UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON
UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON
UW-Madison Crest

Research and Sponsored Programs
RED Logo

Announcements

  • The 11th Annual Symposium for Research Administrators will be held Tuesday, October 20th at Union South.
  • The call for session proposals will be open from
    July 1 — 31.
  • Event registration will be open
    September 1 — October 2.
  • The conference fee for 2026 will be $75, which includes concurrent sessions, keynote session, and meals.
  • Past Symposia materials can be found under the Past Symposia dropdown above.

10th Annual Symposium for Research Administrators

Thursday, November 13th, 2025 - Union South

Page Updated: July 1, 2026

Schedule at a Glance

7:45 - 8:30 am
8:30 - 8:45 am
8:45 - 9:30 am
9:30 - 9:40 am
Concurrent Sessions 9:40 - 10:40 am
  • Workday Basics Marquee Theatre
    Description:

    Workday introduces a completely new approach to grants management compared to our previous system. In this session, we'll guide you through essential techniques to help you regain your footing and make the most of your Workday experience. We'll discuss the layout and key features of Workday navigation, searching for and accessing specific information about your awards, and how to leverage reporting outputs based on your needs.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Navigate within Workday
    • View and understand award information
    • Search for and interpret report outputs

    Presented By

    Larisa Roberts

    Larisa Roberts has worked in Research Administration for 10+ years, and has been at UW-Madison for approximately 8 of those years. She recently joined in her current role as Research Administration Training Manager (or, as she likes to call it, "RATMan"), and is thrilled that she has the opportunity to use her creativity and passion for creating engaging learning spaces on the regular. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Wildlife In Need Center (about an hour east of Madison), where she adores taking care of possums, baby turtles, and the odd pelican or two.

    Priya Rajani

    Priya Rajani is a Business Analyst working with WEST Research Administration team.

  • The Water We Swim In: Exploring and Shaping Team Culture Industry
    PDF
    Description

    Culture isn't just what we say—it's the water we swim in. In this interactive session, we'll explore the difference between organizational culture and climate, how they shape our everyday experiences, and the visible and invisible artifacts that define our workplace. Through hands-on activities and reflection, you'll gain deeper insight into your current environment and walk away with practical strategies to assess and influence positive change. Whether you're a team member or a team leader, this session will equip you to become a confident and intentional culture shaper.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Differentiate between organizational culture and climate - Participants will be able to clearly distinguish between culture and climate, and understand how each influences employee engagement, satisfaction, and performance.
    • Identify visible and invisible cultural artifacts within their teams - Participants will learn to recognize the formal and informal elements that shape team culture—including values, behaviors, rituals, and communication patterns—and assess their impact on the workplace.
    • Apply practical strategies to positively influence team culture - Participants will leave with actionable tools and approaches to intentionally shape team culture, whether through leadership behaviors, team norms, or HR-driven initiatives.

    Presented By

    Jenny Erickson

    Jenny Erickson has over 20 years of experience in community development with an emphasis on organizational and leadership development. In her role in the Office of Strategic Consulting, she is responsible for designing and coordinating a comprehensive program to build capacity across campus in organizational effectiveness and leadership skills.

    Previously, Jenny served as a professor and community development educator with UW-Madison Division of Extension where she collaborated with community partners to identify educational needs, develop and implement research-based responses, and evaluate impacts. Specifically, she led a leadership development cohort program designed to empower, engage, and equip participants to make a positive change in their communities.

    Jenny earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from UW-Madison.

  • Navigating Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research: A Guide for Research Administrators Fifth Quarter
    Slides
    Description

    UW-Madison has an obligation to promote trust and objectivity in research, recognizing that while financial interests are not inherently unethical, they must be carefully managed to avoid bias. This program is meant to equip research administrators with a comprehensive understanding of financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) in research. It covers regulatory requirements, institutional responsibilities, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for managing FCOIs effectively. The session is ideal for compliance officers, grants managers, and anyone involved in research oversight.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand how the financial conflict of interest regulations promote transparency and protect research integrity
    • Know your responsibilities to the institution and the government regarding conflict of interest reporting
    • Understand why we need to report and manage financial conflicts of interest in research
    • Identify reportable outside relationships and where to report them
    • Understand the different types of required disclosures and why we have them

    Presented By

    Stephanie LeRoy

    Stephanie LeRoy is a compliance manager within the Office of Research Policy and Integrity. She has over 10 years of experience in research compliance, including conflict of interest and research misconduct. As co-manager of the conflicts of interest office, she manages the collection and review of over 14,000 outside activities reports from across campus annually. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison ('11) and holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School ('14).

    Tammy Kuhn Martin

    Tammy Kuhn Martin is the Assistant Dean for Research Administration in the College of Engineering. Tammy got her start in Research Administration in 2001 when she took a student hourly position as an Accountant Intern at Research & Sponsored Programs. She has a wealth of experience and expertise across all aspects of research administration spanning full-life-cycle grants, contract management and research compliance. She serves on a number of campus committees, is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), and has presented at their regional meetings. Tammy has a B.S. in Human Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Sam Leinweber

    Sam Leinweber is a compliance manager within the Office of Research Policy and Integrity. He has over 10 years of experience in research compliance, including conflict of interest and research misconduct. As co-manager of the conflicts of interest office, he manages the collection and review of over 14,000 outside activities reports from across campus annually. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison ('09) and holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School ('13).

