Transforming DFRED
to Advance
Research Excellence
2.0
Four Priority Areas in Research
Administration Infrastructure
Transformin
g to
Advance
Research
Excellence
Incentivize interdisciplinary research networks and collaborations
across the humanities, social sciences and physical and life sciences,
mathematics, and engineering.
Incentivize
Build cutting-edge infrastructure in support of the interdisciplinary
research enterprise.
Build
Provide institutional support for scholarly work
Provide
Grow research and scholarship in areas at the forefront of science,
engineering, and technology.
Grow
Implement novel strategies, and best practices to incentivize as well
as retain diverse research active individuals and research
administrative support staff.
Implement
Background and
Timeline
Spring 2022
Report from NCURA
Review
30 June 2022
Division’s Retreat
(Identified Four
Priority Areas)
Aug.–Sep. 2022
Forming Four Task
Forces
Nov. 2022
Steering Committee
Formed
Jan. 2023
Kick-off Meeting with
Steering Committee
and Task Forces
Spring 2023
Campus Engagement
through COR, Senate,
Provost Council, and
Open Forums
Summer/Fall
2023
Reports from Task
Forces with Future
Action Plans and
SMART Goals
Task Force 1: Faculty
Outreach and Engagement
• Co-Chairs:
• Satyendra Kumar, Associate VP for Research
• David Hochfelder, Associate Professor and Director, Public History Program,
Department of History
• Division Staff:
• Erin Bell, Maria Pidgeon, Pete Gonczlik, Christine McCrary, and Tianning
Huang
• Members from the University Community:
• Won Namgoong, Associate Dean for Research and Interim Chair,
Department of Computer Science, CEAS
• Nick Bassill, Research Scientist, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center
• DeeDee Bennet-Gayle, Associate Professor, Emergency Management and
Homeland Security, CEHC
• Melissa Tracy, Associate Professor, School of Public Health
Task Force 1: Faculty
Outreach and Engagement
• Top Priorities
• Bidirectional communication between SPA staff & faculty
- develop rational internal timelines and policies.
• Incentivize Research and Scholarship - Engage Faculty
and the Council on Research
• Best communication practices for the
services/infrastructure offered by the Division
• Mentoring researchers in obtaining grants and post-
award requirements
• Promoting and Affecting Faculty Research Excellence
Task Force 1: Faculty
Outreach and Engagement
• The work we have done...
• Discussed and tentatively defined the five top challenges and what they
encompass.
• Identified action items to focus on and deliverables in order to meet the
challenges.
• Set tentative dates to complete the action items.
• The work we will do...
• Communicate the top challenges to faculty scholars and researchers, to seek
their input
• Prepare a comprehensive list of issues to address, identify possible pathways to
meet the challenges.
• Seek input from the Council on Research on the approaches and policies related
to the challenges.
• Seek input from Associate Deans of Research, Institute and Center directors'
representatives.
• Work with the Division staff, the provost's office, and the dean for graduate
studies to develop implementation plan.
Task Force 2: Digital
Transformation
•Co-Chairs:
• Tianning Huang, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Data, Assessment, and
Technology
• Spencer Bruce, Research Technology Manager, ITS
•Division Staff:
• Theresa A Pardo, Satyendra Kumar, Terrell Rabb, Lauren A Cole, Todd A
Remkus
•Members from the University Community:
• Ramon Gil-Garcia, Director of the Center for Technology in Government
• Barbara J Zampella, Research Facilitator, Atmospheric & Environmental
Sciences
• June A Mastan, Director of the Professional Development Program
Task Force 2: Digital
Transformation
• Top Priorities
• Reconfigure and automate manual processes
• Improve the use of existing systems and integrate with
new technologies
• Website Content and Structure reform for more
transparent, efficient, and effective user experience
Task Force 2: Digital
Transformation
• The work we have done...
• Worked to identify key redesign elements required for
process improvements that can help inform technology
options considered for new investments.
