July 3, 2024

Graduation celebrated for VUMC Program for Research Administration Development

VPRAD is a career development program designed for any staff member working in an administrative role within a lab, clinic, or administrative office within the Research Enterprise.

The Vanderbilt Program in Research Administration Development graduation was held on June 24, 2024. (photo by Donn Jones)

The VUMC Program for Research Administration Development (VPRAD) celebrated its 33rd cohort in a graduation ceremony on June 24, the first in-person event (with a virtual option) of its kind since COVID-19. The program recently returned from a two-year hiatus during the Workday rollout.

VPRAD is a career development program designed for any staff member working in an administrative role within a lab, clinic, or administrative office within the Research Enterprise. VPRAD is intended to fill knowledge gaps and equip learners with a broad overview of VUMC’s Research Enterprise, as well as the tools and resources to navigate within it.

Over the course of ten weeks on Teams, participants explore topics such as the lifecycle of a sponsored project, research compliance, shared resources, pre- and post-award management, financial processes, and VUMC best practices for research administration with dozens of expert presenters. Sessions meet twice a week for a total of four hours of traditional classroom learning, and participants are also required to attend lab/office tours, complete a mentorship program, and pass a final exam. 

VPRAD’s 34th cohort will begin in September 2024. Applications are available now here.

Christy Hinkle, grants manager in the Section of Surgical Sciences, speaks as part of the VPRAD graduation ceremony. (photo by Donn Jones)