NCURA’s time in San Juan, Puerto Rico gave us a chance to step out of the day-to-day and spend real time with the research administration community.
The Streamlyne team was on the ground throughout the week, connecting across the 27th Annual Financial Research Administration (FRA) Conference, NCURA’s AI workshop, and time with the PRA community. Each setting offered a different lens, but together they created a fuller picture of where things are headed.
FRA: Grounded in the Work That Keeps Research Moving
The FRA Conference (March 19–20) brought together more than 1,300 research administrators, post-award professionals, compliance leaders, and institutional stakeholders.
Across sessions, the exhibit hall, and countless conversations, the themes were familiar:
- Navigating evolving federal regulations
- Managing complex award lifecycles
- Reducing administrative burden without increasing risk
- Keeping teams aligned across growing workloads
At our booth, we had the chance to connect with research administrators, grants managers, and department leaders from across the country. Those conversations are always the most valuable part. They’re honest, practical, and grounded in the realities of the work.
We also had the opportunity to present during FRA, which led to a strong exchange of ideas around modernization and how institutions are approaching changes in their systems and processes.
AI Workshop: A Practical Look at What Comes Next
In between FRA and PRA, the AI workshop created space for a more focused conversation around how institutions are approaching AI.
There’s clear curiosity, but it’s paired with thoughtful consideration. The discussion stayed grounded in where AI can actually help.
A few themes came up consistently:
- Taking on repetitive, time-consuming tasks
- Supporting document review, policy interpretation, and reporting
- Maintaining accuracy and oversight
- Fitting into existing workflows without adding friction
What stood out was the mindset. Institutions are exploring AI with intention. The goal is not to add more tools, but to find ways to meaningfully reduce the load on their teams.
It was also exciting to see how closely these conversations align with where Streamlyne has been investing. Being part of these discussions reinforced that institutions are looking for AI that can actually absorb work, not just assist around the edges, and it’s an area where we’re continuing to lean in.
PRA: Supporting the Front End of Research
Spending time with the PRA community brought a different kind of energy, focused on the front end of the research lifecycle.
As a pre-award audience, the conversations centered on how institutions are identifying, pursuing, and positioning for funding opportunities in a more strategic way.
We heard a lot about:
- Expanding beyond federal funding sources
- Better connecting faculty expertise with the right opportunities
- Strengthening coordination between research development and pre-award teams
- Helping faculty move from opportunity identification to competitive proposals more efficiently
There’s also growing interest in how AI can support pre-award teams, especially when it comes to connecting the right opportunities to the right researchers and helping move proposals forward with less friction.
It’s a reminder that strong pre-award support plays a critical role in shaping outcomes long before an award is ever made.
What We Took Away
Spending time across FRA, the AI workshop, and PRA reinforced a few things:
- The challenges institutions face are widely shared
- The pace of change continues to accelerate
- There is real interest in AI, approached in a practical and measured way
- Teams are looking for ways to operate more efficiently without adding complexity
Most of all, the conversations throughout the week were a strong reminder of the people behind the work and the care they bring to it every day.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If we had the chance to connect in San Juan, it was great to spend time together. If we didn’t, we’d still welcome the conversation! Please take a moment to connect with us to learn about everything happening at Streamlyne and how we can help your institution succeed this year.