The Globalization of Research: Research Administration in the 21 st Century

The Globalization of Research: Research

Administration in the 21st Century

Susan Wyatt Sedwick, PhD, CRAAssociate Vice President for Research Director, Office of

Sponsored ProjectsThe University of Texas at Austin

Chair, Federal Demonstration Partnership

Higher Ed Funding

• Public perception of research/Congressional Concerns

• Sequestration• STEM education and the rise of MOOCs• Regulatory environment – Federal, state,

institutional• Cost containment ($10K degree)• International collaboration/global competitiveness

Declining State Support

0.0%

0.2%

0.4%

0.6%

0.8%

1.0%

1.2%

1.4%19

7619

7819

8019

8219

8419

8619

8819

9019

9219

9419

9619

9820

0020

0220

0420

0620

0820

1020

12

Trends in Federal R&Dpercent of GDP

Total R&D

Development

Research

Facilities

Source: Up to 1994 - National Science Foundation / National Center for Scienceand Engineering Statistics, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development;1995 to Present - AAAS Report: Research and Development series;GDP figures are from Budget of the U.S. Government FY 2013.

FY 2012 and FY 2013 figures are latest estimates.© 2012 AAAS

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

Trends in Research by Agency, FY 1975-2013 Billions of FY 2012 Dollars

ARRA ResearchOther

USDA

DOD

NASA

DOE

NSF

NIH

Source: 1975-1994 figures are from the NSF federal funds survey; remainder is from AAAS R&D reports. FY 2012 figures are latest estimates, FY 2013 is the President's budget.© 2012 AAAS

Issues within Science

• Scientific misconduct• Moral and religious values• Suppression of dissenting viewpoints• Animal welfare • Conflicts of interest• Intellectual property issues• Retractions in scientific publications• Mistrust of science

Global Issues

• Environmental sustainability and renewable energy

• International security issues • Accessibility to quality health care• National disasters• Educational reform

Challenges

• American institutions’ preeminence is at risk as emerging countries are building their own national higher education and research enterprises

• Talent, especially young talent, will follow the opportunities.

Foreign Initiatives

• National Research Foundation of Korea• Taiwan’s Aim for the Top University Project• China’s 1000 Talents Program• HKUST curriculum overhaul and aggressive

western recruitment• Emergence of research universities in the

Middle East

Good science anywhere is good for science

everywhere.Subra Suresh, Former Director

National Science Foundation

Glocalization

Tailoring products and services to conform

with local laws, customs or consumer preferences.

Trust Researchers Declaration of 2010

• Bottoms-up initiative collected 13000+ signatures from researchers in ~45 countries

• Mutual trust and responsible partnering• Appropriate levels of accountability• Effective, reliable and stable funding principles• Tolerable risks are vital for innovation

Key Regulatory Hallmarks• 1940s NIH expanded • 1950s Sputnik increased funding for basic science and NSF established • 1960s Sponsor-centric regulatory environment• 1970s Establishment of the Circulars • 1980s Bayh-Dole Act and GASB addressed state and local government

reporting issues • 1990s Emergence of technology, conflict of interest and the cap on

administrative costs imposed• 2000s Era of contradictions: openness (public access and transparency),

protections (stem cells, trafficking of persons) and restrictions (national security, deemed exports, Patriot Act, eVerify)

• 2010s Focus on regulatory reform, responsible conduct of and objectivity in research, uniformity in reporting, and federal profile

Administrative Requirements Expanded/Added since 1991

• COGR List – Over 50 new regulations;– 12 interpretation/implementation changes; and– 12 proposed rules/changes

www.cogr.edu/docs/COGRAAUTroublesomeClausesReport.pdf

Faculty Workload on Federally-funded Projects

Federally –fundedPIs spend 42% oftheir time allocatedto research onadministrative duties.

2005

Post-awardPre-awardActive Research

Faculty Workload on Federally-funded Projects

2012

Report PrepPost-awardPre-awardProposal prepActive Research

2005

Post-awardPre-awardActive Research

0% 50% 100%25%

45%

65%

85%

PCII (For DHS)

Select Agents

Clinical Trials

Cntrl Sub/Narcotics

Export Controls

Cross-Agency

RadiationSafety

Recomb. DNA

IACUC

ARRA

HIPAABiosafety

Intell. Prop.Chem Safety

IRB

Subcontracts

Data Sharing

Lab Safety/Security

Resp. Conduct Research

Effort Reporting

Personnel

Finances (Non-ARRA)

2012 Specific Responsibilities: Prevalence By Intensity

% of Respondents Experiencing Burden

For E

xper

ienc

ed, %

Rep

ortin

g Su

bsta

ntia

l Bu

rden

Higher Prevalence, Higher Burden Intensity

Higher Prevalence, Lower Burden IntensityLower Prevalence, Lower Burden Intensity

Lower Prevalence, Higher Burden Intensity

Lower Prevalence, Moderate Burden Intensity

Higher Prevalence, Moderate Burden Intensity

R&DFunding

FinancialConstraints

Global Competition

RegulatoryBurdens

Public Perceptions

How can we help?

