Acknowledgement
Support from the
US National Science Foundation
under award: PTE-2400002
Welcome to Filling the Gap, a transformative program to create an undergraduate degree in research and grant administration. The curriculum is designed to prepare the next generation of career professionals who will manage the business of research and grants administration. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the GRANTED initiative, this project is dedicated to creating pathways for undergraduate students to enter a growing and critical field.
What is Filling the Gap?
Filling the Gap addresses the nationwide demand for skilled research administrators by:
Our Goals
Curriculum Development
Student Recruitment & Outreach
Experiential Learning
Why Filling the Gap Matters
Research and grant administration are vital to driving innovation, supporting faculty, and navigating the complexities of funded research. However, the field faces a shortage of qualified professionals and a lack of formal undergraduate training programs. Filling the Gap seeks to address these challenges by:
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Increasing awareness of research administration as a viable career. -
Developing a highly skilled workforce to support the research enterprise. -
Creating opportunities for students to contribute to a growing profession.
Our Collaborators
This initiative is made possible by the collective expertise of universities, community colleges, and professional organizations nationwide. Led by The University of Alabama at Birmingham, key collaborators include the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI), the University of South Alabama, and a diverse network of academic institutions committed to advancing education in research administration.
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Collaborators / Team Members
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Christopher S. Brown, PhD
Principal Investigator
Vice President for Research
Office of Research
The University of Alabama at Birmingham -
Lynne U. Chronister
Project Director
Co-Principal
Insite Advisors Group -
S. Raj Chaudhury
Subaward Principal Investigator (USA)
Executive Director
Innovation in Learning Center
University of South AlabamaKeone Fuqua
Program Manager
Program Manager, Curriculum Design
Innovation in Learning Center
University of South Alabama -
Evan Roberts
Co-Principal Investigator
Executive Director
Society of Research Administrators International -
Susan McDowell
Co-Principal Investigator
Vice President for Research and Innovation
Office of Research and Innovation
Miami University (Ohio)Amy Hurley Stander
Content Developer
Associate Director of Proposal Development
Office of Research and Innovation
Miami University (Ohio)Sarah Woodruff
Evaluation Lead
Director, Discovery Center for Evaluation, Research, and Professional Learning
College of Education, Health, and Society
Miami University (Ohio) -
Majed El Dwiek
Subaward Principal Investigator (AL A&M U), NRI Outreach Lead
VP of Research and Economic Development
Division of Research and Economic Development
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTyretira Jackson
NRI Representative
Interim Executive Director, Senior Grants Administrator
Office of Sponsored Programs
Division of Research and Economic Development
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University -
Kristin Tennant
Subaward Principal Investigator (UIUC), Marketing Strategy and Toolkit Lead
Director of Research Communications
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSowmya Anand
Co-Investigator, Marketing Toolkit Team
Director, Office of Proposal Development
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign -
Alisha Giron
Subaward Principal Investigator (NMSU), Marketing Toolkit Team
Associate Vice President, Research Administration
Research, Creativity and Economic Development
New Mexico State UniversityCarol Flinchbaugh
Marketing Toolkit Team
Department Head, Professor
Management | College of Business
New Mexico State University
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While this list continues to grow, we are excited to announce that the following colleges/universities have joined the initiative to offer the curriculum program for their students:
The Research Administration and Management (RAM) Curriculum
Filling the Gap will deliver, through the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI), the following five Research Administration and Management (RAM) courses (each designed to support the equivalence of 3 credit hours):
Contact Us
For more information about Filling the Gap or how your institution can get involved, please contact:
Share
https://go.uab.edu/fillingthegap
