Early Career Research Administration Fellowship

Program Description

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• About ORED
• Fellowship Opportunities
• Award
• Program Goals & Objectives

Office for Research & Economic Development

The research mission of UA is to facilitate and promote the pursuit, discovery, and dissemination of knowledge and the application of knowledge through research and creative initiatives, technology transfer, and economic development that impact our students and our many constituencies within the State of Alabama, the nation, and the world. The mission of ORED is to facilitate the growth and impact of the UA research enterprise and to ensure compliance with UA, UA System, State and Federal Regulations and policies related to research.

In December 2018, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education designated UA as a Very High Research Activity doctoral university or “R1.” This is the nation’s highest level of research activity for institutions that grant doctoral degrees. This places UA among the most elite, public or private, research universities in the United States. UA research continues to surge, with externally sponsored awards at UA reaching more than $250 million in fiscal year 2023.

ORED is comprised of various units providing specialized services to support UA faculty and researchers in seeking, applying for, and receiving research grants and contracts. ORED provides a broad range of services to UA researchers from proposal submission, award acceptance, and compliance, all the way to commercialization of intellectual property created during the project.

ORED currently consists of ten offices, four Board of Trustees-designated research institutes, and seven Board of Trustees-designated research and economic development centers, supported by about 175 employees.

Fellowship Opportunities in Research Administration

Fellowship Area 1: Research Communications and Web Development

• Marketing
• Public relations communications
• Web development

The Office for Research Communications develops and implements communications and marketing strategies to promote the impact of research, scholarship, and creative activities at UA, while also generating awareness of emerging opportunities for the campus research community. ORED’s communications and web development efforts are key to ensuring that UA’s research enterprise sustains and furthers its growth, in accordance with the ORED Strategic Plan.

In close alignment and collaboration with ORComm, and with UA’s Division of Strategic Communications, Fellows will receive mentorship related to ORED’s web presence and communication efforts. The training focus will be on internal and external, writing press releases, public relations, web page user experiences, content management and development, design, and the effective use of analytics and search engine optimization.

Fellowship Area 2: Sponsored Programs

• Proposal and budget development
• Grants and contracts administration
• Compliance with relevant regulations and UA policies

The Office for Sponsored Programs oversees the administration of externally sponsored grants and contracts including sponsored research, instruction, and other sponsored activities. OSP facilitates the overall grant and contract process while balancing the need for institutional and regulatory compliance. OSP services are designed to support faculty and other employees with proposal preparation, review, and submission; award acceptance, administrative changes and serving as a liaison with external sponsors.

Fellows training with OSP will have exposure to faculty and researchers working in a variety of disciplines, as well as colleagues from other UA offices, as they navigate the proposal preparation, submission, and award acceptance processes. This is an excellent opportunity for the selected fellow to explore a career that requires project management, budget development, service-oriented administration, and regulatory compliance with federal and state laws, sponsor requirements, and UA policies.

Fellowship Area 3: Contract & Grant Accounting

• Accounting
• Post-award financial administration
• Audits and financial compliance

Contract & Grant Accounting ensures good stewardship of externally sponsored funds and provides support to faculty and staff on post-award financial administration for externally sponsored projects including award spending, invoicing, collections, receivables management, financial reporting, effort reporting, award closeout, and audit. CGA is responsible for compliance with fiscal and reporting requirements established by federal and state law, sponsor regulations, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Cost Accounting Standards, and UA policies and procedures.

Fellows training with CGA will have exposure to faculty and researchers working in a variety of disciplines, as well as colleagues from other UA offices, as they navigate post-award financial management for externally sponsored projects. This is an excellent opportunity for the selected Fellow to explore a career that encompasses accounting, financial administration, audit responses, and compliance with federal and state laws, sponsor requirements, and UA policies.

Fellowship Area 4: Research Compliance

• Human subjects research
• Animal care and use in research
• Biological safety

The Office for Research Ethics & Compliance is the primary point of contact for advice, resources, education, and coordination of research compliance. Specific research regulatory activities cover a wide range of topics such as the protection of human subjects in research, animal care and use in research, Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, Research Misconduct, Research Data and Privacy, International Research Compliance, and other areas as appropriate. OREC will work on any number of these topics by serving as the principal point for compliance activities and assignments, according to the program’s need.

Fellows training with OREC will be provided with training and mentorship related to the review and oversight processes for the various research compliance topics identified above. Fellows will acquire a general understanding of the conceptual basis of the reviews conducted in ORC, as well as a basic knowledge of the federal regulations and understanding of ORC policies and procedures.

