While funded research is a multi-billion dollar scientific enterprise, effective management of these projects requires political and administrative skills.
The Research Administration and Management minor is an innovative and transformative program that provides students with these skills. UAB is one of the first universities in the country to offer this minor, which was built in collaboration with over 40 partner institutions as well as the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI).
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the GRANTED initiative, this minor can serve as a pathway for undergraduate students to enter this growing and critical field. The minor will provide a comprehensive introduction to the operational, regulatory and strategic aspects of modern research conduct and management.
Research and grant administration are vital to driving innovation, supporting faculty, and navigating the complexities of funded research. As noted by Chris Brown, PhD, Vice President for Research at UAB, grant administrators “provide the backbone that supports research, scholarship and service at universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations….these individuals are critical to achieve successful outcomes, including technical innovation and improvement in the quality of life.”
Yet the field has long faced a shortage of qualified professionals and a lack of ways to formally train such professionals, particularly at the undergraduate level. As a result, many professionals entering research-driven fields lack formal training in how research is funded, regulated, conducted and managed. As part of the Filling the Gap initiative at UAB, the new minor's courses will prepare students for positions in fields such as research administration, clinical research, lab research, social science research, and public policy centered around research.
Specifically, the objectives of this minor are:
- 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 and add to their employability skillset.
Core courses for the minor include:
- PSC 310: American Public Policy
- PSC 323: Public Administration and Policy
- PSC 325: Legal Issues in Research Administration and Management
- PSC 491: Capstone in Research Administration and Management
Complete curricular information on the Research Administration and Management minor can be found in the UAB course catalog.