Martin Noguera, M.S., CRA, assistant director of research administration in the Department of Anesthesiology, designed a program titled “Catalyzing a Career in Research Administration” to introduce undergraduate students at the University of Florida to the career path of research administration. The internship is part of the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics, & Science’s Active Learning Program.
In Noguera’s program, students engage in a variety of activities, including reviewing federal research solicitations, creating budgets, and developing proposals using UFIRST’s training site. These activities allow them to gain an understanding of sponsor and institutional policies, as well as cost accounting standards and award management for research grants.
The program also includes field trips to research laboratories, UF Health Shands Hospital, UF Division of Sponsored Programs, and the College of Medicine’s Office of Research. During these visits, students have the opportunity to discuss the involvement, impact, benefits, and areas for improvement in research administration.
“Overall, the program aims to provide a comprehensive and hands-on experience to educate and inspire UF undergraduate students about the diverse opportunities within the field of research administration,” Noguera said.
As a final project, the first two interns introduced to the program, Isabella Martinez and Yu Wei, created NIH proposal checklists for two of the most prestigious mechanisms and presented a poster at the UF Health Science Center Library.
The fall 2024 cohort will further explore institutionally beneficial grant mechanisms and areas of enhancement that will support research faculty and administrators.