  • Clinical Trial agreements: Navigating the New Systems and Best Practices Northwoods A
    Slides
    Description

    This session will go through best practices and processes for Clinical Trial agreements. We will go through means for ensuring an efficiently processed agreement as well as common mistakes made when submitting documents to RAMP. Our team of Contract and Agreement Negotiators will answer all your questions about how to ensure that your clinical trial agreements are processed and sent to the set up team as quickly as possible as well as offer some tips and tricks for creating a smooth process.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Set up an agreement record in RAMP
    • Locate helpful documents for clinical trial agreements on the RSP website
    • Identify issues that cause common delays in processing agreements

    Presented By

    S. Asra Husain

    S. Asra Husain is the Clinical Trial Team Lead at RSP. She has worked in research administration as a Contract and Agreements Negotiator since 2018, focusing on Clinical Trial Agreements since 2020. Her previous background includes policy research at the Carbone Cancer Center and work as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Legislature and the US Senate and Congress, focusing on health care issues.

    Katalin Vinkler

    Katalin Vinkler joined RSP in 2023 as a clinical trial agreement negotiator and collaborates across departments conducting clinical research. Prior to her current position, she provided support to the Division of Transplantation (Department of Surgery) as a regulatory specialist and later took the role of agreement and contract negotiator within the CALS Research Division. In her free time, she learns the ropes of companion gardening and spends time outdoors with her family.

    Stephanie Wilbrand

    Stephanie Wilbrand provides assistance to faculty, scientists and staff in both pre and post award as a Research Administrator for the Department of Neurological Surgery within the School of Medicine and Public Health. She began her journey at UW by joining the department over 12 years to build the clinical research program. Over the years, her role grew to support the department in all aspects of research (basic, clinical and translational), eventually adding the full research administration duties to her portfolio. She serves on a number of campus committees, as well as professional associations on regional, national and international level. She serves on the Activations Committee of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at NCURA Region IV and is a member-at-large of the NCURA Region IV Board.

  • Common Forms?? SciENcv?? SciEN-see-us! Northwoods B
    PDF PDF PDF PDF
    Description

    This presentation will cover the roles, responsibilities, and basics of SciENcv including topics such as logging in, creating biosketch and current and pending support documents, PIs delegating access of documents to research administrators, and connecting ORCID ID to SciENcv. The focus will be SciENcv and common forms for NIH and NSF.

    Presented By

    Alex Delvoye

    Alex Delvoye has been a pre- and post-award Research Administrator in the Mechanical Engineering Department for three years. She works with a wide variety of sponsors including NSF, DOD, DOE, USDA, NIH, national labs, and industry. Before working as a Research Administrator at UW, Alex had experience on the sponsor-side of grant management as the Clean Boats, Clean Waters and Lake Monitoring and Protection Network Grant Manager at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the State and Federal Library Grants Coordinator at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

    Annie Studer

    Annie Studer is currently a pre-award specialist working in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Having 7 years' experience on the proposal team at RSP and another 1 year experience as a pre- and post-award department Research Administrator at ISyE in the College of Engineering. Serves as the District 515 representative in the Academic Staff Assembly. Has actively been involved in the creation and dissemination of campus wide trainings for 5 years. SME for both federal and non-federal sponsors and sponsor systems including DOJ, SAMHSA, proposalCENTRAL, and eRA Commons.

  • Show Me the Money: Building a Winning Grant Budget Landmark
    PDF
    Description

    This session will go through best practices and processes for Clinical Trial agreements. We will go through means for ensuring an efficiently processed agreement as well as common mistakes made when submitting documents to RAMP. Our team of Contract and Agreement Negotiators will answer all your questions about how to ensure that your clinical trial agreements are processed and sent to the set up team as quickly as possible as well as offer some tips and tricks for creating a smooth process.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Set up an agreement record in RAMP
    • Locate helpful documents for clinical trial agreements on the RSP website
    • Identify issues that cause common delays in processing agreements

    Presented By

    S. Asra Husain

    S. Asra Husain is the Clinical Trial Team Lead at RSP. She has worked in research administration as a Contract and Agreements Negotiator since 2018, focusing on Clinical Trial Agreements since 2020. Her previous background includes policy research at the Carbone Cancer Center and work as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Legislature and the US Senate and Congress, focusing on health care issues.

    Katalin Vinkler

    Katalin Vinkler joined RSP in 2023 as a clinical trial agreement negotiator and collaborates across departments conducting clinical research. Prior to her current position, she provided support to the Division of Transplantation (Department of Surgery) as a regulatory specialist and later took the role of agreement and contract negotiator within the CALS Research Division. In her free time, she learns the ropes of companion gardening and spends time outdoors with her family.

