Behind each successful research project at USC is a skilled research administrator working in the background to guide faculty members through the process of moving proposals from development to submission amidst a frequently changing regulatory environment. These research administrators play an integral role in building up early-career faculty, helping them grow their labs and ensuring the success of the university’s larger research enterprise. The Carolina Grants and Innovation Hub’s Research Training and Education Services rolled out the inaugural STRIVE Tiered Program to better support the growth of these professionals at any stage of their careers.

The STRIVE Tiered Program provides holistic education through three tiers of course offerings aimed at serving early-career, management-level, and senior professionals. Sessions address both research administration fundamentals and timely updates. Through STRIVE Discovery, early-career staff learn the basics of research administration and  university policies, while STRIVE Management is more comprehensive and helps prepare staff for the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam. The STRIVE Senior tier emphasizes operational efficiency and leadership skills.

Meet three recent graduates from each level of the STRIVE Tiered Program.

 

STRIVE Discovery

Michal Smith, School of Medicine Office of Research | SOAR Program Coordinator

When Michal Smith first began her work at a lab within the Arnold School of Public Health, she was primarily involved in conducting research. As the lab grew over the course of the next four years, Smith took on additional administrative tasks to keep up with the knowledge needed to interact with student hires. Her bosses suggested taking STRIVE courses to learn more about the ins and outs of research administration, and she jumped on the opportunity.

“STRIVE was really broad—we hit HR, purchasing, costs, grant submissions, so even if I wasn’t doing those things directly, it was helpful to know what went on behind the scenes,” says Smith. “Having the knowledge of what goes on in every administrative department behind the scenes helped me to do my job better.”

In fact, the course was also setting her up to do her next job better: while enrolled in STRIVE, Smith interviewed for her current position as SOAR program coordinator at the School of Medicine Columbia Office of Research.

“When I was interviewing, they asked me if I had experience with different administrative tasks. Some, I did, because I had stepped into those in my old role, but the ones I didn’t, I was able to say, I’m learning about this currently,” Smith says. “There was nothing that I had to say, no, I have no experience, and I don’t know what that is. I learned it all in STRIVE even if I hadn’t done it yet.”

Smith also emphasizes the importance of institutional knowledge, one of the greatest assets she is taking away from STRIVE Discovery.

“Universities operate so differently and have their own processes. Knowing who to go to, what the process is and what they do helps you do your job better,” says Smith. “I really enjoyed learning about everyone else’s expertise. You have to be able to interact with other departments and know what they do to get your own job done.”

 

STRIVE Management

Victoria Costello, School of Medicine Greenville | Research Program Manager

If Victoria Costello could be a lifelong student, she would be. Instead, she works as a research program manager for the SOARing program at the School of Medicine Greenville. She was pleased when the tiered STRIVE program provided her with an opportunity to get back into the classroom.

Through the STRIVE program, Costello honed skills in central, college and departmental research administration operations as part of STRIVE Management Tier’s goal of preparing participants for the CRA exam. Costello took the exam in May, aided by knowledge and study resources from her STRIVE classes, and is now a Certified Research Administrator. This designation highlights her expertise and is a valuable tool for any research administrator looking to advance their career.

The course has had other benefits for Costello, who had taken previous iterations of the STRIVE program but was eager to grow her connections.

“The networking component of STRIVE is one of my favorite parts,” she says. “With me not being on main campus, it feels nice to have a direct line to research administration resources that are on main campus. Having that in and that network, it’s fantastic to not feel so lost, hearing the things that people in that same role encounter and being able to apply that at our school.”

 

STRIVE Senior

Janie Godbold, Arnold School of Public Health Rural Health Research Center | Business Operations Specialist

After nearly two decades building her career with the University of South Carolina, Business Operations Specialist Janie Godbold is a seasoned research administrator with a wide range of duties at the Arnold School of Public Health Rural Health Research Center. As the only staff member in the center, she has spent years balancing duties including HR, reimbursements, travel authorization, social media promotions and grant management.

When STRIVE training became available, however, Godbold was eager to continue building on her knowledge and experience.

“I had gone through a prior [research administration] class. I learned a lot. But to take the senior track, it exposed me to new university offices that exist because the grant world is always changing,” says Godbold. “It is never a position where you’ve learned everything you need to learn and now you can stop. You have to stay abreast of what is going on.”

The STRIVE Senior tier emphasizes process improvement, and one of Godbold’s key takeaways from her time in the Senior cohort has been learning how to develop standard operating procedures. With a wide range of job responsibilities that she alone handles in her office, Godbold is spending the summer developing up-to-date records of official procedures to ensure future staff members can adapt to the variety of tasks demanded by the role.

“Because the landscape is ever-changing, it is never a bad idea to consider enrolling in this program if you haven’t done it recently,” Godbold says. “You’re going to be on the frontline of receiving information from those at the university who know about current changes.”