Project Support

Coordinating Initiatives.Delivering Results

The Project Management & Support team, within Strategic Optimization and Training (SOT), provides coordinated project support and solution development across Emory Research. By connecting people, processes, and technology, the team helps advance operational priorities and strengthen how research administration work is designed, implemented, and improved.

To deliver structured, results-oriented project management and implementation support that advances strategic initiatives, improves processes, and enables practical technology solutions across Emory Research.

To be a trusted partner across Emory Research, known for dependable execution, thoughtful solution development, and meaningful contributions that enhance research administration operations.

Our work is grounded in accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence. We value clear communication, responsive partnership, and data-informed decision-making in every initiative we support. Through this approach, we deliver practical, sustainable solutions that align with institutional goals and support the needs of the research community.

Up & Coming Events

Learn more about and register for upcoming events below.

💻 In-Person · Microsoft Teams
👥 ORA & Research Administrative Staff
Join the Project Support team during the Spring Training Conference (April 14–15) and engage directly with the ORA Virtual Assistant through live interaction at the Ask Ora table. Experience how AI is supporting research administration at Emory through real-time use, with interactive Q&A throughout.
Designed around Emory’s policies, systems, and processes to accurately represent day-to-day practice, the ORA Virtual Assistant provides fast, consistent guidance across policy, systems, and procedures.
Pose your own questions, review responses in real time, and use your expertise to evaluate accuracy and relevance. See how the assistant navigates complex queries and supports consistent, informed decision-making across the research administration community.
Session Highlights:
  • Live Q&A interaction with the ORA Virtual Assistant
  • Overview of the topics and knowledge areas it covers
  • How to access and use it in your day-to-day work
  • What's coming next as the tool continues to evolve

Ideal for: Anyone who wants to experience AI in action before participating in the hands-on bootcamp, or who wants a clear understanding of how the ORA Virtual Assistant supports their day-to-day work across policies, systems, and procedures.

Delivered by SOT Research Training, this bootcamp builds on prior training and continues ORA’s structured approach to AI literacy and prompt engineering, with a focus on practical application within the ORA Virtual Assistant and Emory’s enterprise deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Prompting instruction is tailored to Emory research administration roles and responsibilities, ensuring direct applicability to day-to-day work.

What You’ll Learn:

  • What the ORA Virtual Assistant can and cannot do
  • How to write clear, specific prompts that produce reliable, actionable responses
  • Common prompting pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • When to rely on AI and when to escalate to a human

Who Should Attend:
ORA and RAS staff, department administrators, and individuals who support or engage with sponsored research processes.

Additional Information:

Session dates will be announced soon. Please visit the Research Training website regularly for updates and registration details.

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AI & Technology Projects

AI-powered tools, automation, and digital solutions we are building and deploying to modernize research administration support across Emory University.

ORA Virtual Assistant

AI-powered chat-bot providing 24/7 instant answers on ORA policies, grant processes, compliance questions, and research administration guidance for staff and researchers.

ORA Success Coach

A guided AI companion helping research administrators navigate SOT resources, locate training materials, and build professional competency over time.

Agentic AI Workflow Automation

Power Automate workflows enable intelligent automation of award setup, approval routing, and compliance documentation across research administration, reducing manual effort, minimizing errors, and improving efficiency and consistency.

Reporting & Analytics Dashboard

Interactive Power BI dashboards providing real-time visibility into grant portfolios and operational metrics for ORA leadership and administrators.

AI Literacy & Copilot Training

Workshops, prompt clinics, and self-paced modules building AI fluency for ORA staff covering Microsoft Copilot and responsible AI use in research administration.

View Training

Social Media & Content Management

Manages Emory Research Administration external voice , writing and publishing LinkedIn content, event promotions, banners, and announcements that keep staff and the broader professional community informed about what SOT is doing.

Visit SOT's Linkedin