    Stephanie Wilbrand

    Stephanie Wilbrand provides assistance to faculty, scientists and staff in both pre and post award as a Research Administrator for the Department of Neurological Surgery within the School of Medicine and Public Health. She began her journey at UW by joining the department over 12 years to build the clinical research program. Over the years, her role grew to support the department in all aspects of research (basic, clinical and translational), eventually adding the full research administration duties to her portfolio. She serves on a number of campus committees, as well as professional associations on regional, national and international level. She serves on the Activations Committee of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at NCURA Region IV and is a member-at-large of the NCURA Region IV Board.

10:40 - 10:50 am
Concurrent Sessions 10:50 - 11:50 am
  • NIH DMS Plans: From Policy to Practice Industry
    DOC PDF PDF
    Description

    This session will initially provide a brief overview of the NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) policy, updates, and pre-award considerations. The majority of the session will focus on putting this policy into practice in the post-award phase since we are now 2.5 years after the initial release and research administrators and research teams are now recognizing some complexities of meeting the requirements during the award period. We will discuss choosing repositories, updating/maintaining an active DMSP, annual RPPR reporting requirements, and lessons learned from research team and research administrator experiences that impact pre- and post-award DMSP decision making. Campus and external resources will also be shared. We hope to share knowledge and experience throughout the institution since this is a novel experience for nearly everyone.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand the NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) policy, recent updates and pre-award considerations
    • Learn about choosing a data repository
    • Know when and how to update current/active DMSPs and manage RPPR reporting requirements
    • Discover post-award lessons learned from research teams and research administrators. Campus and external resources will be shared. Participants will leave more confident in advising or assisting their faculty and researchers with NIH DMSPs.

    Presented By

    Jennifer Ramsey

    Jennifer Ramsey joined the UW team in 2022 from the Florida State University, and she has 16 years of experience managing pre and post-award grants at the college and department level. Currently, they work with the Division of Infectious Disease in the Department of Medicine, Office of Research Services.

    Kim Nolet

    Kim Nolet designs and implements faculty, staff, and student education across research administration topics and coaches research teams on grants startup and management. She was a research program manager in aging research for 20 years before transitioning to the Nursing Research and Sponsored Programs office.

    Christy Schulz

    Christy Schulz oversees research and sponsored projects administration activities on behalf of SMPH. This involves coordination of monthly meetings for SMPH Research Administrators which includes 17 Clinical Departments, 10 Basic Science Departments, and 23 Institutes and Centers. She has been a research administrator for 24 years at UW.

  • Research Development for the Research Administrator Landmark
    PDF
    Description

    The world of funding is changing fast--and you can help your PI adapt! With the sponsored project landscape becoming more interdisciplinary, translational, and competitive, research administrators can be an important ally to the PIs and their teams in crafting winning proposals. The field of Research Development can offer every research administrator tips, tricks, and tactics to assist! This session will introduce you to the definitions and vocabulary of research development, help you understand why it matters, and give you tools to utilize it in your day-to-day life, from pre-award to beyond.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand the core definitions and fundamentals of research development, and how they apply to and complement research administration
    • Understand the reasoning (the "why") behind integrating RD best practices into their pre-award skillset
    • Build their "RD Toolkit" with specific, actionable skills to assist in proposal development, funding seeking, and interdisciplinary teaming

    Presented By

    Lauren Gee

    Lauren Gee is the Research Administration and Development Manager for the Department of Medicine within the School of Medicine and Public Health. Lauren's team manages proposal development and submission and non-financial post-award management for 11 divisions. Lauren is passionate about crafting the “story” of the PI's project through the entire proposal package, and assisting interdisciplinary teams in developing engaging, winning proposals. She has a special interest in the science of team science and justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion work in teamed research. Lauren is a co-founder of the UW Madison Research Development Community of Practice.

    Shanon Hankin

    Shanon Hankin provides research development support for the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences. Services include tracking funding opportunities and comprehensive proposal coordination and support. Shanon works collaboratively with other research development offices across campus. Shanon has a background in research (MSc. Forest Ecology) and worked in Wisconsin State government for 6 years, serving farmers/growers in southwest Wisconsin (DATCP). She is a founding member of the UW Madison Research Development Community of Practice.

  • Strategic Planning - Turning Ideas into Impact Agriculture
    PDF
    Description

    Strategic planning is more than a document; it's a mindset that brings clarity, alignment, and purpose to your work. In this interactive session, we'll explore the foundational concepts of strategic planning, examine how they connect to organizational context, and work together to identify focus areas and generate actionable initiatives. Through collaborative exercises, participants will begin shaping an implementation plan that outlines who is doing what by when, turning vision into action with practical tools and shared ownership.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Gain a clear understanding of strategic planning as a mindset and process
    • Practical experience surfacing strategic initiatives
    • The ability to execute an implementation plan

    Presented By

    John Graves

    With over a decade of experience as a Division I Athletics Strength Coach and two years at the Office of Strategic Consulting, John Graves brings a unique blend of insight to every initiative. Holding degrees in Psychology and Sociology, John combines a deep understanding of human behavior with a passion for organizational growth. As a certified Prosci Change Practitioner and a trained Technology of Participation Strategic Planning Practitioner, John has contributed to numerous strategic planning projects, helping teams align vision with action and drive meaningful change.

