Chris Brown, Ph.D.A $2.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation will support the development of the nation’s first for-credit undergraduate and graduate curriculum in research administration. Filling the Gap, an initiative led by Chris Brown, Ph.D., recently retired vice president for Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is piloting academic programs and certificates in research and grant administration at 21 universities in the United States and one in Namibia.
“Currently, research administrators must learn their profession on the job because no complete, formal, recognized academic career path exists,” said Sarah O’Brien, Ph.D., program director for the NSF GRANTED program in the Office of Integrated Activities. “The NSF recognizes the need to prepare the next generation of research administration professionals in this critically important field. Filling the Gap is creating the academic pathways needed to prepare students for this essential profession and build the workforce that supports research and innovation.”
Building a curriculum through collaboration
Filling the Gap addresses the nationwide need for skilled research administration by developing a flexible and comprehensive curriculum, creating opportunities for students to earn undergraduate credentials or certificates, and equipping institutions with the tools and resources to implement the programs successfully.
“Research and grant administration is vital to navigating the complexities of funded research,” Brown said. “Our field is facing a shortage of qualified professionals and a lack of formal training. Researchers at the bench or in the field may have great ideas; but to achieve success, they need the administrative support to drive ideas forward. This program addresses this challenge and supports institutions that want to increase awareness of research administration careers and develop a skilled workforce in a growing profession.”
Through collaboration with academic and nonprofit partner institutions, including the University of South Alabama, Miami University (Ohio), University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, New Mexico State University and the Society of Research Administrators International, NSF resources are used to support and promote an academic program in research administration and grant management that can be adapted to suit individual institutions’ needs while maintaining a strong foundation in core competencies.
UAB and partner institutions provide a playbook for launching research administration degree programs at 21 institutions in the United States and one in Namibia.Filling the Gap has developed course material in several key areas, including fundamentals of research administration and grant management, grant proposal development and submission, budgeting and financial considerations, compliance and ethics, and technology transfer.
The grant goes through 2027 and will allow institutions to access the course material at no cost through the duration of the grant. The Society of Research Administrators International will take over the maintenance and distribution of the material at a nominal fee after the grant is over.
Growing research administration programs into a career
Currently, there are 21 partners in the planning stages of developing programs within their institutions. UAB, USA and James Madison University have launched the curriculum in research administration over the past year. Filling the Gap courses will prepare students for positions in fields such as research administration, clinical research, lab research, social science research and public policy centered around research.
“Developing the coursework is only the beginning of advancing research administration careers,” Brown said. “Our grant also supports the development of marketing materials to help with recruitment and retention for the program. We want students to see this as a viable career path and universities to see this as a valuable offering.”
Institutions implementing any level of a degree or certificate program will be provided with a marketing toolkit and social media campaign for student recruitment developed by the University of Illinois Urbana Chicago and New Mexico State University. The toolkit includes ready-to-use photos, videos and graphics that can be adjusted to fit each institution’s branding. The toolkit has recommendations for digital display ads, social media posts and more to reach students who may have an interest in pursuing a degree in research administration.
Filling the Gap will provide extensive support to institutions through experiential learning opportunities, such as internships with universities, industry, government and nonprofits. The program offers a cohort of 12 experienced professionals who can serve as adjunct instructors of record if a university wants to offer the material but does not have the faculty to do so.
Lynne Chronister, retired vice president for Research at the University of South Alabama, serves as the program director for Filling the Gap. “This effort was born out of the frustration in hiring and retaining a knowledgeable research administration workforce,” she said. “This NSF-funded program opens up the opportunity for students to gain knowledge and skills for a viable career in research administration in all sectors involved in the research enterprise.”
Research Administration program in action
In 2026, UAB was one of the first universities in the country to launch a Research and Administration Management minor, further building upon the collaboration of Filling the Gap. The minor, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, serves as a pathway for undergraduate students to enter the growing and critical field. The program provides a comprehensive introduction to the operational, regulatory and strategic aspects of modern research conduct and management.
“We are very excited about this partnership, as well as the opportunity to offer such a unique program to our students,” said Robert Blanton, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. “Research administration represents an exciting career path for students from a variety of majors and academic backgrounds. UAB is also a great home for this initiative, as we have a wealth of resources that can be utilized for students, including mentoring and internships as well as potential job opportunities after graduation.”
Learn more about UAB’s research and administration undergraduate minor.