The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), in collaboration with the University of South Florida (USF) Research Development Institute, has secured a five-year grant worth $3 million from the National Science Foundation. The aim is to create a new post-award training model for research administrators at liberal arts colleges nationwide.
The initiative, named the Primarily Undergraduate Institution Management Excellence in Research (PRIMER) program, seeks to enhance research capabilities at institutions like TCNJ. Amy Cuhel-Schuckers, grants and sponsored research director at TCNJ, stated that “the adoption of the PRIMER model will improve grant award management systems and support increased institutional research activities by producing a better trained workforce to support the research enterprise.”
This partnership will lead to an online hub offering curated training modules, documents, and publications that other institutions can replicate. Sandra Justice, USF Research Development Institute director, highlighted that “PRIMER will deliver stackable micro-credentials designed to upskill career research administrators, grant managers and PIs. The future of the field are life-long learners, continuously honing their skills.”
TCNJ’s School of Science and School of Engineering will act as case studies for this program. This approach aims to develop a best-practice model which can be shared with NSF and used as a guideline for similar-sized institutions across the country.
Key personnel involved include Karen Miller and Heather Mayan as co-principal investigators for the grant. Judi Cook from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Jeanette Vega in financial grant administration, and Tina Albertson in grant accounting will also play significant roles in developing and executing the project.