  • RAMP Foundations: Setting Up Awards with Confidence Fifth Quarter
    PDF DOC
    Description

    In this workshop, we will cover a simple new award setup in RAMP for NIH and/or NSF award. We will go over high-level workflows and the RAMP changes that came with the Workday go-live. This is intended for people who are new to the research admin space.

    Presented By

    Andrea Zorbas

    Andrea Zorbas has served in the manager role of the RSP Award Setup and Acceptance team for the past 2.5 years. In this role, she supports campus partners in accepting research funding into the university and setting up accounts for PI usage. Prior to this role, Andrea served for more than 17 years in pre-award and post-award management at the department and division levels of private and public higher institutions. She has two kids, two dogs, one cat, one horse, and catches up on sleep on weekends.

    Jill Nagler

    Jill Nagler (they/them) is a rad and passionate multi-functional research administrator, who has been working in the department of Computer Sciences/CDIS for 6 years. In addition to being a research admin nerd, they are also a freelance writer (Our Lives Magazine and Tone), a musician, a bibliophile, a cat enthusiast, an activist/organizer, and an avid builder of Legos. They live in Madison with their spouse and 2 cats. “You are not being difficult; you are being dimensional.”

  • Customer Service in Research Administration - Value, Role, and Tools to be Effective Northwoods A
    PDF
    Description

    This interactive and engaging discussion group will discuss customer service and the role that it plays in research administration. We will discuss the value of providing good customer service and tools to help you be more effective in developing good customer service skills and practices. The group will further help you identify who your customers are and provide resources to help address their specific needs. We hope you will join us for this lively discussion and please come prepared to participate!

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand best practices of customer service
    • How customer service plays a role in research administration
    • Skills you can implement in your position to be more effective using your own customer service skills

    Presented By

    Aaron Crandall

    Aaron Crandall is the Director of the Social Science Research Services (SSRS) in the College of Letters and Science and has been in research administration for over twenty years here at UW-Madison. In his current role, he manages 2 NIH-funded demography centers, 2 T32 training grant programs, and a portfolio of mostly NIH-funded grants for the social sciences. SSRS provided high quality research and other administrative services to a wide array of customers with the goal to limit the administrative burden on the researchers it supports.

    Nick Novak

    Nick Novak has primary responsibility for advising and supporting pre and post award activities for faculty and staff in the OVCR research centers including acting as the Vice Chancellor's representative for submission of grant proposals, lifecycle grant administration, conflict-of-interest and acceptance of gifts. He also oversees centralized activities including the internal competition process, equity review and fellowship supplementation. He previously served as manager of the proposal team at Research and Sponsored Programs and as a grants manager for several non-profit organizations.

    Lisa Scott

    Lisa Scott received her PhD from the Department of History at the University of Chicago in 2018. Her doctoral research focused on the development of political institutions in later medieval Central Europe. Dr. Scott also received an MAT in Secondary Social Studies from the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University in 2010, and has a continuing interest in pedagogy and post-secondary education. She has been a research administrator in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison since 2020. While serving in the Ob-Gyn department, she has enjoyed working with researchers examining aspects of women's health from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives, as the department is home not only to clinicians, but also to basic scientists and social scientists. Dr. Scott is most proud of her accomplishments in developing new tracking and reporting tools, and in fostering a collaborative and supportive environment within the department.

  • Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access: Federal Public Access Updates and Publishers' Response Northwoods B
    PDF
    Description

    In 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy directed federal research funding agencies to update their public access policies to include eliminating the 12-month embargo period during which authors can wait to make their research outputs publicly available. As these new policies go into effect, research articles and associated data must be made immediately accessible upon publication. Publishers' response to this change has ranged from “business as usual” to rejection, disregard, or the threat of new fees. Cameron, Carrie, and Ryan will look at the specifics of these publications and data policy updates, publisher responses so far, and how to navigate both during the publishing and progress report processes. This session will also provide a high-level summary of any impacts on data management and sharing requirements and what we currently know about how these public access policies interact with the Gold Standard Science executive order.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand how public access to publications and data policy updates will impact their award compliance procedures
    • Understand how publishers are currently responding to these updates and what those reactions mean and what they could cost awardees
    • Learn the best ways to handle often contradictory funder and publisher demands

    Presented By

    Carrie Nelson

    Carrie Nelson is the Head of Scholarly Communication for the UW-Madison Libraries. In this role, she helps researchers and authors understand and navigate copyright issues, open access sharing of their work, and publishing agreements. She works on issues related to the future of scholarly publishing and recently spoke at a forum on “Library Leadership in Navigating Public Access Funder Mandates.”

