Research Administration

MCECS Research Administration

The Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science strives to support its faculty in their research endeavors. Research proposal submission and funding have grown significantly over the last several years and this has motivated the College to provide a one-stop service center for all research/grant administration needs. This service is housed in the Dean's Office and supports research activities in all MCECS departments. 

The Research Administration Unit is comprised of a team of four dedicated individuals who have a unique opportunity to make a difference in a highly dynamic research and academic environment. This team plays a key role in supporting faculty efforts to obtain and conduct research. They work with faculty to submit proposals to external sponsors as well as manage the finances of the college's sponsored projects. Administrators provide proactive financial advice and planning to Principle Investigators (PI) as well as implement operating procedures to ensure compliance with rules and regulations. Responsibilities run throughout the grant/contract process lifecycle (both pre-award and post-award): from working with faculty to develop proposal budgets and justifications, assistance with grant submissions, processing financial and human resource transactions, research account closures and monitoring of university/state/federal/private sector requirements. In their capacity they work closely with other offices on campus, such as the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, Research Accounting, Business Affairs, and Human Resources as well as research administrative staffs in other colleges/schools where MCECS faculty have grant/contract partnerships.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Pre-Award Administration
Nicole Braman, Senior Research Administrator, 503-725-2417, nicole@cecs.pdx.edu

 Are you planning to write a proposal? Do you need help submitting a proposal? Have you been awarded a grant/contract?  Let us work with you on the following:

• Budget development and proposal budget justification narrative
  
• Determining whether the sponsored project belongs in Research Accounting, the PSU Business Affairs Office or the Foundation
  
• Proposal Internal Approval Form (PIAF) - routing form for departmental and college approvals, and information for the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) to submit the proposal to the funding agency
  
• Setting up a pending index code in order to begin spending on a project that has been awarded
  
• Sub-contracts (i.e. you have been awarded a sponsored project and you need to sub-contract some of the work to another organization)

Post-Award Administration
Research Administrators track grant/contract expenses and monitor budgets to ensure compliance with federal/state/university policies. PI's are provided with bi-monthly budget status updates that include expenses to date, encumbrances (i.e. long-term commitments on the system such as payroll) and forecasting of future commitments based on award agreement and PI needs.  Please contact your departmental liaison as noted below if you need assistance with the following:

• Budget adjustments
• Requesting a no cost extension
• Purchasing and vendor payments
• Hiring post-doc employees, graduate assistants, students
• Tuition remissions for graduate assistants
• Student Timesheets
• Personal/Professional Service Contracts
• Labor distributions
• Travel
• Reimbursements
• Project close-out
• PAR Forms

The Research Administration Unit reports directly to Barbara Chen, Chief of Finance and Operations Officer, 503-725-8134.

If you would you like to subscribe to a listserve where MCECS Research Administration communicates information, updates, and proposal/grant/contract guidance please click here: https://www.lists.pdx.edu/lists/listinfo/mcecs_researchadmin.

For all other questions, please send an email to granthelp@cecs.pdx.edu.