Summary

The Research Administration Associate provides comprehensive pre-award and post-award research administration support for faculty investigators within the Department of Neurology. This position serves as a key resource for faculty, research staff, and institutional partners by assisting with proposal development, grant management, financial oversight, compliance, and sponsor reporting. The Research Administration Associate ensures sponsored research activities comply with institutional, federal, state, and sponsor regulations while supporting the department's research mission.

Employees with CRA certification are eligible for certification pay.

Job Duties

Pre-Award Administration

• Coordinate the preparation, review, and submission of grant proposals, contracts, and other sponsored research applications.
• Develop proposal budgets and budget justifications in collaboration with principal investigators (PIs).
• Interpret sponsor guidelines and institutional policies to ensure compliant proposal submissions.
• Prepare internal routing documents and obtain required approvals prior to submission.
• Coordinate proposal timelines and monitor submission deadlines.
• Assist faculty with biosketches, current and pending support documents, facilities statements, and other proposal components.
• Work with collaborators and subcontract institutions to obtain required documentation.

Post-Award Administration

• Monitor sponsored project expenditures to ensure compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.
• Review monthly financial reports and reconcile project expenses. Assist faculty with budget forecasting, personnel distributions, salary allocations, and spending plans.
• Prepare budget modifications, no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, and rebudgeting requests.
• Coordinate effort certification and monitor salary support.
• Assist with grant closeout activities and final financial reconciliation. 
• Monitor award balances and identify potential overdrafts or underspending.
• Assist faculty with Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs), annual reports, and sponsor reporting requirements.
• Maintain accurate research records and documentation for audits.

Financial Management

• Develop and maintain grant budget projections.
• Monitor payroll distributions and funding allocations.
• Review purchasing requests, travel reimbursements, and procurement transactions for allowability.
• Track cost sharing, program income, and other sponsor-specific financial requirements.
• Prepare financial analyses and reports for monthly financial meetings for faculty.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned. 
   

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.  Certified Research Administrator certification through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) may substitute for the degree requirement.
• Two years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with grants management in a research, higher education or related environment.
• Familiarity with grant systems like Proposal Central, ERA Commons, Assist.