    Cameron Cook

    Cameron Cook is the Head of Research Data & Digital Scholarship Strategy for the UW-Madison Libraries and manages a unit that includes Research Data Services, Public Access Service, MINDS@UW, and digital scholarship support. Her work provides leadership, strategy, and direction for the research data management, data sharing, and digital scholarship services through the Libraries. She enjoys building connections and relationships with campus communities to improve and support the day-to-day research data challenges as well as address the larger policy and ecosystem opportunities. She strives to take a people-centered and action-oriented approach to her work, aims to empower & be an advocate for her campus communities, a translator between stakeholders, an improver of systems, and a dreamer of opportunities.

    Ryan Schryver

    Ryan Schryver is the UW-Madison Libraries' Public Access Service compliance lead and has nine years of experience helping the University's principal investigators and research administrators navigate federal public access to publications policy.

11:50 am - 12:50 pm
Concurrent Sessions 12:50 - 1:45 pm
  • Closeout Challenges and Wins!! (offered twice) Landmark
    PDF
    Description

    This session will focus on closeouts. How do we find time to complete timely closeouts with too many awards to manage and not enough staff? We will explore the issues of not closing awards on time and discuss how to recover if you find your institution in this situation. We will also discuss, in a perfect world, tips and tools for closing awards, and the appropriate action plans to ensure accurate filing of FFR's.

    Presented By

    Angie Johnson

    Angie Johnson is the Assistant Director of Research and Financial Services in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP). She oversees post-award grant administration and compliance, drawing on over 16 years of experience in research administration. Angie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business and has presented at both regional and national NCURA meetings on topics related to research administration and leadership. She is also a published co-author in NCURA Magazine. Prior to joining UW-Madison, she spent a decade in Accounts Receivable at a printer company.

    Sandy Fowler

    Sandy Fowler started her career with the University in 1997 at University Housing as a Program Assistant training students how to use the point-of-sale system and the basics of cash handling. In 1999 she moved to the Department of Forest Ecology and Management assisting with almost all aspects of an academic and research department. The time spent in the department prepped her for a move to the CALS Research Division in 2006. This role sparked her curiosity about and to learn more about sponsored project management and how grants fit overall into the UW financial scene. In 2010, her position was moved to Business Services to facilitate sponsored project reviews into the spending and purchase processes. In January 2019, Sandy became an Assistant Dean and now leads a great team of accountants who provide sponsored project (post award), travel, payment, and purchasing, and policy guidance to CALS departmental staff and faculty. Her and her team are the liaisons between central campus areas and departments. They play a large part in helping faculty and staff understand and interpret federal, state, and UW policies and procedures that are intertwined into a business process.

  • What We Currently Know about AI and Research Grant Proposals (offered twice) Agriculture
    PDF DOC
    Description

    In this session, Christine and Molly will give an overview of the current landscape around AI and the research grant proposal writing, editing, and submission process. We will discuss pitfalls such as generative AI's known tendency to invent nonexistent citations and misinterpret research findings, and discuss potential methods to discover and correct such issues. We will also discuss current UW and federal policy around the use of generative AI in grant proposal writing, potential IP (intellectual property) issues around the use of AI, and discuss what uses of AI in the writing process might be considered acceptable. Finally, because the AI situation changes on what seems to be a daily basis, we invite attendees to share their experiences surrounding this issue.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Share current thinking in the professional editing and writing community around the use of AI in grant proposals
    • Provide information about UW and federal policy on the use of AI
    • Learn from other attendees what issues they may be experiencing around the use of AI in research proposals and discuss them as a group

    Presented By

    Christine Wenc

    Christine Wenc has worked with MDs and PhDs to develop and improve grant proposals, papers, books, and reports for more than 15 years. She has an MA in the history of science and an MA in creative writing. In 2024 she received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities program “Dangers and Opportunities of Technology.” She has presented at conferences in science and technology studies (STS), is affiliated with the Holtz Center for STS at UW-Madison, and has developed award-winning public projects in the history of science, technology, and medicine. Her book Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire was published by Running Press in March 2025. She's been with the UW-Madison School of Education since 2022—first with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) and now the Office of Research and Scholarship.

    Molly Wesling

    Molly Wesling has over ten years of professional experience helping researchers develop and polish grant proposals for submission to federal and private funders. She has been senior editor at WCER/UW-Madison School of Education Office of Research and Scholarship since 2020 and previously worked with surgeon-scientists in the School of Medicine and Public Health's Department of Surgery. Dr. Wesling holds a PhD in Slavic languages and literatures.

  • Navigating Federal Guidance: Straight Talk on Current Issues for Grant Administrators Northwoods B
    Description

    (Coming soon!)

    Presented By

    Bob Gratzl

    Bob Gratzl is the Assistant Director of Contracts at RSP. He joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 as a Grant and Contract Specialist for the RSP Contracts Team. He and his staff on the RSP Contracts Team negotiate and execute agreements and subagreements for sponsored research with a variety of sponsors, including federal, non-profit, for-profit and academic partners. Bob has presented at both regional and national NCURA meetings on a wide range of research topics.

