Research Administration at Emory (RAE) Program

RAE is a comprehensive training certificate program for Office of Research Administration (ORA) and Research Administrative Services (RAS) staff. It offers onboarding for new team members, along with refresher and upskilling training for current staff, covering Emory Research and the full grant lifecycle.

Research Administration at Emory Basic Certification


Basic Certification Training

Basic Certification training is designed for the research administration community and consists of three (3) self-paced, foundational modules followed by three (3) days of instructor-led training.

Self-paced Basic, Core Modules

Self-paced core modules cover the foundations of research administration, including the "why" behind federal frameworks, laws, regulations, guidelines, and terms and conditions. Available on-demand via any internet-enabled device through the SRAI LevelUP platform, these modules require completion of a RAE Program Kickoff session for access. Contact tricia.callahan@emory.edu to schedule a kickoff.

During the pre-award phase of the sponsored project lifecycle, the primary goal of the research administrator and the entire proposal team is to ensure the very best possible proposal is submitted to the sponsor. This can be a challenge for even experienced research administrators because of competing deadlines, multiple budget revisions, and onerous regulations and policies. The ultimate reward for the team’s dedication, attention to detail, and persistence in solving problems is the institution being granted the award. In this ultra-competitive environment though, pre-award processes, procedures, and policies must be clearly defined and communicated to the entire team. This module will assist you in preparing for your key roles and responsibilities during the pre-award phase.

Well done! The project has been awarded to your institution, launching the project into the post-award phase. Before your institution accepts this award, though the terms and conditions of the award need to be negotiated. The negotiation of the award depends largely upon the sponsor and the awarded funding mechanism as well as your institution’s culture and policies. This course focuses on defining the common agreement types and standard terms and conditions that may be problematic to your organization. It also presents strategies to solve these problems and ensure compliance. We end the course with a discussion of administering the agreement from award set-up to closeout.

What is post-award non-financial research administration? Why is it necessary, and who provides these services? LevelUP’s newest module explores the vital role Research Administrators share in keeping operations moving smoothly, facilitating effective communication, and fulfilling regulatory and sponsor requirements when managing the non-financial components of active awards. Learners will understand managing and making changes to sponsored projects, compliance obligations, reporting formats and requirements, and the core skills needed for successfully discharging these requirements. This program is a deep dive focused on explaining the what of post-award non-financial research administration and the why to prepare professionals for the inevitable nuances and exceptions they will encounter in their day-to-day responsibilities.
 

Electives

Emory offers additional SRAI LevelUP modules as electives to supplement core requirements. For new hires with prior research administration experience, managers may approve substituting a core module with an elective SRAI LevelUP module.

NOTE: Total SRAI LevelUP coursework must equal at least 13.0 contact hours.

SRAI LevelUp Course Descriptions

Instructor-led Training

Instructor-led training covers Emory-specific policies, procedures, systems, and practical workflows. Once participants complete their assigned LevelUP modules, they will receive registration links for the next live cohort.

RAE Day 1: Emory Research Organizational Structure, Financial Foundations, Regulatory Compliance

RAE Day 2: Policies, Procedures, and Systems related to Emory pre-award administration

RAE Day 3: Policies, Procedures, and Systems related to Emory post-award administration

Upcoming Instructor-led Training Dates

Save the date for an upcoming RAE cohort! Once you pass your assigned LevelUP modules, you will receive links to register for the corresponding instructor-led training.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: Participants must attend all three sequential days of Instructor-led training within a cohort offering.

View the upcoming schedule through December 2026 below.

MANAGERS: Register Your Employee (You MUST be logged into Brainier for the link to work): 

NOTE: You may register multiple employees even if the survey shows 100% complete.

Trouble accessing Brainier? Refer to the Brainier Access job aid

SRAI Self-Paced Module Completion Deadline:

  • Friday, November 13, 2026

Instructor-led Training (Virtual):

  • Monday, November 16, 9 AM to 1 PM ET​
  • Tuesday, November 17, 9 AM to 1 PM ET​
  • Wednesday, November 18, 9 AM to 1 PM ET

Questions

Please direct questions about the RAE Program to Tricia Callahan (tricia.callahan@emory.edu).