HUNTSVILLE — Alabama A&M University is the only Historically Black College and University selected to participate in a $2.8 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed at developing a pioneering undergraduate curriculum in research administration and management.
Dr. Chris Brown, a former researcher and Vice President for Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is leading the project, titled “Filling the Gap: Establishing an Undergraduate Program in Research Administration and Management.” Though Brown heads a research program with more than $780 million in research expenditures, he had to learn his profession on the job because there is no formal career training for research administrators.
To bridge this critical gap, Brown will lead a three-year, $2.8 million NSF-funded initiative, collaborating with over 40 universities across the United States and institutions in South Africa and Namibia. This ambitious project will create a credit-bearing curriculum to equip students with the necessary skills to pursue careers in research administration.
Alabama A&M University will play a key role in the project along with the University of South Alabama; University of Miami (Ohio); University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; University of California, San Diego; and New Mexico State University. Together, they will work to design the courses that will form the backbone of this new academic program.
Dr. Majed El-Dweik, Alabama A&M Vice President of Research and Economic Development, says the initiative addresses a pressing issue faced by many HBCUs. “Alabama A&M has an Office of Research and Sponsored Programs” that works tirelessly to support faculty in securing research funding,” explains El-Dweik. “We know that many HBCUs have low resources in their Sponsored Programs and some don’t have Sponsored Programs at all, so we will be working to share with those universities how they can obtain and develop that talent.”
El-Dweik emphasized the complexity of applying for and managing research grants. He says this project will develop a clear pipeline, providing students with the skills and qualifications needed to pursue careers in research administration.
“For example, who can apply for this position?” asks El-Dweik. “It’s very confusing. Is it someone with a business degree, education degree, engineering degree? This project will target and educate students and professionals, but mostly students, because there is no pipeline in this area to support sponsored programs,” says El-Dweik.
Dweik says the curriculum will include courses on grant management, legal issues in sponsored research, budgeting, intellectual property, and compliance with federal regulations. These topics will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the complexities of research administration, a profession that is crucial for supporting innovation, scholarship, and service in academia and beyond.
With letters of interest from over 40 universities and community colleges, the program has the potential to make a lasting impact on the research landscape by creating a dedicated pipeline of skilled research administrators ready to support cutting-edge research across a range of fields.
“This will provide a viable professional career option for future research administrators and managers,” adds Brown. “Their service provides 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.”
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