    Erin Goeldner

    Erin Goeldner has spent the past ten years navigating the world of Research Administration at UW-Madison, starting in a department role and now working in the Dean's office at the College of Engineering. Alongside the fantastic COE Research Services Team, she supports proposal submissions, helps streamline grant processes, and supports newcomers to Research Administration with hands-on training and plenty of encouragement. Before settling in Madison, Erin worked abroad in development and financial/operations management - proving that Excel really does travel well.

    Tammy Kuhn Martin

    Tammy Kuhn Martin is the Assistant Dean for Research Administration in the College of Engineering. Tammy got her start in Research Administration in 2001 when she took a student hourly position as an Accountant Intern at Research & Sponsored Programs. She has a wealth of experience and expertise across all aspects of research administration spanning full-life-cycle grants, contract management and research compliance. She serves on a number of campus committees, is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), and has presented at their regional meetings. Tammy has a B.S. in Human Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

1:45 pm - 1:55 pm
Concurrent Sessions 1:55 - 2:50 pm
  • Research Security at UW-Madison Industry
    PDF
    Description

    UW-Madison is developing a federally mandated Research Security Program to help safeguard federally funded research from foreign interference and exploitation. Key focus areas include cybersecurity, travel security, export controls, and disclosure of conflicts of interest and commitment, particularly those involving foreign entities. Implementing this program will require updates to research compliance systems, new training for covered individuals (Principal Investigators, key senior personnel, etc.), and coordinated efforts across the university. Many federal agencies are already rolling out new requirements—come learn how these changes may affect our campus.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Understand federal research security requirements and their implications for university compliance
    • Prepare for institutional changes by learning about upcoming training, system updates, and agency-specific mandates affecting research operations
    • Identify areas of connectivity and support the research community in navigating the requirements

    Presented By

    Stefani Buster

    Stefani Buster is UW-Madison's Director of Research Security and Export Control where she leads efforts to establish and manage a risk-based international trade controls program that ensures compliance with applicable state and federal regulations. Prior to her role at UW-Madison, Stefani held positions at several major research institutions, including Associate Director of Research Security at Purdue University and Audit Manager at Duke University. Stefani's leadership has been instrumental in reinforcing internal controls and expanding international trade compliance programs. Stefani came to central university management with over a decade of experience in the nuclear field where she managed administrative functions for NC State's nuclear engineering program and worked with a United Nations affiliated organization to promote multilateral efforts at nuclear nonproliferation. Stefani earned her JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed degrees at the University of Montpellier, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Middlebury College in Paris, and Howard University.

    John Miller

    John Jay Miller started at UW-Madison in 2018 working in the Office of Strategic Consulting before moving to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research in 2022. John is responsible for the organization and management of UW's export control program. John has 14 years of experience in higher education and research compliance and prior to working in higher education practiced law for 20 years.

  • Excel-lence in Accuracy: Troubleshooting Spreadsheets for Research Admins Landmark
    Description

    In research administration, precision isn't optional - it's essential. Whether you're managing budgets, tracking grant expenditures, or reconciling data across departments, Excel formulas are the silent engine behind your spreadsheets. But even the most elegant formula can go off track if cell references aren't behaving as expected. This session will help you become a formula detective—learning to spot and fix common issues like:

    • Broken or incorrect cell references that throw off your calculations
    • Copy-paste pitfalls, where formulas shift unexpectedly due to relative vs. absolute references
    • Formula reading basics, so you can decode even the most tangled expressions with confidence
    We'll walk through real-world examples, demystify the dollar signs ($A$1 vs A1), and show you how to audit formulas like a pro. Because when your formulas are solid, your data tells the truth - and that's the foundation of good research administration.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Formula reading: Learn how to decode Excel formulas and feel confident they are calculating what you think they are
    • Develop strategies to identify and resolve common formula errors caused by reference types, copy-paste issues, and hidden logic traps
    • Formula Efficiency: Discover techniques to streamline formulas for better performance and readability - because simpler formulas mean fewer mistakes

    Presented By

    Catherine Shults

    Catherine Shults has worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 12 years and as a research administrator for the past 9. Most of that time her role has been full life cycle award management in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, but she has also worked in the Office of Sponsored Programs as a post-award accountant. Catherine's award portfolio currently includes NSF, DOE, DOD, NASA, and industry partners. One of her passions in this role has been the collaborative development of Excel-based tools to facilitate workflow and improve accuracy both in pre-award and post-award and sharing her knowledge through mentoring activities and formal presentations. She has been actively engaged in UW-Madison's research administration professional development program and serves as a peer mentor.

    Chrystin Schultz

    Chrystin Schultz is a Pre-Award Research Administrator for the Dean's office in the College of Engineering. She began her journey into research administration in 2019 as a post award accountant in Biomedical Engineering. Her role grew into full life-cycle research administrative duties in 2021, before joining the Research Services Team at the College of Engineering in 2023.