Fellowship Area 5: Systems, Data Management & Reporting

• System management, maintenance, and training
• Data management and integrity
• Project management

This office manages enterprise-wide systems that support research at UA while also providing training and resources on the use of these systems. Additionally, this team provides data and reports to support the management of sponsored grants and contracts. As research continues to grow at UA, this team maintains eRA systems, supports end users, evaluates current resources and identifies future system needs that align with regulatory requirements and business processes.

Fellows will be trained on the various electronic systems utilized across the research enterprise with an emphasis on data management and integrity, process mapping, project management, data mapping, and reporting capabilities. This is an excellent opportunity for selected Fellows to develop a better understanding of eRA as it relates to the expanding field of research administration.

Fellowship Area 6: Innovation & Commercialization

• Technology transfer process
  • Basic Steps of moving research and innovations from university lab to industry
  • Intellectual Property
  • Licensing & Commercialization
• Networking and relationship building
  • Connect with Researchers and Inventors
  • Engage with Industry Professionals
  • Collaborate with office(s)
• Legal and regulatory policy
  • Legal Compliance
  • Risk Management
  • Relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards

The Office for Innovation & Commercialization (a.k.a. technology transfer/knowledge exchange) facilitates the transfer of university developed technologies and knowledge to the industry. The goal for the OIC is to bridge the gap between academic research and the marketplace. OIC plays a significant role in fostering innovation, economic development, and industry application of university research and is a key contributor to the advancement of university arts, science, and technology. Key functions of OIC include intellectual property management, commercialization and licensing, industry collaboration, entrepreneurial support, and education and outreach.

Fellows training with OIC will gain a solid foundation of the technology transfer process, including the steps involved in moving research and innovations from the university lab to industry. Fellows will acquire a general understanding of intellectual property concepts and learn about licensing agreements and strategies for commercializing university-developed technologies. Fellows will have the opportunity to build strong relationships with researchers and inventors at the university, understand their field of expertise and how it is crucial for effective technology transfer. Fellows will engage with industry professionals, including potential collaborators, investors, and entrepreneurs and understand market trends, identify potential partners, and create opportunities for commercialization of university technologies. And fellows will work closely and collaborate with the OIC team and understand the importance of teamwork and actively contributing to office initiatives. Fellows will learn about the legal aspects associated with technology transfer, including regulation and policy compliance, risk management and mitigation strategies, and keeping current with any regulatory and industry standards.

Award

$10,000 (distributed over two semesters) will be provided to each awarded Fellow. It is possible that more than one fellowship or no fellowships will be awarded in any one opportunity area. Generally, under the U.S. tax laws, scholarships, fellowships, or grants are tax free to the extent the funds are used for qualified expenses. ⁱ

Fellowship Appointment vs. Employee Relationship

Fellowships are grants awarded to an individual in support of academic pursuits. If appointed as a Fellow, the individual is not considered a UA employee, and therefore, does not receive employee healthcare or fringe benefits.

i Qualified expenses include:

• Tuition and fees required to enroll at or attend an eligible educational institution; and
• Course-related expenses, such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment that are required for the courses at the eligible educational institution.

Any portion of a scholarship, fellowship, or grant used for nonqualified expenses such as room and board, travel, research, medical insurance, optional equipment, etc. could be included in your taxable income for the year. However, as a general rule, UA is not required to withhold taxes on these amounts.*

Recipients of such funds should make a determination as to whether the funds are taxable, taking into account all such amounts received for the year. The taxability of scholarships, fellowships, and/or grants are based upon each person’s individual facts and circumstances. To the extent that you determine that a portion or all of the funds are not subject to tax, you should retain receipts, cancelled checks, and other documents to show the total amount of your qualified expenses. Additionally, students receiving financial aid should notify Student Financial Aid to determine whether a fellowship award will affect your aid.

If any portion of the scholarship, fellowship, or grant is payment for services, these amounts will be paid as wages through Payroll, subject to tax withholdings and reported on Form W-2 at the end of the year.

*For other taxable scholarship, fellowship, or grant amounts, where no taxes are withheld, you may need to make estimated tax payments, depending on your individual circumstances. For additional information on estimated tax, refer to Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax.

This information only introduces you to the possible tax consequences of scholarship, fellowship, or grant amounts; therefore, you should contact your personal tax advisor with any questions or concerns. You also may find the IRS Pub. No. 970, Tax Benefits for Education, or the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) helpful with regard to the tax treatment of the scholarship, fellowship, or grant amounts you received.

See: https://taxoffice.ua.edu/scholarships-fellowships-grants/