• Identified existing challenges for both our customers and
administrators in the current systems
• The work we will do...
• Working with ITS on several projects to identify
University-wide solutions to form creation, workflow and
approval, an improved onboarding system for research
HR, and digital signature software.
• Communicating with RF central on issues related to PACS,
Digital Purchasing Systems, and Travel reimbursements.
• Working to develop a Research Policy Procedure Library
with relevant offices
Task Force 3:
Processes
Co-Chairs
• Gary Ackerman, Associate Professor
• Terrell Rabb, Interim Director Research Protections
Members
• Christine McCrary, Director Sponsored Programs Pre-Award
• Jerold Gauriloff, Director Sponsored Programs Post-Award
• Erin Bell, Professor and Interim Assistant VPRED
• Paula Kaloyeros, Assistant VPRED
• Thomas Begley, Professor
• Lauren Cole, Director RF Human Resources
• Thecla Philip, Office of VPRED Sr Assoc Finance and Administration
• Theresa Pardo, Associate VPRED
• Maria Pidgeon, Director of Community and Economic
Task Force 3:
Processes
• Top Priorities
• Our mission is to prioritize changes to institutional
processes that will strengthen UAlbany’s research,
scholarship, and creative pursuits.
• The goal of the workgroup is put in place processes
that are understandable to researchers and
administrators and that may be carried out consistently
as institutional personnel change overtime.
Task Force 3:
Processes
• The work we have done...
• Compiled list of division process and Identified
automation opportunities
• Established cross-campus working groups on Data
security and Data Use Agreement processing; Conflict
of Interest Disclosure Management; Export Controls;
and Biosafety
• The work we will do...
• Updating campus guidance for conducting research
and clarifiying procedures for obtaining approvals
• Streamlining information collection and improving
cross-office communication
Task Force 4: Employee
Engagement & Development
in Research Administration
Co-Chairs:
•
Lauren Cole, Director of Research Foundation Human Resources (RFHR)
•
Paula Kaloyeros, Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs Administration,
Deputy Operations Manager
Members:
•
Charlene Cox, Accounts Payable Supervisor
•
Peter Gonczlik, Director, Office for Innovation Development and Commercialization
•
Thecla Philip, Senior Associate for Finance & Administration, Office of the Vice
President for Research & Economic Development
•
Todd Remkus, Manager of Account Establishment & Maintenance
•
Ashley Turski, Administrative Assistant II, Office of the VP for Research & Economic
Development
Task Force 4: Employee
Engagement & Development
in Research Administration
• Top Priorities
• Address employee retention within Research
Administration.
• Enhance recruitment resources and efforts.
• Implement Performance Management for all Research
Administrative staff.
• Implement new methods for engagement for all units
of Research Administration on a regular basis.
Task Force 4: Employee
Engagement & Development
(EED) in Research Administration
• The work we have done...
•
RFHR is conducting an ongoing equity analysis.
•
Implementing Career Advancement Opportunities for RF Employees within
Research Administration.
•
RFHR provided guidance on required Performance Management for all RF staff
working in Research Administration.
•
RFHR has been and will continue to conduct exit interviews.
•
To improve engagement, the DFRED hosted annual events for the Division
staff.
• The work we will do...
•
Develop an Engagement Survey for RF employees working within Research
Administration.
•
Identify development opportunities for staff.
•
Review of Administration personnel to identify where more support is needed.
•
Look for ways to improve work life balance and become an employer of
choice.
•
RFHR to enhance recruitment resources.
Join us at the
upcoming roundtables!
• Three State of Research Administration
(SRA) Campus Roundtables this spring:
• Uptown Campus: 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in the
Campus Center Boardroom
• Downtown Campus: 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Friday, March 31, 2023, in the Milne
200 Fossieck Room
• Health Sciences Campus: 10:30 a.m.
to noon Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in the
George Education Center (GEC)
Auditorium
Thank
you!
For more
information, please
visit:
https://www.albany.
edu/research-econo
mic-development-tr
ansformation