  • Hot Topics in Research Administration Fifth Quarter
    Description

    The research administration landscape is changing fast — and 2025 is no exception. From the evolving federal policy environment and new compliance expectations to the implementation of enterprise systems like Workday and RAMP, research administrators are navigating unprecedented complexity. This session will highlight current “hot topics” shaping our work, including shifts in federal oversight, emerging sponsor requirements, system transitions, and institutional strategies to balance efficiency, compliance, and service. Join us for a timely discussion on where the field is headed and how we can prepare for what's next.

    Presented By

    Kurt McMillen

    Kurt McMillen is a senior research administrator with over 15 years of experience advancing the research mission in higher education. At UW-Madison, he serves as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, where he provides strategic leadership across the full lifecycle of sponsored projects. Kurt is passionate about reducing administrative burden and developing innovative, faculty-centered solutions. He has led large-scale initiatives to modernize research administration and improve service delivery, always with a focus on collaboration, problem-solving, and empowering researchers and administrators. His work reflects a deep commitment to supporting discovery and scholarship at one of the nation's leading research institutions.

    Liz Bivins-Smith

    Liz Bivins-Smith is the Director of Research Financial Services within the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs. With over 20 years of experience in academia and the NIH, she leads the post-award portfolio teams, revenue management, and audit services. Liz holds a master's degree in microbiology and an MBA. She enjoys building high-performing teams, watching her son's soccer matches, and traveling abroad.

    Mark Sweet

    Mark Sweet has been working in research administration for over 25 years and has presented at several regional and national NCURA conferences. In addition, he is a co-chair of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Research Security Subcommittee. Mark served on the FDP eRA Committee for many years, including serving as its co-chair for several years. Prior to his time with RSP, Mark was a research specialist in the department of medicine.

  • How to Train Your Dragons (aka Your PIs) Northwoods B
    PDF DOC
    Description

    Do you ever feel like guiding your PIs through the funding process or award management is more like herding cats — or training dragons — than smooth sailing? Building relationships with PIs is essential, and many RAs have already mastered that step (or are deep in the trenches). But what happens when those relationships still leave you constantly cleaning up after missed steps, misunderstood processes, or misguided moves?
    This session explores how Research Administrators can take the next step: using proactive training to build more effective PI relationships, ones that serve both PIs and RAs. Drawing from a successful, interactive training delivered to statewide PIs and staff, we'll share flexible strategies, tools, and real-world examples that helped improve compliance, reduce errors, and strengthened RA-PI relationships. Participants will leave with practical ideas for adapting these methods to their own units — and maybe even a renewed sense of hope that their dragons can be trained.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Recognize the value of proactive PI training in reducing errors and improving research administration workflows
    • Explore interactive tools and techniques for effectively teaching PIs about UW's funding or award management procedures
    • Formulate a role-specific plan to adapt the training approaches to fit your needs, incorporating interactive elements, reinforcing institutional requirements, and strengthening RA-PI relationships

    Presented By

    Emma Reusch

    Emma Reusch is a Research Administrative Specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Division of Extension, where she supports the Agriculture Institute and provides grant guidance across multiple Extension Institutes. With five years of experience in research administration, Emma specializes in translating complex policies and grant requirements into clear, actionable language, and creating practical tools and resources that make the dynamic world of funding less intimidating for PIs & staff. She recently developed and delivered training on pre-award submissions for state-wide staff & PIs, which inspired this presentation, “How to Train Your Dragons” - because sometimes research admin feels a lot like dragon-wrangling.

    Gina Barbosa

    Gina Barbosa is the Administrative Manager for the Agriculture Institute at UW-Madison Division of Extension, where she collaborates with institute leadership, faculty, and staff to oversee budgets, support educational programming, and manage outreach initiatives. Prior to joining UW Extension in July 2022, Gina served as the Business Operations Manager at UW-Madison's International Projects Office (IPO), where she spent nearly five years strengthening financial systems, developing budgeting tools, and supporting key programs across the International Division. Gina's known for her creative problem-solving and her ability to make even the most complex financial processes feel manageable—no fire-breathing dragons required.

2:50 pm - 3:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions 3:00 - 3:55 pm
  • Closeout Challenges and Wins!! (offered twice) Industry
    PDF
    Description

    This session will focus on closeouts. How do we find time to complete timely closeouts with too many awards to manage and not enough staff? We will explore the issues of not closing awards on time and discuss how to recover if you find your institution in this situation. We will also discuss, in a perfect world, tips and tools for closing awards, and the appropriate action plans to ensure accurate filing of FFR's.

    Presented By

    Angie Johnson

    Angie Johnson is the Assistant Director of Research and Financial Services in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP). She oversees post-award grant administration and compliance, drawing on over 16 years of experience in research administration. Angie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business and has presented at both regional and national NCURA meetings on topics related to research administration and leadership. She is also a published co-author in NCURA Magazine. Prior to joining UW-Madison, she spent a decade in Accounts Receivable at a printer company.

