practical Tech Strategies for RD and RA Professionals

Brooke Gowl (Appalachian State University)

Generative AI tools are rapidly entering the research enterprise, offering powerful capabilities to advance both Research Development (RD) and Research Administration (RA) workflows. Whether your goal is refining a proposal strategy or navigating award compliance, AI presents immense potential—yet adoption remains uneven due to valid concerns around intellectual property and transparency. This 60-minute, interactive presentation addresses these challenges head-on, offering practical strategies for responsible AI adoption. Participants will learn how to safely get started, collaborate with IT, and "tinker" effectively. The session will feature live examples of custom AI agents tailored for key RD and RA tasks, including discovering funding pathways and deciphering complex solicitations. Bring your laptop and learn how to make AI a practical, daily asset for your specific research role!

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Proposal Development, Research Development

T23: Charting a Safe Passage: Navigating Ethics and Compliance When AI Meets Human Subject Research

Megan Barton & Heather Emmons (UNC Greensboro)

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into human subjects research, investigators and IRBs face new ethical, regulatory, and compliance challenges. This session explores how AI tools intersect with core human subjects protections—including consent, privacy, confidentiality, and risk assessment—and offers practical guidance for navigating IRB review in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Knowledge Leve: Basic/Introductory, Intermediate

Topic Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Compliance, IRB

 T24: Chaos to Consensus: Strategic Management of Multi-Million Dollar, Multi-Institutional Grants

Stacy Leotta (UNC Charlotte)

This session pulls back the curtain on the architecture of successful "mega-proposals." Attendees will learn a battle-tested framework for managing the entire lifecycle of a complex submission—from initial concept mapping and establishing team governance, to orchestrating multi-budget integration and navigating red tape. Whether you are aiming for NSF Centers, NIH program projects (P01/U54), or multi-million-dollar agency solicitations, this session will provide the practical toolkits, communication strategies, and project timelines needed to turn collaborative chaos into a winning, cohesive narrative.

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Central Office, Compliance

T25: Pre‑Award: It’s a Perfect World… NOT!

Lorrie Robbins (Duke University), Betty Morgan (NC State University)

"Pre-Award: It’s a Perfect World...Not!" uses a road trip analogy to explore the ideal pre-award lifecycle while addressing what happens when proposals go off course. Through real-world examples and interactive case studies, the session reviews core pre-award practices, including funding opportunity identification, proposal development, budgeting, compliance, review, and submission. Participants examine common pitfalls such as misaligned NOFOs, budget and cost-sharing issues, communication breakdowns, and last-minute changes, and discuss practical strategies to course-correct when challenges arise. The session concludes with best practices focused on preparation, flexibility, communication, and compliance, equipping research administrators with tools to support investigators and achieve smoother, more successful proposal submissions.

Knowledge Level: Basic/Introductory, Intermediate

Topic Tags: Budgets/Financial, Departmental, Professional Growth/Professional Development