The University of Florida (UF) Department of Anesthesiology recently launched a research administration internship program for recent graduates interested in the administrative processes that support research initiatives. Interns learn about research compliance, grants and awards, project finances, and more.
Martin Noguera, M.S., CRA, CPRA, assistant director of research administration, leads the internship program, which he started due to a need for early-career research administrators in the industry. He aims to be an active mentor for prospective research administration professionals.
The program is launching after a successful pilot program that took place over the summer. Coleman Bunn, M.A., recent UF graduate with a Master of Arts degree in economics, interned with the department during the summer of 2025, and learned about the ins and outs of research administration.
After his internship, Bunn joined the UF College of Veterinary Medicine as a research administrator. In a Q&A with us, he shares his internship experience and explains how he is applying what he learned from the program to his current role. Additionally, he offers advice for future research administration interns.
Q: Why were you interested in this internship?
A. I was interested in the research administration internship at the Department of Anesthesiology because I was curious about how my economic education and my quantitative skills could be applied to the healthcare industry, which is one of the fastest-growing industries in America.
Q. What did you learn and accomplish? How did your skills and knowledge grow through the internship?
A. I learned pre-, intra-, and post-award management skills. I monitored project finances and developed department performance metrics using UF business intelligence tools, such as UFIRST, myinvestiGator, and Enterprise Analytics. I also built medical surveys using REDCap. I started the internship with little medical knowledge. Throughout the internship, I gained knowledge in research compliance, translational science, anesthetics, and more. Looking back, I am surprised by how much I learned in only two months.
Q. How did Martin’s leadership and mentorship help or impact you?
A. From the beginning, Martin was a fantastic leader who was eager to introduce me to all of his talented colleagues. I appreciated his patience as he answered my questions. I also appreciated that he saw great potential in me and had high expectations. He is a great teacher who can see a learning opportunity in any situation. I will use him as a role model for what excelling in research administration looks like.
Q. What are some skills that you have taken from this internship and applied to your new role as a research administrator?
A. Besides the grant management skills and regulatory knowledge that I gained, I’m applying social skills in my new role. For instance, it is very important to always greet your colleagues at the start of each day. Smile and ask them about their day. Fostering an environment where people look forward to working with each other each day is crucial for team success.
Q. Do you have any advice for future interns?
A. My advice is not to be afraid to ask questions. Be vocal about what you do not understand. This internship is great for anyone open to learn. If you come to work each day with an open mind, you will do great.
Noguera explained how he made sure the pilot program and mentor-mentee relationship with Bunn ran smoothly: “While mentoring Coleman, communication definitely played a huge role and is one of the vital skills needed to run this type of program. Especially for someone who had little to no knowledge and experience regarding research administration, I had to make sure I communicated clearly, supportively, and empathetically.”
With support from the department, Noguera believes the internship program has the potential to grow into a strong recruitment pipeline for research administrators.
Learn more about our research administration internship program.