Academic & Research Administration

Provide operational management and support to the research or academic community

Example job titles

Academic affairs officer | Administrator/manager/director of research/sponsored programs | Career counselor | Corporate/academic relations officer | Dean/director of program/initiative/institute/research/diversity | Department chair | Development officer* | Director of operations* | Grant/proposal/contract manager/administrator | Grant program officer | Grant writer/editor* | IACUC (institutional animal care and use committee) coordinator/manager | IRB (internal review board) manager/administrator | President | Provost | Research development associate/specialist/coordinator | Research integrity officer | Research/program administrator | Research program director/manager* | Senior research officer | Scientific review officer| Student affairs officer | Technology commercialization agent* | Technology licensing agent/specialist/associate* | Technology transfer agent/officer/specialist/manager*

*These job titles appear in other career pathways

Additional keywords to find more information or job postings

Academic Affairs | Contract Research Organization

Get up-to-speed & stay current

• Access resources in the "Read About Careers" section of myIDP, including curated articles, lists of professional societies, etc.

Look for the corresponding myIDP category: Research Administration

• Get additional advice on how you can prepare for this career from scientists who have recently transitioned into a role in this field, as well as from those who have made hiring decisions.

Build your network

• Create a LinkedIn profile and use it strategically to expand your network.
  • Use these tips to create an effective profile that will attract desired attention.
  • Join the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences LinkedIn group and search for alumni connections by job titles, locations, and other keywords.
  • Once you've built your primary connections, search secondary connections for interesting new contacts.

Get training & experience

• Share your interest with your faculty research advisor, graduate program director, department chair, and/or Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences leadership so that they can refer you when opportunities to serve on advisory groups/committees become available.
• Join a UMass Chan academic committee as a student/postdoctoral representative.
• Students - Participate in the Graduate Student Body Council (GSBC) and/or volunteer to be a GSBC representative on other UMass Chan committees.

Deeper training opportunities & experiences

• Demonstrate your leadership and administrative skills by organizing an event, effort, or initiative on or off campus.
• Ask an office or program on campus if you can help with a short-term project as a part-time volunteer, intern, or fellow.
• Serve on a committee for a scientific or professional society.
• Apply for a leadership role in an organization focused on elevating the voices of early career scientists in the national dialog (e.g. National Postdoctoral Association, Student Pugwash USA, etc.).

Gearing up for a career transition?

• All transitions (even those that are positive, desired, and successful) involve some amount of stress. This article on "Understanding the Impact of Change" from the NIH OITE blog offers a practical approach for considering an upcoming transition and doing a brief self-assessment to navigate change effectively.

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