Tracks are designed to develop the content in a way that assures value added opportunities for attendees. A secondary aim is to assist attendees to effectively plan their educational time. The tracks represent major subject and issue areas for research administration.
Financial and Post-award AdministrationThe Financial and Post-award Administration Track topics include: research cost accounting; auditing; OMB requirements for universities, hospitals, private sector; matching funds issues/cost sharing; financial conflict of interest issues; facilities and administration costs; purchasing; salaries, compensation, honoraria; travel allocability and allowability; and working with sponsoring agencies and sub-recipient monitoring.
Management and OperationsThe Management and Operations Track focuses on: delivery of operational services and research and financial compliance programs; facilities management; research infrastructure such as capital programs and building and managing of science and technology parks; human resources and international personnel management; and supporting collaborations with international organizations.
Professional DevelopmentThe Professional Development Track hosts workshops and sessions geared towards: continuing education commitment; building on personal growth and development; leadership; quality of life development; self-assessment; supervisor/staff relations; industrial/workplace psychology; and the emerging role of research administrators within the culture of research.
Research Impact & CommunicationsThe Research Impact & Communications track applies to topics such as identifying, measuring, and communicating on the impact and outcomes of research and scholarly activity; bibliometrics; altmetrics; developing community partnerships & engagement; research/science outreach activities; knowledge mobilization; uses of social media for research communications; and global best-practices for maximizing research impact.
Research Ethics and ComplianceThe Research Ethics and Compliance Track applies to attendees involved or interested in issues such as: human research; animal research; peer review; mentor/trainee responsibility and development; publications; collaborative research ethics; scientific misconduct; standards for the responsible conduct of research; and research ethics education programs, curricula, requirements, and approaches.
Research Law & RegulationsThe Research Law & Regulations Track centers around: patents; copyrights; intellectual property; technology transfer; undue influence and conflict of interest; Stark, Safe Harbors, Anti Kickback, HIPAA; institutional liability assessment and corrective action planning; FAR/DFAR; OMB Circulars and CFR’s; emerging regulations and statutes; interrelationship of federal, state and local law; international issues; import/export and licensing issues; and data sharing, monitoring, management, and ownership.
Sponsors and AgenciesThe Sponsors and Agencies Track covers: the nature of “sponsorship”; defining roles and responsibilities between sponsors, grantors, awardees; private sector sponsors: technology, foundations; state sponsorship issues; federal agency updates; new initiatives in research; international agency relations; working with program officer leadership; and sponsoring agency rules.
Sponsored Programs Planning, Development and DeliveriesThe Sponsored Programs Planning, Development and Deliveries Track relates to the development and delivery of sponsored programs. Topics may include: how to develop collaborative partnerships with industry, government and non-profit sectors; identifying strategies in developing public-private partnerships; institutional capacity building, including supply-side partnerships; faculty, positioning; effective grant writing techniques; the role of the research administrator in sponsored programs development; diversifying funding sources; communication strategies in sponsored programs development; and organizational and team structures to support successful program development.