This September, Washington University recognized research administrators from across the university at Research Administrator Appreciation Day (RAAD). The event included sessions and topics within research administration, opportunities for team building, networking, and recognition of the important role research administrators play in supporting the university’s mission. The keynote speech was delivered by Mark E. Lowe, MD, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Another important element of the program was a t-shirt design contest. Teams designed shirts representing their groups and wore them with pride. Department of Surgery research administrators took first place for their design.
The winning t-shirt design, which was created by Department of Surgery research administrators in partnership with the department’s marketing & communications team, highlighted the qualities of a successful research administrator—such as “problem solving” and “hard working”—while also incorporating the group’s sense of humor.
“I am incredibly proud of our team of surgery research administrators,” says Business Director Emily Shepherd, who leads the research administration team. “Thanks to their determination, creative problem solving and expertise around grants, researchers across the department are able to focus their efforts on conducting research at the highest levels. And our research administrators do all this while still having fun and making it a joy to be here every day.”
Research administrators work with researchers on grant submissions and awards, facilitating the grant funding that makes critical research possible.
“We are blessed to have the very best group of research administrators. Thank you for your dedication and professionalism. We are so fortunate to work with you. Know how much we appreciate all you do,” says Timothy Eberlein, MD, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor and director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.
RAAD was hosted by Research Education and Information as part of the Specialized Training for Administrators of Research (STAR) Program, to recognize National Research Administrator Day.
Read a full recap of the event on the STAR website.