Virginia Commonwealth University

I started as a Research Coordinator in 2012 and quickly learned I loved the administrative side of research more than the patient-facing side. I then became a Grants Specialist and as my knowledge of pre/post award administration grew, my desire to lead and be involved in the entire process developed and I was promoted to a Research Administrator. I have been a Research Administrator for over five years and I continue to enjoy learning more about the field and developing my skillset.

After starting my career in non-profit fundraising, I was looking for a job that had more fixed hours and a better work/life balance. I stumbled into a role that was half research administration and half managing a medical residency program. The only thing they had in common was the boss! The PI for the grants I managed was also the director of the residency. Over time, the research administration requirements expanded, so the residency was redistributed to someone else, and I had the ability to grow in the field of RA. I have loved the ability to do so many different things with the knowledge and expertise I’ve gained, from on-the-ground pre- and post-award management, to program development, to business operations, strategic planning, and now research development!