Research Administrator

Research Administrator

The Research Administrator provides comprehensive pre-award and post-award support for research portfolios within the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS). This newly established position was created to formalize and strengthen research administration through a Grant Core model that embeds dedicated research support directly within academic departments. Under this model, each department is supported by a full-time Research Administrator who reports directly to the Department Head and maintains a dotted-line relationship with the Sr.

Director of Finance and Administration. This transition from a centrally managed structure to a department-based approach enables more specialized, responsive, and strategic support tailored to the unique needs of each department's research portfolio. The Research Administrator ensures compliance with University policies, sponsor guidelines, and federal regulations, including OMB2

CFR
200 (Uniform Guidance), while providing support throughout the full lifecycle of sponsored projects—from proposal development and submission through award management and closeout. Through coordinated training, compliance oversight, quality assurance, and process improvement, the position advances the School's research mission by promoting consistency, operational excellence, and high-quality service across all departments.

Minimum Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in related field. Three (3) years relevant professional experience in research administration in a University research setting; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Pre-Award Support Assist faculty (PIs) with proposal preparation and internal routing processes. Assist faculty (PIs) with proposal budgets and justifications; prepare and maintain a library of biosketches and current & pending documents. Track proposal submissions and maintain database for use by School Leadership. Oversee and align proposed PI effort to ensure allowability under sponsor and university guidelines Manage proposal timelines and ensure timely submission of all components.

Post-Award Support Support award setup and budget alignment. Ensure allowability, allocability, consistency, and reasonableness of expenditures; process cost transfers and maintain documentation. Provide effort reporting assistance and manage/verify effort certifications. Assist with posting and hiring of research support staff and student workers. Coordinate, monitor, and track subawards, including initiating purchase orders and reviewing invoices. With support from the Office of Post Award Management (OPM), provide day-to-day guidance to investigators and staff;

ensure closeout readiness. Ensure expenditures align with the awarded scope of work, sponsor regulations, and University policies. Maintain documentation per terms & conditions and record retention requirements. Conduct regular budget reviews to prevent overspending and manage budget realignments; provide burn-rates. Assist with tracking and submission of interim and final reports (financial and technical). Process and monitor project expenditures; support budgetary forecasting.

Perform monthly review and reconciliation of transactions posted to research cost centers; correct errors within allowable periods. Meet monthly with faculty and cost center managers to review current spending and projected expenses to avoid over- or under-spending. Provide regular updates to the Manager of Research Administration at the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Support requests such as budget revisions and no-cost extensions.

Communication & Collaboration Serve as liaison between PIs and the Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of Post Award Management, and other university units (e.g., Procurement, HR, Budget Office). Coordinate with the Grants & Contracts Manager for training, compliance oversight, and quality control. Provide guidance/mentorship to other grant and contract administrators as needed. Work seamlessly with Post-Award team members to provide excellent service to PIs and departments.

Regulatory Knowledge &…