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Re: sponsored programs backgrounds Gina Betcher 15 Mar 2007 08:02 EST

..if research administrators all understood that
research preceded its administration...

Personally, and with all things subjective, I am sharpened each
time I work with research faculty (senior and junior). I serve and
at times I am tested (e.g., 'the proposal deadline isn't until
midnight'). Often (and it's true) RA posts are defined and redefined
and perceived by the finest researchers. Our role is to be whatever
will settle them: the budget curator, (to be fancy); the coordinator
for letters of support; the S424 filler-inner; the Fastlane or
Grants.gov last minute 'submitter'. We are "paper work" and gate
keepers. There are delicate tensions at every turn that we (grant
developers at least) must ease. It's always a challenge to serve, to
read and edit content on a subject we are not specialists of, but as
with any challenge the role of RA cannot be understood the same by
all.

Research does precede administration, in other words, for me and
for hundreds more, and with fullest respect.

>>> Charlie Hathaway <xxxxxx@AECOM.YU.EDU> 3/14/2007 9:21 PM >>>
"PI's perspective"?  I think it is a safe assumption that senior
faculty
members, especially at research intensive schools, know a hell of a
lot
about research administration.

What remains in critical shortage are research administrators who
really
know what research is about.  Certainly some can talk the talk
vis-a-vis
scientific method and study design jargon.  But can you really
convey to
anyone the frustrations and joys of the actual process?

Maybe it is the personal attachment to a question, the ownership of
the
search, that makes it special.  God bless our system for
understanding
that it is individuals, enabled by genius and driven by passion,
developing the great hypothesis, one's own great hypothesis, that
makes
science work.

I do not think that you need research experience to be a good
research
administrator.  But if research administrators all understood that
research preceded its administration, researchers that keep us
employed,
and that while perhaps necessary, it is really lunacy to make
scholars
perform all these tricks for grant dollars, then I think the RA
profession
would be better and would be more respected by the faculty we seek
to
serve.

Again I request that the next time you hear someone say, "Gee,
you'd think
a PhD could understand what a DUNS number is", that you fire or
strangle
them.  Of course, you are allowed to also strangle the researcher
who
really is abusive.  But always consider first that there is
probably a lot
that neither of you know about the other's work and life.  And then
try to
be as saintly as you can.

Charlie

> ...when really, in some cases, the faculty member with extensive
research experience only knows research administration from a PI's
perspective (which can be somewhat limited).
>
> Paul Eduard Tuttle, Associate Director
> Office of Sponsored Programs
> Room C024G, Anderson Center
> Winston-Salem State University
> Winston-Salem, NC 27110
> direct: (336) 750-3019
> office: (336) 750-2410
> fax: (336) 750-2412
> email: xxxxxx@wssu.edu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org]
On
Behalf Of Myra Norman
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:52 PM
> To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
> Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] sponsored programs backgrounds
>
> I agree with Spanky.  I have a doctorate, but not the faculty
> background.  This is a stumbling block for someone who would like
to
move higher into a Associate VP or VP position.  Search committees
still
look for faculty with extensive research.
>
> --
> Myra Norman, Director
> Office of Sponsored Programs
> Middle Tennessee State University
> Email:  	xxxxxx@mtsu.edu
> Telephone:   (615) 898-5005
> Fax:	         (615) 898-5028
>
>
>
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