Collaborative Research Administrators Group

The Collaborative Research Administrators Group (CRAG) was organized to promote and encourage collaboration between Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) staff and departmental research administrators with the ultimate goal of providing a forum for staff involved in research administration to share information and ideas.

CRAG endeavors to:

• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information on best practices
• Provide research training and information on consistent operational processes
• Develop innovative and efficient administrative practices

Everyone involved in research administration is welcome to attend.

CRAG Meetings - 2022-2023

All recordings are available via the CRAG Teamsite and require a GW UserID and password to access.

CRAG Listserv

CRAG emails are sent to the listserv most Tuesday and Friday afternoons. The emails contain important research administration news and announcements, upcoming OSP Education and Training events, upcoming external training opportunities, and resources and recordings from past trainings. To be added to the CRAG listserv and begin receiving CRAG emails, please email your request to O[email protected].

Did you miss the latest CRAG Listserv email? Click here to access it on the CRAG Teamsite (GW UserID and password required).

CRAG Teamsite

To access important information and presentations and recordings from previous CRAG meetings listed below, please login to the CRAG Teamsite using your GW UserID and password.

Previous CRAG Meeting Topics - 2021-2022

Fall 2021 Kickoff (08/19/2021)

The Fall 2021 Kickoff of the Collaborative Research Administrators Group (CRAG) series features general updates from OSP and GCAS.

NIH Updates

Monique Foxx, Associate Director, Pre-Award Management, Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) shares updates on the newly released guidance related to the NIH biosketch FAQs.

Salary Cap

Sandra Neil, Assistant Director, Quality Assurance, Grants and Contracts Accounting Services (GCAS) will be discussing how GW will be managing Salary Cap on applicable awards going forward to alleviate administrative burden from the departments and Pods and as part of the myResearch Project.

Presentation on the Program on Extremism and Update on the myResearch Project (09/16/2021)

Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director talks about his work with the Program on Extremism and Megan Dieleman, Director of Operations and Projects from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research provides updates on myResearch. 

Seamus Hughes is the Deputy Director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, which provides analysis on issues related to violent and non-violent extremism. The Program aims to develop pragmatic policy solutions that resonate with policymakers, civic leaders, and the general public while spearheading innovative and thoughtful academic inquiry. Prior to joining the faculty at GW, Mr. Hughes served as a lead staffer on U.S. government efforts to implement a national countering violent extremism strategy at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). He also served as the Senior Counterterrorism Advisor for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and as a reporter for The New York Times. Mr. Hughes has authored numerous papers and books, including Homegrown: ISIS in America, and is a regular commentator for a variety of media outlets.

Procure-to-Pay and FDP Updates (10/21/2021)

Punitha Kelly and Lori Tait, Contracts Analysts, and Ayesha Waqas, Contracts Associate, from the Procure-to-Pay Finance Division discuss the contract review process for purchases involving data and systems housing data. 

Representatives from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the Office of Sponsored Projects provide updates from the recent Federal Demonstration Partnership September 2021 Virtual Meeting, including important information from multiple federal agencies.

myResearch Updates and Discussion on Foreign Engagements (11/18/2021)

During this session, representatives from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) cover recent updates from GW on the myResearch project. Hiromi M. Sanders, Director of Research Integrity and Compliance from the Office of Research Integrity within OVPR also join the session to discuss foreign engagement and the responsibilities of researchers to maintain professional and ethical standards.

OVPR Updates on myResearch (12/16/2021)

During this session, representatives from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) cover recent updates from GW on the myResearch project.

Cristina Grigore, Privacy Manager in the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Privacy provides an overview of data management and protection, and takes your data privacy questions. 

Collaborative Research Administrators Discussion (02/17/2022)

This month, the Office of Sponsored Projects invites members of the Collaborative Research Administrators Group to join an open and robust discussion of the topics that matter most to the Research Administrator community. Come prepared to discuss any top-of-mind issues, ask questions of your fellow RAs and leave the session with important shared information. OSP staff will be on hand to help facilitate the discussion.

GCAS FY21 and FY22 Audit Information and Year-End Reminders (03/17/2022)

What do you need to know about the recent FY21 audit results and the upcoming FY22 audit and fiscal year-end? Join Leah Kaba, Compliance and Audit Manager with Grants and Contracts Accounting Services to learn everything you need to know about the fiscal cycle, and take the opportunity to get an expert response to your financial questions.

Institutional Review Board and Human Subjects Payments (04/21/2022)

Join us for the April 2022 CRAG meeting, featuring Rebecca Eberle, Interim Director of the Office of Human Research, as we discuss the institutional review board (IRB) process and human subject payments.

Corporate and Foundation Relations (05/19/2022)

Join us for the May 2022 CRAG meeting, featuring Susan Boerstling, Executive Director of the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, as we discuss proposals and communications with non-federal sponsors.

Export Controls and Research (06/16/2022)

Did you know that certain regulations administered by United States federal agencies set restrictions on the types of information and technology that can be shared with (i.e., "exported" to) foreign nationals and shipment of controlled physical items such as scientific equipment? These exports are regulated for reasons of national security, foreign policy, and competitive trade interests, among others.

Join the Office of Research Integrity's Cledwyn Jones, Senior Research Compliance Associate, to learn how these rules and regulations affect PIs, project leaders, administration staff, and other university stakeholders.

Download the Sponsored Projects Handbook (PDF, GW Login Required)