13th Annual NORDP
Research Development Conference

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Concurrent Sessions 7 | Wednesday, May 5 | 3:45 - 4:45 pm EDT

 

Mentoring Lightning Storm

C. Scott Balderson, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law,  and Tabitha Finch, University of Vermont Biomedical Research Network

Lightning strikes for the third time! This mentoring-focused series of talks will showcase best practices for successful mentoring relationships. Topics will be geared toward multiple levels of expertise, and applicable to any mentoring relationship, inside or outside of NORDP. This fast-paced session, with time for questions and answers, is designed to share a lot of information, in a little bit of time, and encourage ah-ha moments. (Fundamental | Career and Personal Development)

Establishing RD networks to foster cross-university RD collaboration

Katie Pelland, University of Virginia: Rebecca Latimer, University of Virginia; Jessica Brassard, Michigan Technological University; and Jill Jividen, University of Michigan

Research development professionals exist in many distinct offices around the university with rare communication despite having similar needs and goals. In recent years, RD networks or communities of practice have emerged to foster cross-university RD connections and share knowledge between offices. In this session, panelists from University of Virginia, Michigan Technological University, and University of Michigan will discuss RD networks at their respective universities, including overall structure, goals, successes, and challenges. This session will spark ideas for how a RD network might function at your university or how to revitalize your existing RD network. (Fundamental | Enhancement of Collaboration)

Approaches to Training Scientific Editors in RD Settings

Christine Blaumueller, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; Danielle Matsushima, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons; and Elizabeth Festa, Rice University

Scientific editing has become a key component of many research development offices and graduate training programs, and it is crucial to ensure that the editing skills of their staff are excellent. During this presentation, a panel of trainers from three programs that offer on-the-job training or internships will outline their strategies for, and experiences in, developing successful editors. They will also share their training materials. The goal is to have a lively discussion with others who have attempted similar approaches. Lessons learned are expected to improve current practices, foster new programs, and encourage scientific editors just starting on this path. (Intermediate | Proposal Support and Development)

The best of times and the worst of times: Maximizing the effectiveness of RD professionals supporting single-project and complex grant proposals in normal times and during pandemics and unexpected situations

Jennifer Barr, University of Iowa; Mike Helms, Stanford University; Monica Vidal, Stanford University; and Martha Payne, Duke University

The contributions of research development (RD) professionals can greatly enhance single-project and complex grant proposals, yet there are often challenges encountered when working with faculty that prevent these benefits from being fully realized. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights challenges that can arise in assisting investigators during times of virtual meetings and increased stress. We will discuss strategies that RD professionals can employ to help faculty fully utilize RD expertise in proposal development in normal times and during long-term crises to improve the final product and enhance funding success.  (Intermediate | Proposal Support and Development)

Lightning Talks

  • Build It and They Will Come, Maybe: Building an Office of Research and Faculty Development | Jose Alcaine, Virginia Commonwealth University
    The presenter will share strategies for building an office of research and faculty development. Providing foundational research support, building faculty road maps, and creating and sustaining faculty development activities are all key elements of a successful operation.  Continuous investment in resources and an open door policy also help in the fostering of relationships and the development of successful faculty. Pitfalls and limitations abound, nevertheless.

  • Early Career Grantsmanship Program across Two Universities: How You Can Improve or Start a Program at your Institution | Rachel Goff-Albritton, Florida State University, and Jana LaRosa, Boise State University
    Attendees will learn about the components of two similar exemplar programs for working with junior faculty from the Florida State University’s and Boise State University’s Offices of Research Development. These Early Career Grantsmanship Programs include assessing faculty research interests and current level of grantsmanship knowledge though in-person meetings and surveys, developing individualized goals, creating accountability mechanisms, and monitoring progress. By attending this session participants will learn new ideas for refining a current program for junior faculty, if applicable, or how they can adapt and implement our components for an early-career grantsmanship program at their university.

  • Introducing the Research Impact Professional: How Broader Impacts and Research Impacts are Supported in a Research Development Office | Nancy Holmes, University of Idaho
    Given the importance of the Broader Impacts merit review criterion during the evaluation of National Science Foundation proposals, it is increasingly important to support researchers as they seek to define and execute the broader impacts/research impacts of their work. In this session, we will present a new role/job title/hat for RD professionals, that of Research Impact Professional (RIP), as conceived by the NSF-supported initiative Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS). Participants will learn how and why our RD office created a niche for an RIP, and the products and outcomes resulting from our efforts.

  • Small is Beautiful: Reassessing the Benefits of Small Seed Grants | Bob McGarrett, The University of Texas at Austin
    In a world of bigger is better, it is valuable to remind ourselves of the impact of small investments in our researchers’ efforts.  Many institutions provide seed grants ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it is easy to believe that bigger is always better.  A closer look at ten years from one institution’s 40-year history with small seed grants tells a different story. This talk will be beneficial to any institution offering seed grants, but would be most beneficial to those designing new seed grant programs or those with new research development structures.

  • Strengths-Based Strategy Development in Academic Partnerships | Elizabeth Stubblefield Loucks, Brown University
    This presentation will explore the use of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to build cross-disciplinary research teams. AI is a strengths-based, high engagement approach to strategy development and organizational change developed at Case Western University by David Cooperrider. Rather than delve into what isn’t working, AI uses tools to “inquire” into a team's main strengths and past successes (“appreciations”) in order to explore what could work. In this introduction to AI, participants will hear about two AI tools: (1) SOAR Analysis (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results), and (2) The Reframe Tool: from “problem-solving” to “solution-building.”

  • Make Technology Work for You: Tips and Tricks to Make Technology Your Biggest Time-Saver | Morgan Wills, Kansas State University
    This talk will equip the RD Professional with tips, tricks, skills, and knowledge to make technology their best friend and biggest time-saver. Leave ready to take on a new mindset on the mantra, “happen to technology, do not let technology happen to you.”