    Sandy Fowler

    Sandy Fowler started her career with the University in 1997 at University Housing as a Program Assistant training students how to use the point-of-sale system and the basics of cash handling. In 1999 she moved to the Department of Forest Ecology and Management assisting with almost all aspects of an academic and research department. The time spent in the department prepped her for a move to the CALS Research Division in 2006. This role sparked her curiosity about and to learn more about sponsored project management and how grants fit overall into the UW financial scene. In 2010, her position was moved to Business Services to facilitate sponsored project reviews into the spending and purchase processes. In January 2019, Sandy became an Assistant Dean and now leads a great team of accountants who provide sponsored project (post award), travel, payment, and purchasing, and policy guidance to CALS departmental staff and faculty. Her and her team are the liaisons between central campus areas and departments. They play a large part in helping faculty and staff understand and interpret federal, state, and UW policies and procedures that are intertwined into a business process.

  • Fellowship Management for Research Administrators Agriculture
    PDF
    Description

    This session aims to teach the tools to successfully manage extramurally sponsored fellowships. Managing fellowships requires a different approach than managing traditional research grants or assistantships. This session will guide research administrators through the unique aspects of fellowship administration, including how fellowships are managed, key compliance considerations, and common pitfalls to avoid. Participants will learn how to correctly configure stipends, handle fringe benefits, and ensure alignment with award terms. We'll also cover best practices for communication, troubleshooting, and maintaining budgets to work with your accountants and HR business partners to ensure accuracy. By the end of the session, attendees will have practical tools and strategies to streamline fellowship management and support both compliance and student success.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Differentiate fellowships from other funding mechanisms
    • Understand budget and fellowship terms when submitting a grant for a student/fellow
    • Ensure compliance with award terms and institutional policies
    • Troubleshoot and adjust budgets when discrepancies occur
    • Communicate effectively with departments, mentors and students about fellowship terms and expectations

    Presented By

    Irina Diaz

    Irina Diaz is an experienced research and graduate funding administrator with a strong background in pre- and post-award research administration. Since joining UW-Madison in 2008, she has held diverse roles across academic units, gaining deep insight into the full lifecycle of grants and institutional funding processes. In her current role as Associate Director of Graduate Funding, Irina oversees graduate student funding programs, including annual allocations for graduate programs, awards competitions, and both internal and external fellowships. Irina holds a BA in Business Management from Edgewood University and an MS in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from UW-Madison. She is committed to advancing graduate education through the strategic management of graduate funding initiatives, cross-campus collaboration, and the continuous improvement of administrative practices.

    Jenny Dahlberg

    Jenny Dahlberg is the Research Administration Director in the School of Veterinary Medicine with over 20 years of NIH training grant (T32) administration experience. She currently oversees research administration within the School of Veterinary Medicine, as well as serves as the primary administrator for all NIH T32s, Ks and F awards within the school. She has provided training grant guidance to both faculty directors and administrators on campus, as well as presented at regional National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) meetings on training grant administration. Jenny has assisted faculty with over twenty competitive training grant submissions, starting in 2001 while pursuing her B.S. in Natural Sciences from CALS. She later received her M.S. from the Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. In her role, Jenny and her team work with faculty and staff in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to secure research support for both human and animal-health based research spanning several federal agencies (USDA, USGS, NIH, NSF, and DOD) and many different non-federal organizations.
    Jenny is currently the President of the Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) and has previously served on the Academic Staff Executive Committee at UW-Madison. She also currently serves as a representative for Research Administrators as a member of the Academic Staff Assembly.

  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Research Administration Edition Northwoods A
    PDF
    Description

    Have you ever wondered how far you'd get on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Now's your chance to find out—Research Administration style! This fun and interactive session will test your knowledge across a wide range of topics including pre- and post-award processes, compliance, and more. Whether you're getting ready to take the Certified Research Administrator Exam, looking to shake off some imposter syndrome, or want to brush up on some Uniform Guidance, this session will be sure to entertain while testing your knowledge.

    By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

    • Test their knowledge of lifecycle research administration
    • Identify areas they may want to focus on in preparation for the CRA exam
    • Become familiar with areas of research administration outside of their current roles
    • Gain confidence in their breadth of knowledge

    Presented By

    Carrie Jorgensen

    Carrie Jorgensen brings over eight years of experience as a departmental research administrator, with the past three years dedicated to supporting faculty in the Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care division within the Department of Medicine. Her expertise lies in full life-cycle award management, working with a range of federal sponsors, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as non-profit organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Heart Association. In addition to her administrative work, Carrie is a mentor in the RED Mentoring Program and a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).

    Chelsie Propst

    Chelsie Propst serves as the interim manager for the NSF/DOE Team within the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) at UW–Madison. As a post-award accountant, she has experience in managing complex federal awards and interpreting intricate sponsor guidelines—particularly those from the Department of Energy. Chelsie is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and a proud UW–Madison alumna. She has shared her expertise through presentations at NCURA Region IV, previous RED Symposia, and other RED-hosted events.