Metrics

• Grounded in theoretical framework• Include scientific, social and economic

outcomes• Be generalizable and replicable• Be developed from the bottom up• Minimize burden

STAR METRICS

• Science and Technology for America’s Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science

• https://www.starmetrics.nih.gov/Star/News

Global Metrics Initiatives

• Lattes (Brazil)• Research Council of Norway• Science, Technology & Innovation: The Culture of

Numbers (Canada)• Research Information Network (UK)• Prime Network of Excellence (EU)• Vinnova: Research and Innovation for Sustainable

Growth (Sweden)• NESTA (UK)

The Message is consistent…..

Rising Above the Gathering Storm1. Increase America’s talent pool by vastly improving K-12 STEM

education2. Sustain and strengthen the nation’s traditional commitment

to long-term basic research that has the potential to be transformational to maintain the flow of ideas that fuel the economy, provide security and enhance the quality of life

3. Make the US the most attractive setting in which to study and perform research

4. Ensure the US is the premier place in the world to innovate, invest and create high paying jobs

Ten Breakthrough Actions1. Stable and effective policies, practices and funding2. Greater autonomy for public research universities3. Strengthen the role of the business sector4. Increase cost effectiveness and productivity5. Create a “Strategic Investment” program6. Sponsor should cover the full cost of research7. Reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulations8. Improve the capacity of graduate programs9. Universities should take a strong role in K12 and STEM10. Enhance international students and scholars mobility

Future Health and Well Being1. Limited funding, hyper-competition, need for greater

cooperation between sponsors and universities2. Excessive regulation and reporting3. Lack of standard measures of performance, limited reward

for efficiency and effectiveness.4. Lack of reliable data to inform strategic decisions and

resource allocations5. Failure to demonstrate and promote the value of research6. Fragility of research administration and leadership

Role of the Research Administrator

History of Research Administration• 1958 – National Council of University Research Administrators

(NCURA) founded • 1967 – Society of Research Administrators International (SRA)

founded• 1979 – Council on Governmental Relations (COGR )

incorporated • 1986 – Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) began as the

Florida Demonstration Project• 1993 – First Certified Research Administrator exam conducted

Some thoughts on Professions

• Regulated by statute or code• Body of knowledge• Examination • Licensure/Certification overseen by a professional

entity• Requirement for continuing education• Code of ethics/conduct• Service orientation

How did you learn to be a research administrator?

Current Landscape for our Profession

• Efficiencied to death• Transparency and Accountability: Can we do

both?• Financial constraints• Succession planning• Career ladders• Recruitment, development and retention of

research administration professionals

Stress Perception Study¹

• Perceived level of stress – 41.3% reported as high and 16.2% reported as extremely high

• 66% reported having inadequate resources to complete their job in a 40 hour week

• 70% reported competing demands between work and home

• Almost 50% reported exercising 20 minutes or more on less than 3 days per week

¹Shambrook, J. & Brawman-Mintzer, O. (2007). Results from the 2007 Research Administrator Stress Perception Survey (RASPerS). Research Management Review. NCURA. Vol. 15. No. 2, pp. 41-52.

2010 Update of RASPerS²

• 90% report their jobs have become more demanding over the past few years (extremely high stress ratings increased from 16 to 23 percent)

• 40 hour work week is still elusive• Percentage who were struggling to balance home

and work life increased from 45% to 57%• Percentage who worked while sick increased from

39% to 65%• ²Shambrook, J. & Sharma, B. (2011). Comparison of the 2007 and 2010 Research Administrator Stress Perception

Survey. SRA Annual Meeting. Montreal, CA.

Some good news…..

• Respondents reporting positive feelings of appreciation and respect in the workplace increased (highly appreciated increased from 3 to 14 percent)²

• Key motivators for remaining in the profession¹– Challenge– Variety of tasks– Working with intelligent colleagues– Job security– Feeling a sense of purpose

The basic task of leadership is to increase the standard of living and the quality of

life for all stakeholders.Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Mentoring and Professional Development

• Empower staff to think for themselves• Don’t always solve the problem; foster

creative problem solving by asking, “What do you think you should do?”

• Finding the delicate balance between building confidence/competence and knowing when to seek guidance can be tricky

NCURA Offerings

• Fundamentals of Research Administration• Sponsored Projects Administration II• Departmental Research Administration• Specialized workshops• Annual and Regional Meeting• NCURA TV/Webinars/ Podcosts• Publications• NCURA YouTube Tuesdays

Principles for Consideration of Research Universities in a

Global Environment

To serve effectively as the centers for basic research, institutions must be strong

and healthy.¹

There must be stability of funds over a period of years so that long-range programs

may be undertaken.¹

To secure a high level of employment, to maintain a position of world leadership –

the flow of new scientific knowledge must be continuous and substantial.¹

We must remove the rigid controls which we have had

to impose, and recover freedom of inquiry and

healthy competitive scientific spirit.¹

Leave the internal control of policy, personnel, and the method and scope of the research to the

institutions themselves. This is of the utmost importance.¹

¹Source?

Vannevar BushScience - The Endless Frontier

July 1945

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work

hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt

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