myResearch

Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Project

The modernization of core research infrastructure is essential to support GW’s vibrant and growing research community. In response to GW's strategic initiative to enhance the research experience and feedback gathered during the faculty-led research ecosystem review, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is spearheading the implementation of myResearch, an enhanced electronic research administration (eRA) tool.

When fully implemented, myResearch will be GW’s integrated online system for proposal development and sponsored award management.

 

Objectives Graphic

Objectives

myResearch will:

  • address a number of recommendations made through the faculty-led ecosystem review, focusing on pre-award and post-award functions;
  • reduce administrative burden for more than 3,000 investigators and research staff;
  • streamline processes and workflows;
  • facilitate and automate communication among ecosystem stakeholders;
  • improve transparency throughout the proposal process;
  • capture necessary data to ensure robust analytics and reporting capabilities;
  • establish necessary internal controls; and
  • integrate numerous research administration functions in one centralized location.

Features Graphic

Features

myResearch will provide a number of time-saving features for the GW research community, including:

  • templates and versioning that will reduce time spent creating proposals;
  • ability to copy and revise proposals;
  • dashboard style work queues;
  • online budget development;
  • ”smartForms” with default values from sponsor and GW that will minimize data entry and input errors;
  • agreements, terms and conditions that utilize Microsoft Word for improved editing and version control;
  • ability to view portfolio of proposals that were submitted through myResearch; and
  • built-in support for compliance and regulatory matters that will make requirements and actions clearer

Timeline

The eRA project commenced in spring 2019 with a needs assessment and development of a request for proposals. A committee of stakeholders unanimously selected a vendor in winter 2019 and the onboarding phase began in spring 2020.
 

Planning graphic

Planning & Onboarding

Spring 2019 -
Fall 2020

Assess and select vendor, refine the project plan, and define project capabilities through in-depth onboarding

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Design & Iteration

Winter -
Summer 2021

Iteratively create, configure, validate and refine system and process changes

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Testing

Fall 2021

Conduct testing sessions with stakeholders, log and resolve issues

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Training & Deployment

Winter 2021

Review and load data configurations, conduct trainings, adapt changes

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Support

Winter 2021 & Ongoing

Provide ongoing user support, training and resources, troubleshoot issues and fine-tune changes

Team

eRA Project Team Graphic

 

 

Key Collaborators

  • Faculty Senate Research Committee
  • School Research Leadership
  • School Research Administrators
  • Office of the Vice President for Research
  • GW Information Technology
  • Grants and Contracts Accounting Services

Members

Senior leadership within the Office of the Vice President for Research and GW Information Technology

Responsibilities

Sanctioned project, approved budget, etc.
 

Members

Faculty and staff representation, including faculty leaders of each of the research administration pods and leadership within the Office of Sponsored Projects and Enterprise Information Services

Responsibilities

Makes final decisions when changes to scope, budget or time are involved

Members

Includes a faculty representative, directors within the Office of Sponsored Projects, leadership within Grants and Contracts Accounting Services, managers of research administration pods, and project leads from GW Information Technology

Responsibilities

Participates in project meetings and makes decisions on functional and technical areas of project

Members

Includes school research administrators (SRAs) and staff from the Office of Sponsored Projects, GW Information Technology, and Grants and Contracts Accounting Services.

Responsibilities

Provides input for critical decision points and expertise to Business Owners

Members

Representatives from Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and GW Information Technology (GWIT)

Responsibilities

Manages day-to-day logistics of the project, including project documentation, planning, scheduling, communications, etc.

Training

As myResearch nears deployment, training will be made available for the GW research community. Those details will be posted here, and distributed widely, when they are available.

Feedback

If you have any questions or feedback about myResearch, please email us at [email protected].